Land Use Permits and Approvals

Land use permits can be required by the city's zoning & development code, Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC) Title 19, to ensure that the proposed use and improvement of property meets the zoning and other requirements found in the code. Essentially, land use permits are not permits for construction, they are approvals for land development, design, and use for future building and construction activities. Among other things, the land use permitting process includes a review of commercial, industrial, and residential development, as well as subdividing land, environmental and shoreline review, tree removal, and zoning verification. See the Land Use Applications & Informational Handouts page for further information.

If you have a specific question(s), contact our "Planner On Duty" at email or 253-835-2655.

Some applications require a public notice that is published in the Federal Way Mirror, posted on-site at City Hall and the website, and in some cases, mailed to surrounding property owners. The page contains a list of public notices for recently proposed projects located within the City of Federal Way. The notice itself as well as additional information on the proposal, including submittal documents, can be found on this page.