Public Health Rules in Tacoma, WA (2026)
2 verified public health rules for Tacoma, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rodent Control
Tacoma requires every basement, wall, dock, warehouse, and residence to be built or repaired to keep rats out, and all stored food kept rat-proof, under Chapter 5.38's Rat Prevention ordinance.
Tacoma Rat Prevention Property Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 5.38.020, § 5.38.050
All basements and walls of all buildings, store rooms, warehouses and residences within the city shall be so constructed, or repaired by the use of screens, nettings, cement or other material or materials approved by the Director of Health as to prevent rats from gaining entrance to or harboring beneath the same...All food products or other goods, whether kept for sale or for any other purpose,...
Syringe Disposal
Tacoma bars used needles and other home sharps from ordinary recycling bins and, where curbside sharps pickup exists, from trash cans too: sharps must go into a dedicated sharps waste container under TMC § 5.04.045.
Tacoma Residential Sharps Waste Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 5.04.045
Sharps waste must be contained in sharps waste containers. Sharps waste may not be disposed of in any recycling container unless the container is specifically designated for sharps waste. Sharps waste may not be disposed of in refuse collection containers (e.g. trash cans, trash bags, dumpsters, etc.) if a source-separated collection service is provided for residential sharps waste by the publi...
Looking for Pierce County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tacoma city rules.
Public Health Rules in Pierce County →