Federal Way requires a grading permit for most cut or fill over 50 cubic yards under FWRC Title 19. Drainage changes must match the DOE Western Washington Stormwater Manual and not harm neighbors.
FWRC Title 19 and the building code regulate grading, excavation, and fill work in Federal Way. A grading permit is required when you move more than 50 cubic yards of earth, expose soil on more than 7,000 sf, or alter drainage in a way that affects neighboring property. Plans must include existing and proposed contours at 2-foot intervals, erosion control, and drainage analysis. Filling within FEMA Zone AE is prohibited in the floodway and tightly limited in the floodplain fringe along Hylebos Creek and Lakota Creek. Grading on slopes over 15 percent triggers geotechnical review and may require critical-area buffers, particularly on the West Hylebos and Dumas Bay slopes. Downstream drainage must not be made worse by a project; the common-law reasonable-use rule and Washington law require owners to accept natural flow but not increased, concentrated flow from an upstream property. Retaining walls over 4 feet (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) require separate building permits.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way permits construction under WAC 173-60.050 exemptions between 7 AM and 10 PM. Sunday work near homes is typically restricted. Work outside the win...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way prohibits dogs that bark or howl continuously and disturb neighbors under FWRC Title 9. Typical threshold is 20 minutes of continuous noise. Comp...
Federal Way, WA
Outdoor music events in Federal Way need a special event permit on public property or when amplified beyond neighborhood levels. Receiving limits at residenc...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way limits on-street RV and boat trailer parking to 72 hours. In residential zones, RVs on private property must be parked on a paved or gravel surfa...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at the Transit C...
Federal Way, WA
Under RCW 46.55, Federal Way police can tag and tow a vehicle left on a public street for more than 72 hours. On private property, owners follow state impoun...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle grading & drainage.
See how Federal Way's grading & drainage rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.