Parking Rules in Tacoma, WA (2026)
8 verified parking rules for Tacoma, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Tacoma caps vehicle parking on single-family lots: up to 4 vehicles or 60% of the paved area in front or side/rear yards, with stored or inoperable RVs, boats, and trailers barred from front yards entirely.
Tacoma RV, Boat & Vehicle Yard Parking Limits
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.30.050
Vehicles parked in the front yard of single-family residential tax parcels, although discouraged where alley access is available, shall be limited to those tax parcels which have legal access from the public right-of-way. Parking of vehicles in front yards shall be on a properly prepared and contained all-weather surface, including, but not limited to, concrete, asphalt, gravel, approved permea...
Driveway Rules
Tacoma requires front-yard vehicle parking on single-family lots to sit on a prepared all-weather surface like concrete, asphalt, or gravel, capped at 60% of the yard, under the city's nuisance code.
Tacoma Front-Yard Parking Surface Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.30.050
Vehicles parked in the front yard of single-family residential tax parcels...shall be limited to those tax parcels which have legal access from the public right-of-way. Parking of vehicles in front yards shall be on a properly prepared and contained all-weather surface, including, but not limited to, concrete, asphalt, gravel, approved permeable paving materials... The all-weather surface shall...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Tacoma bars leaving any vehicle, boat trailer, recreation trailer, or camper on a public street or alley for more than seven calendar days, backed by a $35 minimum fine under TMC § 11.05.230.
Tacoma 7-Day Street Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 11.05.230
No person shall park a vehicle, boat trailer, recreation trailer, camper, or other licensed or unlicensed vehicle or device for a period of time longer than seven calendar days on any public street or alley right-of-way, and such act shall be punishable by a penalty in an amount of not less than $35.00. (Formerly 11.28.060. Ord 22390 § 3, 1981-04-28; Ord. 25208 § 3, 1992-11-24; Ord. 25247 § 2,...
Street Parking Limits
Tacoma enforces the state Model Traffic Ordinance's on-street parking bans, blocking a driveway, double parking, stopping near a hydrant or crosswalk, with a local $35 fine schedule set in TMC § 11.05.605.
Tacoma Driveway Blocking Parking Fines
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 11.05.605
§ 11.05.605. Parking penalties. The following tabular list of penalties shall be provided for each violation of the Model Traffic Ordinance sections under RCW 46.61 and WAC 308.330: ... Blocking a driveway $35 RCW 46.61.570(1)(b)(i.2) ... Parked in roadway not parallel to curb $35 RCW 46.61.575(1.2)
Overnight Parking
Tacoma has no blanket overnight parking ban. The City Traffic Engineer designates restrictions street by street under TMC § 11.05.250, including 'No Parking Anytime' zones marked with posted signs.
Tacoma Overnight On-Street Parking Rules
Few RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 11.05.250
The City Traffic Engineer, or designee, has the authority to establish on-street parking restrictions to regulate the flow of traffic and/or parking. Such restrictions include, without limitation, Loading Zones, One-Hour Parking, Two-Hour Parking, No Parking Anytime, Disabled Parking, and similar designations. This includes the authority to establish, expand, and dissolve permit parking only zo...
Abandoned Vehicles
Tacoma treats damaged, inoperable, or abandoned vehicles on public or private property as a public nuisance, with notice-and-abatement procedures and City-ordered removal for landowners who don't comply.
Tacoma Abandoned Vehicle Nuisance Law
Significant RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 8.23.040
One or more Public Nuisance Vehicles, or parts thereof, which have been accumulated, dismantled, parked, placed, or stored on any property, constitute a public nuisance which shall be abated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and through the authority given the City under the Tacoma City Charter and the Laws and Constitution of the State Washington... A Public Nuisance Vehicle is furthe...
Loading Zones
Tacoma caps use of a marked loading zone at 30 minutes for freight loading and 3 minutes for passenger pickup or drop-off, with a minimum $30 fine for going over.
Tacoma Loading Zone Time Limits
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 11.05.545
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any length of time other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of materials in any place marked as a loading zone during the hours when the provisions applicable to the zones are in effect. In no case shall the stop for loading and unloading of materials exceed 30 minutes. The driver of a passenger vehicle may sto...
Preferential Parking Districts
Tacoma lets residents petition for a 'Residential Parking Zone' restricting on-street parking to permit holders, their visitors, and service vehicles, run under a City Manager-administered program in TMC § 11.05.235.
Tacoma Residential Parking Permit Zones
Significant RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 11.05.235
The City Manager, or designee, is delegated the authority and is authorized to establish and maintain a "Residential Parking Program" ("Program"), consistent with this section, to establish residential parking zones as authorized herein, to prioritize parking in residential areas in which residential parking zones have been established, to manage availability of on-street parking supply, to iss...
Looking for Pierce County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tacoma city rules.
Parking Rules in Pierce County →