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Tacoma, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Coverage cap (R-4/R-5)
65% of lot area
Corner lot bonus
+10% of lot area
Alley credit
50% of abutting alley area
UR-1/2/3 districts
No coverage %; FAR-based instead

Summary

Tacoma caps total building coverage at 65% of lot area in its R-4 and R-5 multi-unit districts; single-family UR-zoned lots use floor-area-ratio limits instead.

3. Building Coverage (total building coverage / lot area x 100 = percentage) ... b. Maximum building coverage, percent of lot [R-4] 65 [R-5] 65 ... c. Bonus: Corner Lot: May add an additional 10% of the lot area ... d. Exceptions: Usable Yard Space that is covered, but not enclosed, shall not count towards the maximum building coverage.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).

Full Breakdown

Tacoma Municipal Code § 13.06.020G.3 sets maximum building coverage, total building footprint divided by lot area, at 65% of the lot in both the R-4 and R-5 Multiple-Unit Dwelling Districts. Corner lots may add 10% to the lot area used for the calculation, and lots with an alley may count half the abutting alley as lot area. Covered-but-unenclosed yard space doesn't count toward the cap. Most single-family and "missing middle" lots sit in the Urban Residential (UR-1/UR-2/UR-3) districts, which do not use a lot-coverage percentage at all, bulk there is controlled instead through Floor Area Ratio under § 13.06.020F.

Violations & Fines

Building over the 65% coverage cap without approval is a zoning code violation, enforced by the Planning and Development Services Department; noncompliant construction can be denied a certificate of occupancy or ordered corrected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 65% cap apply to a single-family house in Tacoma?
Only if the lot is zoned R-4 or R-5. Most single-family and duplex/triplex lots are in the UR-1, UR-2, or UR-3 districts, which regulate bulk through Floor Area Ratio, not a lot-coverage percentage.
What counts toward building coverage?
All building footprint including accessory buildings, plus roofed structures, per TMC § 13.06.020G.3, but covered yard space that isn't enclosed is excluded.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tacoma

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsSetback RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsStructure Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Tacoma rules

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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities

How other cities in this county handle lot coverage limits.

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