Federal Way, WA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

170 governs outdoor commercial activity citywide. Under subsection (1), commercial and industrial uses already permitted on a site may generally operate out-of-doors subject to Process I review unless another provision restricts them. Subsection (2) normally requires an applicant to submit a scaled site plan to the department of community development showing building and parking locations, the outdoor activity area, landscaping, a description of the use, and its intended duration, and subsection (3) layers on buffer, screening-fence, height and yard standards for that outdoor area. 170(4)(c).

That means a sidewalk cafe or espresso cart seating area in those zones is not required to go through the full site-plan submission and buffering process that applies to general outdoor storage or display uses. The exemption carries one express condition that applies to every use in subsection (4): the outdoor dining or refreshment activity must not inhibit safe vehicular and pedestrian movement to, from, and on the subject property. The same section separately exempts Christmas tree lots capped at 30 days a year, temporary carnivals and parking-lot sales capped at seven days per six months, vehicle display lots, year-round outdoor lawn and garden sales, and covered accessory sales areas meeting five listed criteria, showing the outdoor dining carve-out sits alongside a short, specific list rather than a blanket exemption for all outdoor commercial activity.

Any outdoor use not fitting one of the (4) exceptions still needs the Process I site plan and the six-foot screening standard set out in subsection (3)(b).