Federal Way vs Kirkland
How do decibel limits rules compare between Federal Way, WA and Kirkland, WA?
Federal Way and Kirkland have similar restriction levels.
Federal Way, WA
King County
Federal Way applies the WAC 173-60 EDNA table. Residential receivers: 55 dBA day / 45 dBA night. Commercial: 60/55. Industrial: 70/65. Limits are measured at the receiving property line, not the source.
View full Federal Way rules →Kirkland, WA
King County
Kirkland applies WAC 173-60 decibel limits: 55 dBA residential, 57 dBA commercial, 60 dBA industrial at a residential property, with a 10 dBA night reduction. KMC 11.84A adds a behavior-based standard.
View full Kirkland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Federal Way | Kirkland |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Day/Night | 55 / 45 dBA | - |
| Commercial Day/Night | 60 / 55 dBA | - |
| Industrial Day/Night | 70 / 65 dBA | - |
| Measurement Point | Receiving property line | - |
| Residential Day | - | 55 dBA |
| Residential Night | - | 45 dBA |
| Industrial Day | - | 60 dBA at residence |
| Code | - | WAC 173-60 and KMC 11.84A |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Federal Way FAQ
Where are decibels measured in Federal Way?
At the receiving property line, not the source. The limit depends on the zoning of both the source and receiver parcels.
Are brief noise spikes allowed in Federal Way?
Yes, WAC 173-60 allows 5 dBA over for 15 minutes, 10 dBA over for 5 minutes, or 15 dBA over for 1.5 minutes in any one-hour period.
Kirkland FAQ
What is the decibel limit in Kirkland?
55 dBA residential daytime received at a neighbor residential property, reduced to 45 dBA from 10 PM to 7 AM weekdays under WAC 173-60 adopted via KMC 11.84A.
Does Kirkland Police carry decibel meters?
Usually not. Officers rely on the behavior-based public disturbance standard in KMC 11.84A. Decibel measurement is reserved for complex industrial or commercial cases.
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