Tiny Homes: Lakewood vs Tacoma

Can I live in a tiny home in Pierce County?

Yes, if it is under 400 square feet on a permanent foundation and permitted through the same process as a single-family residence.

Can I live in an RV or tiny house on wheels?

No RV may be a permanent abode; occupancy over 120 days in 12 months is treated as permanent and prohibited outside an approved park.

Does a tiny home need a building permit?

Yes. Tiny homes are permitted like larger single-family residences and are not permit-exempt like small storage sheds.

Can I put a tiny house in my Tacoma backyard?

Yes. The most common path is to permit a tiny home on a permanent foundation as a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) under TMC 13.06.150, with side setbacks of 5 feet (8 feet if a main entrance faces a side line) and a 15-foot rear setback (0 from an alley). Houses 400 square feet or less can use IRC Appendix Q standards. Tiny houses on wheels are regulated as RVs and are not permitted as permanent dwellings on residential lots.

Does Tacoma allow IRC Appendix Q tiny houses?

Yes. Washington State adopted the 2018 IRC including Appendix Q effective July 1, 2021, and Tacoma applies it through Building Code TMC Title 2.02. Appendix Q provides life-safety standards specifically for site-built tiny houses 400 square feet or less on a permanent foundation, covering loft heights, stair geometry, and emergency egress that differ from standard IRC dwelling-unit rules.