Home Remodeling in
Puyallup, WA
Puyallup has already rewritten its accessory dwelling rules to match state law. The detail that catches people out now is parking, which changes with your lot size and the number of bedrooms.
Remodeling in Puyallup
What building in Puyallup actually involves
Puyallup sits in the Puyallup River valley, a short drive east of our shop in Tacoma. It is best known for the Washington State Fair, but for most homeowners it is a city of established neighbourhoods near downtown and newer subdivisions climbing the hill to the south.
That range means a Puyallup remodel can be anything from updating an older house near the fairgrounds to finishing out a newer home up the hill. Before any of it is drawn, it helps to know which rules apply, and in Puyallup the accessory dwelling rules are further along than most of the region.
Puyallup has already updated its ADU rules
A lot of cities around here are still working their codes up to the state standard. Puyallup has done it. Each accessory dwelling can be up to 1,000 square feet, and owner occupancy is no longer required, so you do not have to live on the property to add one.
On a lot that meets the minimum area for its zone, you can have two ADUs. On a smaller lot the default is one, though two can still work in specific configurations, such as attached or stacked units, or converting part of the existing house and adding one new unit.
Attached and detached units are both allowed, whether that means a conversion inside the house, an addition, or a separate building in the yard.
Parking is the rule that changes the design
This is where Puyallup differs from Tacoma, which does not require extra parking for an ADU at all.
If the property is within half a mile of transit, no parking is required. Otherwise it depends on the lot. On lots under 6,000 square feet, each unit needs one space. On lots over 6,000 square feet, a studio or one bedroom unit needs one space, and a two or three bedroom unit needs two.
That last rule is the one to plan around. Adding a bedroom to an ADU on a larger lot can mean finding room for a second parking space, which affects where the unit can sit and how much yard is left. It is far cheaper to settle that at sketch stage than at plan review.
Who to talk to
ADU and zoning questions go to the City of Puyallup Planning Division, on the second floor at 333 S Meridian, or on 253-864-4165, option 3.
Because the rules turn on your lot area, your zone and your distance to transit, the useful first step is confirming those three things for your address. Once they are known, how many units you can build, how large, and how much parking you need all follow from them.
City requirements on this page were last checked on 12 September 2026. Codes change, so confirm current standards with the city before you apply.
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Common Questions
Remodeling in Puyallup, answered
Can I build two ADUs in Puyallup?
Yes, on a lot that meets the minimum area for its zone. On a smaller lot the default is one ADU, although two can work in specific configurations such as attached or stacked units, or a conversion of the existing house plus one new unit.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Puyallup?
No. Puyallup no longer requires owner occupancy, so an ADU can be added to a property the owner does not live in.
How much parking does a Puyallup ADU need?
None within half a mile of transit. Otherwise, one space per unit on lots under 6,000 square feet. On lots over 6,000 square feet, one space for a studio or one bedroom unit and two spaces for a two or three bedroom unit.
How big can an ADU be in Puyallup?
Up to 1,000 square feet per unit, subject to the development standards and site requirements of the zone.
Is Puyallup close to your shop?
Yes. KOI Build Co is based on South Tacoma Way, a short drive from Puyallup, and works across Pierce and Thurston counties. Call (253) 348-1847 for a free estimate.
Planning a project in Puyallup?
Free estimates, and a straight answer on what your project will cost and how long it will take.
Also serving Olympia, Tumwater and the wider South Puget Sound.