Noise Ordinances in Federal Way, WA

If you live in Federal Way or are thinking about moving there, noise ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Federal Way has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of noise ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Quiet Hours

FWRC 7.10.020(3) bars yelling, shouting, whistling, or singing on or near public streets between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., or at any time it unreasonably disturbs a neighbor's peace and comfort. It is one of nine specific public disturbance noises the city enforces as a civil infraction.

Key details: Governing section: FWRC 7.10.020(3). Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.. Daytime standard: Unreasonable disturbance of peace/comfort. First-offense fine: $100.00 civil infraction. Related subsection: 7.10.020(9): yard-maintenance quiet hours.

Yelling, shouting, whistling, or singing that disturbs neighbors between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., or at any time it unreasonably interferes with peace and comfort, is a civil infraction under FWRC 1.15.110: $100.00 first offense, $200.00 second, $300.00 third or subsequent, not including fees and costs.

Construction Hours

FWRC 7.10.020(8) bars construction noise, including equipment, power tools, and hammering, between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends. Work is allowed outside those hours, and violations are civil infractions.

Key details: Governing section: FWRC 7.10.020(8). Barred hours, weekdays: 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Barred hours, weekends: 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.. Allowed weekday window: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. First-offense fine: $100.00 civil infraction.

Construction equipment, power tool, or hammering noise outside the permitted hours (before 7:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. weekdays, before 9:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. weekends) is a civil infraction under FWRC 1.15.110: $100.00 first offense, $200.00 second, $300.00 third or subsequent, plus fees and costs.

Decibel Limits

FWRC 7.10.050 adopts the state's maximum environmental noise levels under the Noise Control Act, Chapter 70.107 RCW and Chapter 173-60 WAC, as Federal Way's numeric noise standard, plus watercraft noise limits under Chapter 173-70 WAC. The city can also require a compliance bond under Chapter 19.25 FWRC.

Key details: Governing section: FWRC 7.10.050. State noise standard adopted: Chapter 70.107 RCW / WAC 173-60. Watercraft noise standard adopted: WAC 173-70. Compliance tool: Bond under Chapter 19.25 FWRC (7.10.060). Nonconformance cross reference: FWRC 19.30.060.

A violation of the adopted maximum environmental noise levels is a public nuisance and Code violation enforceable through Title 7's civil infraction process under FWRC 1.15.110, and the city may separately require a compliance bond under Chapter 19.25 FWRC where FWRC 7.10.060 applies to insure ongoing compliance with the adopted state noise limits.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Federal Way bars using a radio, loudspeaker, musical instrument, or any device that reproduces sound audible more than 50 feet away in any city park unless the parks director issues a permit under FWRC 4.05.390. Citywide noise limits outside parks run separately under FWRC Chapter 7.10's decibel-based rules.

Key details: Audibility limit: Not audible beyond 50 feet. Permit issuer: Parks director. Covered devices: Radios, loudspeakers, instruments, record players. Citywide noise rule: General decibel limits: Chapter 7.10 FWRC. Penalty: Misdemeanor: up to $1,000 fine or 90 days.

Playing amplified sound audible beyond 50 feet in a Federal Way park without a director's permit violates FWRC 4.05.390 and FWRC 4.05.040. The general misdemeanor penalty in FWRC 1.10.010 applies: up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged separately. The parks director can also expel a violator from city parks for one to seven days under FWRC 4.05.050, and unpermitted sound equipment can be ordered shut down on the spot.

Vehicle Noise

Federal Way bans excessive vehicle noise under FWRC 7.10.020: unnecessary horn or siren blasts, revving or repairing an engine in a residential district loud enough to disturb neighbors, and car stereos audible more than 50 feet away are each a public disturbance noise. The Federal Way Police Department enforces the ordinance citywide, around the clock.

Key details: Stereo audibility limit: 50 feet from the vehicle. Governing section: FWRC 7.10.020. Enforcing agency: Federal Way Police Department. Maximum penalty: $1,000 fine or 90 days jail. Park PA exception: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m..

A public disturbance noise violation under FWRC 7.10.020 is enforced as a misdemeanor through the city's general penalty at FWRC 1.10.010, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both. Federal Way police can also issue a citation immediately after witnessing a horn, exhaust-brake or stereo violation, and repeated calls to the same address strengthen a peace-and-comfort case under subsection (2).

The Bottom Line

Federal Way's noise ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Federal Way is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Federal Way can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.