City of Federal Way building permits: fees, timelines & requirements (2026)
What needs a permit in City of Federal Way and what triggers one — each row quoted from the city's own code or permit page, with the source linked and the source page checked daily for changes. Fees and review times appear where the city publishes them. Covers ADU, addition, kitchen, bathroom, basement, deck, fence, siding, windows, flooring, roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and ancillary permits (King County).
21 of 24 project types have authoritative rules on file · 12 always require a permit · 8 depend on the scope · 1 do not.
Get your lot in 3D with zoning, setbacks, and the exact permits your project needs — cited to City of Federal Way's source.
Construction permits
| Project | Permit? | Threshold | Fee | Review days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | Depends on scope | No permit for cabinets, counters, paint or tile. A permit once you move plumbing, add circuits, run gas or change walls. Cosmetic finish work (cabinets, countertops, tile) is exempt; remodels touching framing, wiring, plumbing, or mechanical require a permit per the Single Family Remodel Checklist (#156). | Fees set by jurisdiction. WA Building Code Council surcharge: $6.50 per building permit. Trade permits separate. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Bathroom remodel | Depends on scope | No permit for tile, paint or a same-spot fixture swap. A permit once plumbing moves, circuits are added or the tub or shower goes. Clearing stoppages and repairing leaks are exempt, but new or relocated plumbing fixtures are not on the exemption list and require a permit; finish-only work (tile) is exempt. | Fees set by jurisdiction. Plus separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Basement finish | Always | Finishing a basement into habitable space needs a building permit; egress and ceiling height are the usual review items. Finishing or converting a basement into habitable space is a remodel requiring a building permit; hard-wired smoke detectors must be shown on each floor including basements. | Plan-review fee scales with valuation. State surcharge $6.50. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Deck | Depends on scope | A detached deck up to 200 sq ft and 30 in outside a critical area is exempt. Larger, higher, attached, or in a critical area or buffer needs a permit. A building permit is required for a deck larger than 200 sq ft, OR greater than 30 inches above the ground, OR attached to the house, OR within an environmentally critical area or buffer. Decks ≤200 sq ft and ≤30 inches above grade are exempt. | Most jurisdictions handle decks as field-inspection or simplified plan review. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Fence | Depends on scope | No permit for a fence 6 ft or under. A building permit is not required for a fence not over 6 feet high; a fence over 6 feet requires a permit. The exemption list notes that other code requirements may still apply, and zoning height limits in FWRC Title 19 apply regardless. | Typically no fee unless permit required. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Siding | Depends on scope | Like-for-like siding is an ordinary repair and exempt. Changing sheathing, adding insulation, or changing the weather barrier needs a permit. 2021 IRC R105.2(1)(g) exempts "ordinary repairs" — like-for-like siding replacement on existing structure. Permit required if changing structural sheathing, adding insulation that affects WSEC compliance, or modifying weather-resistive barrier (WRB) detailing. | Typically minimal fee — like-for-like usually exempt. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Window replacement | Depends on scope | Same-size replacement in the existing opening is exempt. A new, enlarged or reduced opening, a header change, or anything that affects a bedroom escape window needs a permit. 2021 IRC R105.2(1)(g) exempts like-for-like window replacement (same rough opening, same R-value class). Permit required for: new openings, enlarged/reduced openings, egress-affecting changes (R310), and any change that crosses a structural element. | Like-for-like usually no permit fee. Structural changes scale with valuation. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Flooring | No permit | Flooring is finish work and exempt. Floor finish work (carpet, tile) is exempt finish work — no building permit required. | No permit fee for surface flooring. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| ADU / DADU | Always | An ADU or DADU always needs a building permit, and usually trade permits with it. An ADU may be up to 1,000 sq ft of floor area (and may not exceed the square footage of the primary dwelling), with up to two bedrooms, and may be up to 30 feet tall. ADUs are not permitted within required yard setbacks; a minimum 10-foot separation from other structures is required. Three off-street parking spaces are required for a property with an ADU, except within 1/4 mile of a major transit stop. | Full Construction Permit (Addition/Alteration) fees. A new ADU connection commonly also triggers a ONE-TIME sewer and/or water connection charge from the utility that serves the property — called a general facility charge, a capacity charge or a system development charge depending on the utility. WHICH UTILITY AND WHICH CHARGE IS A PER-PROPERTY FACT, not a city or county one, and a single lot can sit inside a city for permitting and outside its sewer district. Ask the utility that will actually serve the ADU; this charge is often the largest single line in an ADU budget after construction. