Home Remodeling in
Tacoma, WA

Tacoma updated its accessory dwelling rules under Tacoma Municipal Code 13.06.150 through Amended Ordinance No. 28756, effective 1 May 2019. It has been settled for years, which is a genuine advantage over the Thurston County cities where the rules are still moving.

A detached accessory dwelling can be up to 1,000 square feet, set 15 feet back from the rear line. Height is capped at the more restrictive of two tests: no taller than the main house, and up to 18 feet measured to the midpoint of a peaked roof.

Two things Tacoma does not require, which catch people out because other jurisdictions do. No additional parking is required. And owner occupancy is not required, so the unit can be rented out without the owner living on the property.

ADUs are permitted in the single-family and mixed-residential districts including R-1, R-2, R-2SRD and HMR-SRD. Every ADU needs a building permit.

Planning and Development Services offers pre-approved detached accessory dwelling unit plans for use inside Tacoma city limits. There are four base models, with different roof types and siding styles, and ground floor dwellings meeting visitability design standards.

These are a separate program from the four pre-approved plans shared by Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater. If you have been reading about the Thurston County set, those plans are not the ones you use in Tacoma.

The value is the same in both cases. A plan set that has already been through review takes a chunk of work and risk out of permitting. It does not remove the site specific work, and permit fees still apply.

Applications go through permits.cityoftacoma.org, the city's online portal, which handles submittals, plan uploads, fees and inspection scheduling.

Plan review typically runs two to four weeks for standard residential projects, with expedited review available for a higher fee. Simple over the counter permits can be issued within days.

If you want to talk to someone, the permit counter runs walk-in hours Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 1:00pm. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, on (253) 591-5030.

For anything complicated, the Application Services group handles pre-development and feasibility questions. Expect a response within two business days, and a review comment memo within two to three weeks of the request being screened and fees paid.