Tacoma building department

Tacoma Planning and Development Services (PDS) issues building, mechanical, plumbing, demolition, fire-protection, site-development, right-of-way, utility-connection, and land-use permits inside the City of Tacoma. Unincorporated areas around the city, including some with Tacoma mailing addresses, are permitted by Pierce County Planning and Public Works. Electrical inspections are scheduled with Tacoma Public Utilities rather than through PDS.

Applying in Accela

Tacoma’s permit platform is Accela Citizen Access (aca-prod.accela.com/tacoma). New users create an account and can follow the city’s Getting Started Guide, and TacomaPermits.org hosts tip sheets, the fee estimator, and status tools. Applications take one of three routes:

• E-permits (online only, no plan review): residential irrigation backflow preventers, roof overlays, and water-connection repairs, plus some commercial reroofs and fire alarm, transmitter, and sprinkler permits.
• Over-the-counter (OTC): for residential work this includes window replacement, woodstoves, siding, like-for-like HVAC replacement, heat pump or furnace installation, water heater replacement, re-piping, and full demolition.
• Plan review: new buildings, additions, and alterations such as decks, dormers, and retaining walls. Submittals must follow the city’s Electronic File Standards, and PDS publishes a residential submittal checklist.

Tacoma’s residential permit types are BLDRN (new building), BLDRA (alteration), DEMOR (demolition), FIRER (fire protection), MECH (mechanical), and PLMB (plumbing).

Pre-application and coaching

Residential coaching is free for single-family homes, duplexes, and ADUs. For larger projects, the 2026 fee schedule lists two paid pre-application options:

• Option A, an electronic review with a comment memo, costs $1,670.
• Option B, which adds an in-person meeting and a post-meeting memo, costs $3,330.

The pre-application fee can be credited toward up to 100% of the building plan review fee if you apply for the permit within one year.

Work exempt from a Tacoma building permit

Item	Exempt when…
Detached accessory structure	One story, floor area 200 sq ft or less
Fence	Not over 7 feet high
Retaining wall	Not over 4 feet (bottom of footing to top of wall), unless supporting a surcharge
Deck	200 sq ft or less, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the dwelling
Reroof (single-family or duplex)	Existing covering removed first, new material 2.5 lb/sq ft or less, no framing changes, not unreinforced masonry
Water tank	5,000 gallons or less
Prefabricated pool	Less than 24 inches deep

Stopping leaks in drain, water, waste, or vent pipe is exempt, but replacing the pipe is not. Exempt work still has to meet zoning. For more on deck rules, see do I need a permit for a deck.

Adopted codes

For permits vested after March 15, 2024, Tacoma enforces the 2021 IBC (with Appendix E and a local Appendix G), IRC, IEBC, IMC, Uniform Plumbing Code, and IFC, plus the Washington State Energy Code (WAC 51-11C and 51-11R). Local amendments are in Tacoma Municipal Code Title 2 (TMC 2.02) and TMC 3.02.

2026 fee highlights

The PDS fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 sets these fees:

Item	Fee
Single-family/duplex new construction (building, mechanical, plumbing)	1.31% of ICC building valuation
Single-family/duplex additions and remodels	2.81% of ICC valuation (remodel minimum $180)
Residential plan review	45% of building permit fee
Commercial/multifamily plan review	65% of permit fee
Residential remodel e-permit	$140 minimum
Plumbing or mechanical e-permit	$140
Demolition (house, duplex, accessory building)	$190
Reinspection	$190 each
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy	$460
Minimum counter transaction	$94
Work without a permit	Double the permit and plan review fees, or $350, whichever is greater

Surcharges are added on top of these: 5% technology, 5% emergency preparedness, 5% natural resources (on building permits), and a 2% reserve fund. For alterations, PDS values the work using its Alteration Valuation Table, which applies 20%, 40%, 60%, or 80% of ICC Building Valuation Data depending on scope.

Inspections

You can request inspections by text, phone, or online through TacomaPermits.org, all available 24 hours. Requests received by 3 p.m. are scheduled for the next day. On the morning of the inspection, call the inspector between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. to get a roughly two-hour window, since inspectors may arrive as early as 8 a.m. Other rules:

• An adult 18 or older must be on site, and the approved plans and permit card must be at hand.
• Lockbox access is allowed only if no personal possessions are on the site.
• Cancel by 6 a.m.
• For electrical inspections, call Tacoma Public Utilities at (253) 502-8277.

Separately, the Tacoma Fire Department runs an annual inspection program for commercial, multifamily, and industrial buildings.

Permit counter and contacts

The permit counter is on the Third Floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street. Walk-in service runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and appointments can be booked online. Phone support at (253) 591-5030 runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and the email is [email protected]. Permit and inspection status are available after logging in to Accela.