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Roofing | Not verified | Whether a re-roof needs a permit depends on this city's own code, and cities differ: some exempt a like-for-like re-roof, some require a permit only when sheathing is replaced, some for every re-roof. Kolmo has not verified this city — ask its building department. Whether a re-roof needs a building permit is set by each city's own administrative code (the chapter it adopts with the residential code), and cities differ: some exempt a roof recover or a like-for-like replacement, some require a permit only when the sheathing is modified or replaced, and some require one for every re-roof. Kolmo has not verified this city's rule; ask its building department. Re-roofing requirements themselves are in IRC R908. | Flat fee or valuation-based, per the city's fee schedule. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| HVAC | Always | Any mechanical equipment install, replacement or relocation needs a mechanical permit. WAC 51-52 (2021 IMC) and WAC 51-56 (2021 UPC) require mechanical permit for any equipment install, replacement, or relocation. WSEC R403 requires sizing per Manual J/S/D for new equipment. | Mechanical permit + electrical permit (if new circuit) + plumbing permit (if condensate to drain). | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Electrical | Depends on scope | Electrical work needs a permit except minor repair: replacing a breaker, a lamp, or connecting approved portable equipment. Electrical work requires a permit except minor work — replacement of branch-circuit overcurrent devices and minor electrical repair (replacing lamps, connecting approved portable equipment) are exempt. Federal Way adopts NEC 2023. | Electrical permit fees are set by circuit count and service size in the issuing agency's fee schedule. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Plumbing | Depends on scope | Plumbing work needs a permit except minor repairs: stopping leaks and clearing stoppages. Plumbing work requires a permit except minor repairs — stopping leaks in drain/water/soil/waste/vent pipe and clearing stoppages or repairing leaks in pipes, valves, or fixtures are exempt. Federal Way adopts UPC 2021. | Plumbing permit fees are set by fixture count in the city's fee schedule. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Addition | Always | Adding floor area always needs a building permit. Any increase to building footprint or conditioned floor area requires a building permit. A Certificate of Water Availability with fire-flow calculations is required for additions or any change to the building footprint. | Plan-review fee scales with valuation per UBC Table 1-A. State surcharge $6.50 per building permit. Trade permits (E/P/M) separate. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
Ancillary & non-building permits
| Project | Permit? | Threshold | Fee | Review days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition | Always | Demolishing a structure or a substantial part of one needs a permit; asbestos and lead notifications are separate. 2021 IBC Section 105.1 + WA-adopted IRC R105.1: demolition of any structure or portion thereof requires a permit. Tear-out of interior finishes only is generally treated as alteration. Asbestos / lead notification often required separately under WAC 173-303 / 296-62. | Demolition fees commonly charged as flat fee or by structure size. State surcharge $6.50 applies. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Right-of-way | Always | Any work in or occupation of the public right of way needs a right-of-way permit from public works. Issued by city public works (or SDOT in Seattle) under local ROW ordinance. Triggered by physical occupation of or work within the public ROW including driveway aprons, curb cuts, sidewalk replacement, utility tie-ins, hauling routes, and temporary construction staging. | Right-of-way permit fees vary by city: a base fee for a residential driveway or curb cut, plus a per-day occupancy charge if the street is obstructed. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Side sewer | Always | A new side-sewer connection, a repair beyond about 2 ft, relining or capping needs a permit from whichever utility owns the main. The side-sewer permit is issued by whichever utility owns the sanitary sewer — the city, a sewer or water district, or a regional utility — under that utility's own code, with WAC 51-56 (2021 UPC) governing how the building sewer is laid. WHICH UTILITY IS A PER-PROPERTY FACT: a lot can sit inside a city for permitting and outside its sewer district, so confirm the owner of the main before applying. Triggered by a new connection, repair of more than about 2 ft of pipe, relining (CIPP), or capping at the property line for a demolition. | Side-sewer permit fees are set by the utility that owns the main; some add a depth-based surcharge. Utility-issued, not building-permit-issued. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Stormwater / drainage | Always | New or replaced impervious surface and land disturbance are reviewed under the drainage manual this jurisdiction adopts; the threshold is the manual's. Ecology's Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW, 2024 edition) is the state floor. A municipal stormwater permittee may instead adopt a REGIONAL manual Ecology has determined equivalent, and most do — some counties publish their own, some cities publish their own, and others adopt Ecology's directly. WHICH MANUAL APPLIES IS A PER-JURISDICTION FACT and it changes the numbers: review thresholds for new plus replaced impervious surface and for land-disturbing activity differ between manuals, so read this jurisdiction's own adopting chapter before quoting one. Critical-area and closed-basin parcels get stricter review under every manual. | Drainage review fees are commonly tiered by project size in the city's fee schedule. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Land-use / zoning | Always | A variance, conditional use, plat or design review is a land-use decision that precedes the building permit. Triggered when a project does not conform to the strict letter of the zoning code. Variances require a hardship finding under most city codes. Design review thresholds vary (Seattle: most multifamily + non-residential >4,000 sqft; many cities: design review only in designated districts). | Land-use fees vary widely; a variance usually carries an application fee plus cost recovery for the hearing examiner. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-24 |
