Federal Way, WA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Federal Way Revised Code Chapter 19.295, adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1002 on February 4, 2025, sets three tracks for EV charging: a principal use (a standalone charging or battery-exchange station), an accessory use to non-single-family development, and an accessory use to single-family homes. Reserved EV parking spaces are for vehicles actively charging, and any EV may otherwise park in a normal public space under the same rules that apply to any other vehicle (FWRC 19.295.020).

For principal-use stations, allowed under the land use tables in Chapters 19.195 through 19.240 FWRC, each EV parking space must be posted with signage limiting it to charging purposes, and the equipment must display all charges, fees and costs at the point of sale before a session starts, consistent with RCW 19.94.560 and 23 CFR 680.106. The owner or operator is responsible for keeping the equipment functioning, must post a contact number for reporting outages, and must repair or replace damaged infrastructure within 30 days of receiving a report of the damage (FWRC 19.295.030).

Where charging is added as an accessory use to apartments, offices, retail or other non-single-family uses, up to 50 percent of a site's required parking spaces may be EV spaces, and installation is reviewed through the applicable use process or, if none applies, as part of the building permit (FWRC 19.295.040). The same signage, fee-disclosure, maintenance, 30-day repair and lighting standards from the principal-use section carry over, and stations near sidewalks or building entrances cannot block accessible routes or displace landscaping required under Chapter 19.120 FWRC.

For single-family homes, accessory charging equipment is limited to personal use by residents or an accessory dwelling unit occupant and cannot be used commercially, except for a vehicle tied to a home occupation permitted under Chapter 19.270 FWRC or a commercial vehicle parked under FWRC 19.130.250 that a resident primarily operates (FWRC 19.295.050).