How Tacoma Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide

Tacoma maintains 149 local ordinances across all categories, and 8 of those deal specifically with public conduct. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Tacoma falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Public Alcohol Use

Opening or possessing an opened container of liquor, or drinking it, in any Tacoma public place is a civil infraction carrying a flat $100 fine under city law.

Key details: Governing section: TMC § 8.20.050. Penalty: $100 civil infraction. Applies to: open or opened liquor package. Public place includes: streets, parks, transit stops.

Civil infraction with a flat $100 fine, inclusive of statutory assessments, under TMC § 8.20.050; no jail time attaches.

Public Marijuana Use

Opening a marijuana package or smoking in view of the public is unlawful in Tacoma, which folds the state's public-display penalty directly into its own narcotics chapter.

Key details: Governing section: TMC § 8.28.011. What's prohibited: opening/consuming marijuana in public view. Method: adopts RCW 69.50.445 by reference. Chapter: Ch. 8.28, Narcotics.

Enforcement follows the penalty set by RCW 69.50.445, which Tacoma adopted wholesale: officers can cite anyone who opens or uses marijuana products in view of the general public.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Tacoma bans smoking or vaping any nicotine product anywhere in a city or Metropolitan Park District park, with a narrow exception for FDA-approved cessation aids like patches or gum, under TMC § 8.27.085.

Key details: Applies to: All city and Metro Parks land. Covers: Smoking and vaping alike. Exception: FDA-approved cessation products only. Violation class: Class 4 civil infraction. Scope: Entire park, not just buildings.

Smoking or vaping in a park is a class 4 civil infraction under TMC § 8.27.085, punishable by a fine, in addition to any other remedy or penalty the law otherwise allows.

Compared to other cities, Tacoma takes a harder line on outdoor smoking restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Loud Party Ordinance

Tacoma's public disturbance noise law bans sound from social gatherings, band sessions, or audio equipment that unreasonably disturbs neighbors' peace, with real misdemeanor penalties for hosts.

Key details: Governing section: TMC § 8.12.060. Max penalty: $1,000 fine, 90 days jail. First-offense fine: $500, $250 non-suspendable. Audio device standard: audible beyond 50 feet. Enforcement: Tacoma Police Department.

Misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and 90 days jail; a mandatory $500 fine ($250 non-suspendable) on first conviction, $700 ($300 non-suspendable) on repeat violations (TMC § 8.12.065).

Aggressive Panhandling

Tacoma bans soliciting within 15 feet of ATMs, doorways, pay phones, fuel pumps, and transit stops, plus after dark, and separately outlaws coercive panhandling city-wide.

Key details: Buffer zone: 15 feet from ATMs, doors, transit stops. Time restriction: No solicitation after sunset. Coercion: Blocking, threats, profanity banned outright. Location penalty: $1,000 fine, up to 90 days. Coercion penalty: $5,000 fine, up to 1 year.

Violating the buffer or after-dark rule is a misdemeanor: up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail. Coercive solicitation is a gross misdemeanor: up to $5,000 and one year.

This is one of the stricter rules in Tacoma's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Loitering Rules

Tacoma outlaws loitering anywhere in public that shows intent to engage in drug activity, weighing factors like acting as a lookout, fleeing police, or displaying paraphernalia.

Key details: Covered conduct: Loitering with drug-activity intent. Factors considered: 10 listed circumstances, e.g. lookout behavior. Charge level: Gross misdemeanor. Maximum penalty: 1 year jail, $5,000 fine.

Gross misdemeanor: up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.00.

Compared to other cities, Tacoma takes a harder line on loitering rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Public Urination

Tacoma makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate anywhere in public where the act could be observed, punishable by a real fine and possible jail time.

Key details: Covered acts: Urinating or defecating in public. Where it applies: Any observable public place. Exemption: Washrooms and toilet rooms. Maximum fine: $500.00. Maximum jail time: 6 months, Pierce County Jail.

Misdemeanor: fine up to $500.00, imprisonment in the Pierce County Jail up to six months, or both a fine and imprisonment.

Compared to other cities, Tacoma takes a harder line on public urination. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Skateboarding Rules

Tacoma bans negligent skateboarding, scooter riding, and skating on any roadway, sidewalk, or public property, and requires riders to yield to pedestrians and people using assistive mobility devices.

Key details: Max penalty: $250.00 civil infraction. Minimum fine: $25.00, not suspendable. Must yield: to pedestrians on sidewalks. Covers: skateboards, scooters, roller/in-line skates.

Negligent or unsafe skateboard, scooter, or skate operation is a civil infraction: up to $250.00 maximum, with a mandatory $25.00 minimum fine that can't be suspended or deferred.

The Bottom Line

Tacoma is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Tacoma, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Tacoma can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.