| Tree removal | Not verified | This city protects trees under its own ordinance and Kolmo has not verified the size threshold. Ask the city before cutting; some cities prohibit removal above a size rather than permit it. Triggered by removal of a tree that the city's own tree ordinance protects — commonly defined by a diameter at breast or standard height, a listed-species table, a grove or heritage designation, or a canopy-cover target. This baseline row carries NO verified local threshold; read the city's tree chapter before quoting a number. Some cities do not permit removal above a size at all — they prohibit removal of regulated trees outside enumerated exceptions, so a "permit required at X inches" reading is wrong there. | Tree-removal permit fees are set per permit or per tree in the city's fee schedule; some cities require replacement bonds. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-23 |
| Signs | Always | Permanent signs need a sign permit; small temporary residential signs are usually exempt. City sign code (typically Title 22 or 23) governs. Wall, freestanding, projecting, awning, and electronic message signs all require permits. Most cities exempt small temporary residential signs (real-estate, political) under area thresholds (~6 sqft). | Sign permit fees are set in the city's fee schedule, plus an electrical sub-permit for an illuminated sign. | Not published by the city | Cite verified 2026-09-23 |
City of Federal Way permits — frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a building permit in Federal Way, and what are the Permit Center hours?
Most applications that require review must be submitted electronically — you first request a Document Upload Link from the city, which can take a few days. Simple mechanical, electrical, and plumbing jobs can instead go through the over-the-counter program on MyBuildingPermit. The Permit Center is open 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (closed Wednesdays); [email protected] or (253) 835-2607.
Source: City of Federal Way — Permit Center ↗What residential work is exempt from a building permit in Federal Way?
Federal Way exempts a short list: one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft, fences not over 6 feet tall, retaining walls not over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), and decks up to 200 sq ft that sit no more than 30 inches above grade, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the required exit door. Finish work like paint, cabinets, and countertops is also exempt. Critically, none of these exemptions apply inside a critical area or its buffer.
Source: City of Federal Way — Permit Exemptions ↗What are the rules for an ADU in Federal Way?
Washington’s HB 1337 requires Federal Way to allow up to two ADUs per lot, including detached units. Federal Way’s rule is FWRC 19.200.180 (Ordinance 25-1010, May 2025): up to two ADUs per property, each with no more than 1,000 sq ft. State law also caps parking: no more than one off-street space per ADU on lots under 6,000 sq ft, and none within a half-mile walk of a major transit stop.
Source: Federal Way Revised Code 19.265 ↗Do I need a water/sewer availability certificate for an ADU or new unit in Federal Way?
Yes. Federal Way has no city water or sewer utility, so your property is served by an outside district — most commonly Lakehaven Water & Sewer District — and certificates of water and sewer availability are required before you submit your building permit application for an ADU or new unit. If Lakehaven serves you, you complete its Certificate of Availability application; an ADU on septic must first get King County Public Health approval, and a detached ADU on sewer needs its own service connection.
Source: Lakehaven Water & Sewer District ↗How do critical areas (wetlands, bluffs, shoreline) affect a Federal Way permit?
Federal Way regulates Environmentally Critical Areas — wetlands, critical aquifer recharge areas, fish-and-wildlife habitat, frequently flooded areas, and geologically hazardous areas — under FWRC Chapter 19.145, and you generally cannot disturb them or their buffers without approval. The city may require a critical-area report, often peer-reviewed by a third-party expert at your expense. Even minor work like tree removal or demolition in an ECA needs written approval from the Director.
Source: City of Federal Way — Building Division ↗Does my contractor need to be registered to pull a Federal Way permit?
Yes. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with Labor & Industries and to be bonded and insured before they bid, advertise, or perform work — the same in Federal Way as anywhere in the state. Verify a contractor’s active registration, bond, and insurance through L&I’s "Verify a Contractor" lookup before signing.
Source: WA L&I — Contractor Registration ↗Building in City of Federal Way?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, bonded and insured — working throughout City of Federal Way and King County. We pull the permits listed above and build the project.
How this page is built
Each row is the most-recently-verified authoritative rule on file for City of Federal Way and the listed project type. “Pending verification” means we have City of Federal Way in our database but haven't yet personally checked the city page for that project — those rows fall back to King-County or Washington-state baselines until verified.
See the data-quality leaderboard for how we keep these current, or run an address-specific lookup on the main permits page.