Federal Way, WA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2021 International Building Code (FWRC 13.16.020)
- Critical-area work
- Permit always required, no exemptions apply
- Shed exemption
- 200 sq ft or less, 10 ft wall height max
- Amended-permit fee
- Set by city fee resolution
- Appeal deadline
- 14 days to hearing examiner
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine and/or 90 days jail
Summary
Federal Way requires a building permit for construction work under the adopted 2021 International Building Code, and FWRC 13.16.030 tightens the standard IBC exemptions: work inside a mapped critical area always needs a permit, and only small detached accessory structures under 200 square feet and 10 feet of wall height skip the permit step.
IBC Section 105.1.1, Annual permit, is hereby replaced with IBC Section 105.1.1, Work in Critical Areas, to read as follows: Permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall be required for work proposed within critical areas. Work exempt from permit (IBC Section 105.2) shall not apply to work proposed in critical areas. ... IBC Section 105.2, item 1, is hereby amended to read as follows: One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (18.58 m2) and exterior wall height shall not exceed 10 feet measured from the bottom plate to the top of wall.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1049, passed August 11, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030 amends several of its permit provisions. 2 do not apply there. 2, item 1 so that a one-story tool shed, storage shed, playhouse, or similar structure is exempt from a permit only if its floor area is 200 square feet or less and its exterior wall height does not exceed 10 feet from bottom plate to top of wall; anything larger needs a permit like any other structure. The chapter also creates a formal amended-permit process at subsection (7): if the scope or size of an already-permitted project changes, the applicant must file for an amended permit, submit updated plans and calculations, and pay a review fee under the city's fee resolution before the building official issues the amendment.
080, and an appellant must file within 14 days and pay the appeal fee set on the city's fee schedule, refundable if the appeal succeeds.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required permit, or performing critical-area work under the mistaken belief that the IBC's standard exemptions apply, is enforced under the FWRC 1.10.010 general penalty: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of unpermitted construction charged as a separate violation the building official can refer for civil abatement under Chapter 1.15 FWRC.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I build a shed in Federal Way without a permit?
Do I need a permit to work in a critical area?
What if my project changes after the permit is issued?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle building permits.