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.
Federal Way adopts the Washington State Maximum Environmental Noise Levels table at WAC 173-60.040 through FWRC Title 7. Every parcel has an Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) based on its zoning: Class A (residential), Class B (commercial), or Class C (industrial). Limits vary by source-receiver pair. Residential to residential: 55 dBA daytime (7 AM to 10 PM) and 45 dBA nighttime. Commercial to residential: 57 day / 47 night. Industrial to residential: 60 day / 50 night. Commercial to commercial: 60 dBA any time. Industrial to commercial: 65 dBA. Industrial to industrial: 70 dBA. Measurements are taken at the receiving property line using an ISO-compliant Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter with slow time weighting. Short exceedances are permitted: 5 dBA above limit for 15 minutes, 10 dBA for 5 minutes, or 15 dBA for 1.5 minutes in any hour. Code Compliance contracts qualified acousticians when formal enforcement is necessary.
Verified exceedances are civil infractions under FWRC Title 1. Fines start at $100 and scale to $500 for repeat violators. Abatement orders may apply.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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...
Federal Way, WA
Retaining walls over 4 feet tall require a building permit and engineering in Federal Way under IBC 1807. Walls with surcharge (driveway, pool) require permi...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way allows fences up to 6 feet in residential side and rear yards and up to 4 feet in front yards under FWRC 19.125.160. Corner lot sight-triangle ru...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way permits common fence materials (wood, vinyl, chain link, wrought iron, composite) in residential zones. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electric fen...
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