Building Safety in Tacoma, WA (2026)
10 verified building safety rules for Tacoma, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Tacoma's building code bars using lead-based paint or asbestos when repairing an existing single-family, duplex, or townhouse structure, listing both as hazardous materials no longer permitted under the City's amended repair standards.
Tacoma Bans Lead Paint In Repairs
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.02.870 (IEBC Appendix J § AJ301.2.1)
Hazardous materials no longer permitted, such as asbestos and lead-based paint, shall not be used. AJ301.2.2 Plumbing materials and supplies. The following plumbing materials and supplies shall not be used: 1. All-purpose solvent cement, unless listed for the specific application. 2. Flexible traps and tailpieces, unless listed for the specific application. 3. Solder having more than 0....
Elevator Maintenance
Tacoma's minimum building code requires every elevator in a building to be kept in compliance with the state Building Code as part of the city's baseline property maintenance standards for heating and mechanical equipment.
Tacoma Elevator Maintenance Rule
Light RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.01.060(AA)
Heating, mechanical, and elevator equipment. Heating equipment shall be provided to heat every dwelling and guest room, and shall have the capacity to heat all habitable rooms to 70 degrees Fahrenheit with an ambient outside temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Such equipment shall be in compliance with the Mechanical Code or the Building Code in effect at the time of installation. Solid-fuel...
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Tacoma requires an automatic residential fire sprinkler system in every new townhouse unit, a local amendment to the state-adopted residential code, with an exception only for additions to existing townhouses that were never sprinklered.
Tacoma Townhouse Automatic Fire Sprinkler Mandate
Heavy RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.02.610 (amending IRC § R313.1)
R313.1 – Townhouse Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall be installed in all townhouse units. Exception: An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall not be required where additions or alterations are made to existing townhouse units that do not have an automatic residential fire sprinkler system installed. For the purposes of this IRC se...
Childcare Center Rules
Tacoma requires day care buildings classified Group E to install panic hardware on exit doors serving 50 or more occupants, per the city's Minimum Building and Structures Code.
Tacoma Day Care Exit Door Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.01.060(I)
Doors serving occupancies classified per the Building Code as Group A (Assembly), Group E (Educational or Day Care), Group H (Hazardous), and Group I (Institutional) shall be provided with panic hardware when serving occupant loads of 50 or more as calculated by the Building Code, or when otherwise required by the Building Code. All new doors serving an occupant load of ten or more, as calcula...
Door Locking Hardware
Tacoma's Minimum Building and Structures Code bans keyed interior deadbolts, requires exit doors to open without a key, and lets low-occupancy doors use thumb-turn locks instead.
Tacoma Door Locking Hardware Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.01.060.I
Doors, latches, and locks. The width and height for all exit doors shall comply with the Building Code in effect at the time the building was originally constructed, and shall be openable from the interior without a key or special knowledge. All doors serving an occupant load of 50 or more shall swing in the direction of egress. Doors serving an occupant load of less than ten, as calculated by...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Tacoma requires carbon monoxide alarms in every existing apartment, condo, hotel, motel, and single-family home, installed to the Fire Code's technical standard.
Tacoma Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rule
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.01.060.W.2
Carbon Monoxide Alarms shall be installed in existing apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels, and single-family residences in accordance with the Fire Code. 3. Fire alarm systems. a. Group R-2 occupancies three or more stories in height or containing 16 or more dwelling units shall be equipped with a fire alarm system. b. Group R1 occupancies containing 20 or more guest rooms, or as pa...
Building Permits
Tacoma's Building Code amendment lists exactly what work is exempt from a permit: everything else, including most construction and alteration work, requires one before it starts.
Tacoma Building Permit Exemptions
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.02.090
105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following: Building: 1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, ...
Electrical Permits
Tacoma requires a paid Electrical Permit from Tacoma Power before any electrical wiring, device, or equipment is installed, altered, or repaired, enforcing the current National Electrical Code as amended by state rule.
Tacoma Electrical Permit & NEC Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 12.06A.210
An Electrical Permit shall be applied for and purchased before electrical equipment may be installed, altered, or repaired. An Electrical Permit is required for the installation, alteration, or maintenance of all electrical systems or equipment, including, but not limited to, when removal of a Tacoma Power owned electric meter is necessary to perform any electrical work. Exceptions: A. Like...
Plumbing Permits
Tacoma incorporates the Uniform Plumbing Code, as already adopted by the State Building Code, as the City of Tacoma Plumbing Code under TMC § 2.06.010, deleting UPC fee provisions in favor of the City's own fee schedule.
Tacoma Adopts Uniform Plumbing Code
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.06.010
The Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted by the State Building Code as defined in TMC § 2.02.100 is hereby included in the City of Tacoma Plumbing Code as adopted by this chapter. Section 104.5 and Table No. 104.5 are hereby deleted from the UPC. Fees shall be in accordance with TMC Chapter 2.09. (Repealed and reenacted by Ord. 27890 Ex. A, 2010-06-15; repealed and reenacted by Ord. 28155 Ex. A, 2...
Building Inspections
Tacoma's Building Official inspects flagged properties against three violation tables to classify buildings as non-standard, substandard, derelict, or unfit, kicking off the notice, repair-schedule, and penalty process under the Minimum Building and Structures Code.
Tacoma Building Code Inspection & Enforcement
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 2.01.050.A.1 and .B
Initial enforcement may be undertaken against buildings or properties, whenever: The Building Official, Director of any City of Tacoma Department, Director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Police Chief, or Fire Chief, or their duly authorized representatives, have reason to believe that a violation of this Code exists... During the initial inspection, the Building Official shall e...
Looking for Pierce County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tacoma city rules.
Building Safety in Pierce County →