Electrician Federal Way connects homeowners and businesses in Federal Way, WA and 8 nearby cities with licensed, L&I certified local electricians. Call (253) 555-0100 from anywhere in the area. Each city has its own mix of permit office and electric utility, so this page shows who handles what, city by city, before your electrician starts work.
Federal Way: Where We Start
Federal Way is a King County city of about 101,000 people on I-5, halfway between Seattle and Tacoma, with a long shoreline on Puget Sound. Its ZIP codes are 98003 and 98023, plus part of 98001 on the east side. Much of the housing dates from the 1960s to the 1990s, which is why panel upgrades, breaker problems and outdated outlets are some of the most common calls here.
- Twin Lakes
- Dash Point
- Redondo
- Lakeland
- Steel Lake
- Mirror Lake
- Camelot
- Marine Hills
- Adelaide
- West Campus
- Northshore
- 98003
- 98023
- 98001 (part)
Two local facts matter for almost every job in Federal Way:
- The city issues its own electrical permits. Inside Federal Way city limits, electrical permits and inspections come from the City of Federal Way Permit Center at 33325 8th Ave S (253-835-2607), not from L&I. Simple electrical permits can be applied for through MyBuildingPermit.
- Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is the electric utility. Any service upgrade, meter pull or reconnect is coordinated with PSE.
Fall and winter windstorms knock out power across the area most years, and the damp marine climate is hard on outdoor outlets and fixtures. Those two local conditions drive a lot of generator, surge protection and GFCI work. See our electrical services for everything we can help with.
Service Area Comparison: Permits and Utilities by City
This is the table most people need. Around Federal Way, the office that issues your electrical permit can be the city, Washington State L&I or Tacoma Power, and the utility can be PSE, Seattle City Light, Tacoma Power or a city-run utility. Your electrician should confirm both for your exact address.
| City | County | Electrical permits and inspections | Electric utility | Main ZIP codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Way | King | City of Federal Way, 253-835-2607 | Puget Sound Energy | 98003, 98023, part of 98001 |
| Auburn | King, with Lakeland Hills in Pierce | WA L&I | Puget Sound Energy | 98001, 98002, 98092 |
| Kent | King | WA L&I | Puget Sound Energy | 98030, 98031, 98032, part of 98042 |
| Des Moines | King | City of Des Moines, 206-870-7576 | Puget Sound Energy | 98198, part of 98148 |
| SeaTac | King | City of SeaTac, 206-973-4750 | Seattle City Light north of S 160th St, PSE south of it | 98188, 98158, edges of 98148, 98168, 98198 |
| Milton | Pierce, with a small part in King | City jurisdiction. Tacoma Power handles low voltage permits and inspections for the city | City of Milton electric utility | 98354 |
| Fife | Pierce | Tacoma Power, 253-502-8277 | Tacoma Power | 98424 |
| Tacoma | Pierce | Tacoma Power, 253-502-8277 | Tacoma Power | 98422 (Northeast Tacoma) and many more |
| Puyallup | Pierce | WA L&I, or Tacoma Power if it is your utility | Mostly Puget Sound Energy | 98371 to 98375 |
Contractor licenses and electrician certificates come from L&I everywhere in the state, and the rules in WAC 296-46B, based on the National Electrical Code, apply in every city on this list.
Cities We Cover Near Federal Way
Auburn
Auburn sits just east of Federal Way along SR 18, where the Green and White River valleys meet. The city handles building permits, but electrical permits come from L&I, and PSE supplies the power. Homes range from older houses near downtown to hillside ramblers on Lea Hill and West Hill and newer homes in Lakeland Hills. Electricians in Auburn.
Kent
Kent lies northeast of Federal Way and splits into the West Hill, the Kent Valley and the East Hill. Electrical permits go through L&I and the utility is PSE. The valley has a large warehouse and industrial district, while the East Hill around Lake Meridian and Panther Lake is mostly 1970s to 1990s homes. Electricians in Kent.
Des Moines
Des Moines is the waterfront city directly north of Federal Way along Puget Sound. It runs its own electrical permits through the city Building Division, and PSE is the utility. Salt air near the marina, Zenith and Woodmont, plus many post war homes, shape most electrical calls. Electricians in Des Moines.
SeaTac
SeaTac, a few miles farther north around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also issues its own electrical permits. It is split between 2 utilities: Seattle City Light north of S 160th St and PSE to the south. Many homes are 1940s to 1960s ramblers. Electricians in SeaTac.
Milton
Milton is a small city just south of Federal Way, reached by Enchanted Parkway (SR 161). It runs its own electric utility, buying power from the Bonneville Power Administration, and its own line crew handles outages. It is on L&I’s list of cities with their own electrical jurisdiction, and the city says Tacoma Power performs low voltage permits and inspections on its behalf. Electricians in Milton.
Fife
Fife is southwest of Federal Way, straight down I-5, on the low Puyallup River valley floor next to the Port of Tacoma. Tacoma Power is both the utility and the permit office. Warehouses, dealerships and newer apartments sit alongside older farmhouses, and parts of the city are in the floodplain. Electricians in Fife.
Tacoma
Northeast Tacoma shares a border with Federal Way, linked by Dash Point Road (SR 509), and Browns Point and Dash Point sit just beyond it. Tacoma Power supplies power and issues electrical permits across the city. Homes range from 1990s planned communities in Northeast Tacoma to early 1900s houses with knob and tube wiring in the North End. Electricians in Tacoma.
Puyallup
Puyallup is south of Federal Way by way of SR 161 or SR 167. Most of the city and unincorporated South Hill are PSE customers with L&I permits, but Tacoma Power customers go through Tacoma Power. Older valley homes near downtown and newer South Hill subdivisions need very different work. Electricians in Puyallup.
Not sure which office handles your permit?
Call and tell us your address. We will connect you with a licensed local electrician who works in your city.
Service Area FAQs
Which cities around Federal Way do you cover?
Electrician Federal Way covers Federal Way plus Auburn, Kent, Des Moines, SeaTac, Milton, Fife, Tacoma and Puyallup. If you are just outside these cities, call and ask.
Why do electrical permits come from different offices in different cities?
Washington lets some cities run their own electrical permit and inspection programs, including Federal Way, Des Moines, SeaTac and Milton. Tacoma Power runs its own program for the properties it serves. Everywhere else, L&I issues the permit.
How do I know which electric utility I have?
Check the name on your power bill. Around Federal Way it may be Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, Tacoma Power or the City of Milton.
Who issues electrical permits in Federal Way?
The City of Federal Way Permit Center, 253-835-2607. Federal Way is not an L&I permit area for electrical work.
Are the electricians licensed?
We connect you with independent electrical contractors licensed by L&I, whose electricians hold state certificates. You can check any contractor on L&I’s Verify a Contractor tool.
Does Electrician Federal Way do the work itself?
No. We answer your call, help you describe the job and connect you with a licensed local electrician, who handles the visit, pricing, permit and work.