Water damage restoration · Federal Way, Washington
Water damage restoration in Federal Way, WA
Burst pipe, failed water heater, or storm water? Federal Way-area ZIPs: 23 flood claims since 1982[1]; 40% of homes built before 1980[2]. Request help from local restoration crews. Federal Way, in King County — ZIPs 98003, 98023, counts 99,729 residents (2025 estimate)[3].
Request helpIs this a water-damage emergency?
Answer a few questions for a plan for the next hour.
Federal Way at a glance for water damage
- Population (2025 est.)
- 99,729[3]-1.3% since 2020
- County
- King[3]
- Land area
- 22.3 sq mi[4]
- Flood-insurance (NFIP) claims, local ZIPs
- 23 since 1982[1]$128,676 paid across 16 claims · ZIP 98003, 98023
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 1[5]2016–2025 · latest Dec 5, 2023
- Federal disaster declarations incl. flooding, King Co.
- 11[6]of 18 total declarations
- Homes built before 1980
- 40%[2]the 7th-highest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover
- Households renting
- 45%[2]2020–2024
What Federal Way's numbers say about water damage
Federal Way counts 99,729 residents (2025 estimate), growing at a middle-of-the-pack -1.3% since 2020[3]. It covers 22.3 square miles (4,469 residents per square mile, the 6th densest), sits entirely in King County, in ZIP codes 98003, 98023[4].
Federal Way mixes 9% of homes built since 2010 and 40% before 1980[2]: new supply lines and water heaters in one house, aging pipe and original valves in the next — so where a leak starts depends a lot on the address.
Mail to Federal Way goes through 2 ZIP codes — 98003 (46% of the city's land), 98023 (46% of the city's land)[7].
The tracked suburbs closest by are Auburn (6.0 mi E), Kent (7.9 mi NE) and Puyallup (9.4 mi S)[4].
23 flood-insurance claims have come from Federal Way-area ZIP codes (98003, 98023) since 1982, and $128,676 has been paid on them (about $8,042 per paid claim)[1]. 1991 was the worst year, with 2 claims. That is the 3rd-fewest of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover; for comparison, Auburn (49), Kent (60), and Puyallup (169). Most jobs here start inside the house. Of the 23 claims rated in a flood zone, 2 were in FEMA's high-risk areas (zones A or V) and 21 outside them (zones B, C or X)[1][8] — flooding here is not only a high-risk-zone problem.
By month of loss, Federal Way-area flood claims cluster in February (5), October (3), and November (3) — 11 of 23 dated claims[1].
Within 10 miles of central Federal Way, weather observers filed 1 flood, flash-flood or heavy-rain report in 2016–2025[5]. Countywide: 11 flood declarations since 2000, latest Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4906, 2025)[6]. Nearby: Auburn (0), Kent (2), and Puyallup (0).
40% of Federal Way's 37,479 housing units predate 1980[2] — the 7th-highest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover (Auburn (33%), Kent (39%), and Puyallup (39%)). Expect a mix of original and replaced plumbing.
45% of Federal Way households rent[2]: tenants should report leaks to the landlord in writing, with photos.
Out of the 15 suburbs on this site, Federal Way has the 3rd-fewest NFIP flood claims (23)[1].
How a leak spreads inside a wall
Leaked water spreads outward and wicks up drywall the longer it runs.
Get water damage help in Federal Way
Requests go to Water damage restoration contractors serving the Federal Way area — ZIP codes 98003, 98023.
Before you call: what a restoration crew does first
Shared walls and ceilings: Federal Way homes by building type
47%[2] of Federal Way's homes share walls, floors or ceilings with a neighbour (multi-unit buildings alone: 44%, the 7th-highest multi-unit share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover). Water crosses those lines: in an attached or stacked unit, tell the neighbour and the association or landlord right away, and check whose policy covers which part of the damage.
After detached houses, the biggest group is 5–9 units: 4,310 of 37,479 housing units[2].
Federal Way also has 1,454 mobile homes (3.9%); for a leak under one, ask for a crew that works on manufactured homes.
| Building type | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | 18,430 | 49.2% | ±686 |
| Attached house (townhouse, rowhouse) | 1,065 | 2.8% | ±326 |
| Duplex (2 units) | 571 | 1.5% | ±187 |
| 3–4 units | 3,511 | 9.4% | ±701 |
| 5–9 units | 4,310 | 11.5% | ±629 |
| 10–19 units | 3,883 | 10.4% | ±642 |
| 20–49 units | 1,613 | 4.3% | ±375 |
| 50 or more units | 2,588 | 6.9% | ±437 |
| Mobile home | 1,454 | 3.9% | ±241 |
| Boat, RV, van, etc. | 54 | 0.1% | ±65 |
Margins of error are the Census Bureau’s 90% intervals; small categories in small cities are rough.
The Federal Way numbers behind this page
| Measure | Federal Way | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFIP flood claims (area ZIPs) | 23 | 46 | 23 fewer |
| Median home value | $552,800 | $686,900 | 20% lower |
| Built before 1980 | 40% | 39% | 1 pts higher |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 | 1 year older |
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 1 | 1 | same as median |
| Renter-occupied | 45% | 45% | same as median |
| Owner-occupied | 55% | 55% | same as median |
Sorted by largest difference. Each median is the middle value across the covered Seattle-area suburbs, from the same sources.
| City | NFIP claims | Flood reports ≤10 mi | Built before 1980 | Renting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Way | 23 | 1 | 40% | 45% |
| Auburn 6.0 mi | 49 | 0 | 33% | 39% |
| Kent 7.9 mi | 60 | 2 | 39% | 43% |
| Puyallup 9.4 mi | 169 | 0 | 39% | 48% |
| Renton 13.4 mi | 66 | 2 | 39% | 46% |
| Lakewood 13.6 mi | 46 | 0 | 59% | 52% |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year | Outside high-risk zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98003 | 10 | $47,593 | 1996 (2) | 9 of 10 |
| 98023 | 13 | $81,083 | 2013 (2) | 12 of 13 |
ZIPs extend past city limits. Outside high-risk zones: claims rated in zone B, C or X, of the claims that carry a zone.
| Year | Claims |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| Month | Claims |
|---|---|
| January | 2 |
| February | 5 |
| March | 1 |
| April | 2 |
| July | 1 |
| August | 1 |
| September | 2 |
| October | 3 |
| November | 3 |
| December | 3 |
| Date | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2023 | Heavy Rain | 9.7 mi |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Federal Way's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 98003 | 46% | 89% |
| 98023 | 46% | 100% |
Common Federal Way water damage questions
Do I need flood insurance in Federal Way?
Homeowners policies exclude outside floodwater[9], and Federal Way-area ZIPs have 10 NFIP claims in just the last ten years[1].
Which Federal Way ZIP codes do these crews cover?
98003 and 98023[7], in King County. Nearby pages: Auburn (6.0 mi), Kent (7.9 mi), and Puyallup (9.4 mi)[4].
Which Federal Way ZIP code has the most flood claims?
98023, with 13 NFIP claims and $81,083 paid[1].
When was the last flood report near Federal Way?
Dec 5, 2023: a heavy rain report 9.7 miles from the city center[5].
Sources
- OpenFEMA NFIP claims
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (keyless bulk)
- Census population estimates, Vintage 2025
- Census Gazetteer 2025
- NOAA Storm Events Database
- OpenFEMA disaster declarations
- Census 2020 ZCTA–place file
- FEMA, Flood Zones (link unverified)
- FEMA FloodSmart (link unverified)
Data pulled Sep 28, 2026. Full citations and method.