Industrial sources in Federal Way must meet WAC 173-60: 70 dBA at industrial receivers, 65 at commercial, and 60 day / 50 night at residential. Code Compliance enforces in areas along I-5 and 348th Street.
Federal Way enforces industrial noise through FWRC Title 7 and the state EDNA table at WAC 173-60.040. When noise originates in a Class C (industrial) source such as the light industrial zones along S 336th Street, Weyerhaeuser Way, and the I-5/SR-18 corridor, the receiving limits are: 70 dBA at an industrial receiver, 65 dBA at commercial, and 60 dBA daytime / 50 dBA nighttime at residential. Residentially zoned receivers include most neighborhoods east and west of Pacific Highway South, plus residential pockets bordering the business park zones. Short-duration exceedances of 5 dBA for 15 minutes, 10 dBA for 5 minutes, or 15 dBA for 1.5 minutes are allowed per hour. Sources commonly cited include loading dock operations, refrigeration units on warehouse roofs, compressors, backup generators during testing, and early-morning delivery trucks. Weyerhaeuser campus and the light industrial areas near SW 356th Street are subject to the same standards. Facilities should conduct acoustic site assessments when expanding near residential zones.
Sustained exceedances at residential property lines are civil infractions with fines escalating to $500 per day. Chronic violators face abatement orders and nuisance lawsuits from affected homeowners.
Federal Way, WA
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Federal Way, WA
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Federal Way, WA
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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
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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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