Chapter 13.16
BUILDING CODE
Sections:
13.16.020 2021 International Building Code adopted.
13.16.030 2021 International Building Code amendments.
13.16.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known as the city of Federal Way building code.
(Ord. No. 13-743, § 4, 6-4-13.)
13.16.020 2021 International Building Code adopted.
The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC), including the following appendix chapters:
(1) Appendix E, published by the International Code Council (ICC), is hereby adopted by reference pursuant to Chapter 19.27 RCW and Chapter 51-50 WAC. The International Building Code requirements for barrier-free accessibility, Chapter 11, and other IBC requirements for barrier-free access, including ICC A117.1-2017 and Appendix E, are adopted pursuant to Chapters 19.27 and 70.92 RCW and shall not be amended by local government.
(2) Appendix J of the IBC published by the International Code Council (ICC) is hereby adopted by reference.
(Ord. No. 24-980, § 1, 1-16-24; Ord. No. 21-910, § 2, 4-6-21; Ord. No. 17-830, § 3, 1-17-17; Ord. No. 13-743, § 4, 6-4-13.)
13.16.030 2021 International Building Code amendments.
The International Building Code, adopted by reference in FWRC 13.16.020, is amended as follows:
(1) IBC Section 101.1, Title, is hereby amended as follows:
These regulations shall be known as the Building Code of City of Federal Way, hereinafter referred to as “this code.”
(2) IBC Section 101.4.3, Plumbing, is hereby amended as follows:
The provisions of the 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code shall apply to the installation, alteration, repair and replacement of plumbing systems, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances, and where connected to a water or sewage system and all aspects of a medical gas system. Private Sewage Disposal systems shall be approved by King County Department of Health.
(3) IBC Section 101.4.6, Energy, is hereby amended as follows:
The provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code, including WAC 51-11R and WAC 51-11C, shall apply to all matters governing the design and construction of buildings for energy efficiency.
(4) IBC Section 105.1.1, Annual permit, is hereby replaced with IBC Section 105.1.1, Work in Critical Areas, to read as follows:
Permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall be required for work proposed within critical areas. Work exempt from permit (IBC Section 105.2) shall not apply to work proposed in critical areas.
(5) IBC Section 105.1.2, Annual permit records, is hereby deleted in its entirety.
(6) IBC Section 105.2, item 1, is hereby amended to read as follows:
One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (18.58 m2) and exterior wall height shall not exceed 10 feet measured from the bottom plate to the top of wall.
(7) IBC Section 105.4.1, Amended Permit, is hereby created as follows:
When the size of the building is increased or the scope for which the permit was issued is changed, an application to amend the building permit shall be required. Amended permit documents including but not limited to revised plans, calculations, product information, energy calculations, or other documents needed in order to clarify the intent and scope of the amended application shall be submitted for plan review. Fees for the review of the amended permit application shall be assessed and paid pursuant to the City of Federal Way fee resolution. When the building official is satisfied that the proposed work included in the amended application conforms to the requirements of this code and laws and ordinances applicable thereto, the building official shall issue a permit therefor as soon as practicable.
(8) IBC Section 107.3, Examination of documents, is hereby amended as follows:
The building official shall examine or cause to be examined the accompanying submittal documents and shall ascertain by such examinations whether the construction indicated and described is in accordance with the requirements of this code and other pertinent laws or ordinances. The building official may require third party review to insure compliance with this code. The cost of such review shall be borne by the applicant in compliance with the city’s fee schedule.
(9) Chapter 2, Definitions, is hereby amended by the addition of the following definition:
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the assessed value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. If the structure has sustained substantial damage, any repairs are considered substantial improvement regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:
1. Any project for improvement of a building required to correct existing health, sanitary or safety code violations identified by the building official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions.
2. Any alteration of a historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure’s continued designation as a historic structure.
(10) IBC Section 502.1, Address identification, is hereby amended as follows:
New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their backgrounds. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than 8 inches (203.2 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm). Where required by the fire code official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address identification shall be maintained.
(11) IBC Appendix J is hereby amended to add a new Section J101.1.1, Local Regulations, as follows:
In addition to the requirements of IBC appendix J, clearing and grading activities shall be reviewed and regulated under the following FWRC regulations:
(a) FWRC Title 16 Surface and Stormwater Management; and,
(b) Chapter 19.120 FWRC, Clearing, Grading, and Tree and Vegetation Retention; and,
(c) Chapter 19.142 FWRC, Flood Damage Prevention.
In case of conflict, the most restrictive provision shall apply.
(Ord. No. 24-980, § 2, 1-16-24; Ord. No. 21-910, § 3, 4-6-21; Ord. No. 17-830, § 4, 1-17-17; Ord. No. 13-743, § 4, 6-4-13.)