Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Tacoma, WA (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Tacoma, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Once Tacoma's City Council formally finds a sidewalk unsafe and orders it fixed, the duty and cost of construction or reconstruction falls on the directly abutting property owner, capped at half the property's assessed value, under TMC § 10.18.020.
Tacoma Sidewalk Repair Responsibility
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 10.18.020
the sidewalk thereon has become unfit or unsafe for public travel...and the City Council, by resolution, finds that the improvement...is necessary for the public safety and convenience, the duty, burden, and expense of constructing or reconstructing such sidewalk shall devolve upon the property directly abutting upon such portion; provided that such abutting property shall not be charged with a...
Obstruction Rules
Tacoma bans storing goods, wares, or merchandise on sidewalks and streets, though ground-floor shops may display items within 18 inches of their storefront and loading briefly is allowed.
Tacoma Sidewalk Obstruction Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 9.16.015
It shall be unlawful for any person to store, display, place... any goods, wares, merchandise, or other articles or signs for purposes of sale, display, advertising or for any other purpose on any street, alley or sidewalk... except while in the actual course of receipt or delivery thereof; provided, however, that the tenant or occupant of any ground floor room or store abutting upon a sidewalk...
Encroachment Permits
Tacoma requires written City permission before any private use of the public right-of-way, from fences and retaining walls to sidewalk features, under the Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit program in TMC Chapter 9.08.
Tacoma Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit
Significant RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 9.08.020
It is unlawful for anyone to use any public right-of-way for private purposes without written permission from the City of Tacoma and without complying with all of the provisions of this chapter in relation thereto; provided that nothing herein contained shall apply to street maintenance work performed by the City of Tacoma, utility installations covered by franchise (not including small cell fa...
Looking for Pierce County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tacoma city rules.
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Pierce County →