Construction Codes
New Building Codes in Effect February 1, 2021
Permit applications which are governed by the ICC codes, and which are deemed complete after February 1, 2021, shall meet the minimum criteria of the 2018 code edition as amended by the State of Washington and the City of Federal Way. Applications submitted before February 1, 2021, and their subsequent revisions, will be reviewed under the 2015 code edition as amended by the State of Washington and the City of Federal Way.
**Please be aware that starting April 5, 2023, the Permit Center will be closed on Wednesdays**
The City of Federal Way uses the following construction codes:
- International Building Code (IBC), 2018 edition, including Appendices E and J
- Washington State Amendments, WAC 51-50 and RCW 19.27 & 70.92
- Accessibility Code ICC/ANSI A117.1-2009
- International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 edition, including Appendices H & J and excluding chapters 11 and 25 through 43
- Washington State Amendments, WAC 51-11R, 51-56 and 296-46B
- International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 edition
- Washington State Amendments, WAC 51-52 and RCW 19.27
- International Fire Code (IFC), 2018 edition, including Appendices B, C, E, F, and I
- Washington State Amendments, WAC 51-54A and RCW 19.27
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC, 2018 edition
- International Fuel & Gas Code (IFGC), 2018 edition
- International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), 2018 edition
- International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2018 edition
- Washington State Amendments, WAC 51-11R & 51-11C and RCW 19.27
- Washington State Energy Code (WSEC), 2018 edition
- National Electrical Code (NEC), 2020 edition
Washington State Amendments, WAC 296-43, 296-45 & 296-46B and RCW 19.28 - Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), 2018 edition, excluding chapters 12 and 15
Washington State Amendments, WAC 51-56 and RCW 19.27 - Federal Way Revised Code
The city code contains local amendments to the state adopted codes, as well as additional administrative procedures.