ADU Impact Fees: Lakewood vs Tacoma
How do adu impact fees rules compare between Lakewood, WA and Tacoma, WA?
Lakewood, WA
Pierce County
No data available yet for Lakewood.
Tacoma, WA
Pierce County
Under RCW 36.70A.681(1)(g) (HB 1337), Tacoma may not charge impact fees on ADUs under 1,000 square feet, and impact fees on ADUs 1,000 sq ft and over are capped at 50% of the fee imposed on the primary dwelling. Standard PDS permit fees, TPU water/sewer capacity charges, and Pierce County school impact fees still apply where authorized.
View full Tacoma rules βKey Facts Comparison
| Fact | Lakewood | Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | - | No impact fees (RCW 36.70A.681) |
| 1,000+ sq ft | - | Capped at 50% of primary dwelling |
| Permit Fees | - | ~$4-10K typical |
| TPU Capacity Charges | - | Apply (not impact fees) |
| School Fees | - | Subject to HB 1337 cap |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Lakewood FAQ
No FAQs available.
Tacoma FAQ
Does Tacoma charge impact fees on ADUs?
Only on ADUs 1,000 square feet or larger, and even then capped at 50% of the impact fee charged on the primary dwelling under RCW 36.70A.681(1)(g). ADUs under 1,000 sq ft are exempt from all city and county impact fees.
Do I still owe TPU water and sewer charges on a Tacoma ADU?
Yes. Tacoma Public Utilities general facility charges under TMC 12.08 and 12.10 are utility connection charges, not impact fees, and are not subject to the HB 1337 cap. TPU reduces charges where existing capacity is already in place on the lot.
Compare other topics
See how Lakewood and Tacoma compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool