Federal Way, WA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Federal Way, WA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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.
(8) Sounds originating from construction sites, including but not limited to sounds from construction equipment, power tools and hammering between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends.
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
FWRC 7.10.020, Public disturbance noise, treats construction sounds as their own category in subsection (8), which identifies sounds originating from construction sites, including but not limited to sounds from construction equipment, power tools, and hammering, as a public disturbance noise when they occur between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends. That leaves a weekday work window from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and a shorter weekend window from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Unlike the general disturbance test used elsewhere in the section, subsection (8) is time-bounded rather than dependent on proving a listener was actually disturbed: any qualifying construction sound within the barred hours violates the section regardless of volume. The subsection is distinct from (9), which sets a different, later-starting quiet period of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. weekdays and 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. weekends for residential lawn and yard maintenance equipment such as lawnmowers and powered hand tools, so construction sites face the stricter of the two schedules.
A construction-hours violation is a civil infraction under FWRC 1.15.110, enforced by code enforcement officers and police under FWRC 7.03.060, subject to the standard $100.00, $200.00, $300.00 escalating penalty schedule for repeat violations of the same nature, not including fees, costs, and assessments.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can construction noise occur in Federal Way?
Is construction noise treated differently from yard equipment noise?
What is the penalty for construction noise outside permitted hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
Compare Federal Way to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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Construction Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle construction hours.