Pierce County, WA Ordinances (2026)

In unincorporated Pierce County, the noise limits in Pierce County Code 8.76.060 are reduced by 10 dBA for residential (Class A) receiving property between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Chapter 8.72 PCC separately bans public disturbance noises at all hours. Incorporated cities (Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup) set their own quiet hours.

Unincorporated Pierce County exempts temporary construction-site noise from the Chapter 8.76 decibel limits during the day, but that exemption stops for residential (Class A) areas between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Residential home-improvement projects are exempt 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Cities set their own construction hours.

Pierce County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. In unincorporated areas, gas leaf blowers fall under the general Chapter 8.76 decibel limits and the Chapter 8.72 public disturbance rule. Residential yard maintenance is exempt from decibel limits 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Washington has no statewide gas-blower ban.

For most industrial noise, Pierce County defers to the State. PCC 8.72.120.D states that, apart from motor vehicles, industrial-area noise is regulated by the State of Washington. The Chapter 8.76 EDNA table still caps industrial (Class C) source noise at 60-70 dBA at the receiver, with exemptions for established operations.

In unincorporated Pierce County, PCC 8.72.090.A makes it a public disturbance noise for frequent, repetitive, or continuous animal sounds to unreasonably disturb neighbors' peace and repose, at any hour. Licensed shelters and kennels are exempt. Repeat-violator animals may be impounded. Cities have their own animal-noise rules.

In unincorporated Pierce County, outdoor amplified music, band sessions, and social-gathering noise are barred by PCC 8.72.090.F when loud, raucous, and disturbing to neighbors, at any hour. Officially sanctioned parades and public events are exempt from the decibel limits (PCC 8.76.070.D.8). Cities permit outdoor events under their own codes.

In unincorporated Pierce County, PCC 8.72.090.F makes loud and raucous amplified sound - from an instrument, amplifier, band session, tavern, or social gathering - a public disturbance noise when it frequently or continuously disturbs neighbors. It applies at any hour and is enforced by the Sheriff on complaint.

Aircraft noise is exempt from Pierce County's noise code. PCC 8.76.070.D.2 exempts sounds from aircraft in flight and airport flight operations. With Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Sea-Tac flight paths overhead, jet and military aircraft noise is governed by the FAA and military, not the county.

In unincorporated Pierce County, PCC 8.72.090.H makes it unlawful for a car or vessel sound system to be clearly heard 50 feet or more from the vehicle in residential or commercial areas. Frequent engine, horn, or off-road-vehicle noise is also barred (PCC 8.72.090.B-C). Vehicle-in-motion noise follows WAC 173-62.

In unincorporated Pierce County, PCC 8.76.060 adopts Washington's WAC 173-60 decibel table: for a residential (Class A) source and receiver the daytime limit is 55 dBA, dropping 10 dBA to roughly 45 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Limits rise for commercial and industrial property.

Pierce County Code 18A.37.040(B) caps a vacation rental at five guest rooms and two guests per bedroom, not to exceed ten guests lodged at any time. A rental that needs more rooms or guests than these limits allow must obtain a Conditional Use Permit under subsection C.

Pierce County Code 18A.37.040(B)(4) sets no numeric parking-space count for vacation rentals. It requires only that the owner or representative give guests information indicating the location of guest parking spaces, relying on the parking already provided for the dwelling. Cities may impose their own off-street minimums.

Pierce County Code 18A.37.040 sets no local insurance mandate, but Washington's statewide Short-Term Rental Act controls. RCW 64.37.050 requires every operator to carry primary liability insurance of at least one million dollars, or to book only through a platform providing equal or greater coverage.

Pierce County Code 18A.37.040 sets no rental-specific quiet hours; vacation-rental guests must follow the countywide public-disturbance noise rules in PCC Chapter 8.72 and the Good Neighbor brochure the host must supply. Residential noise exemptions apply only 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., so louder activity overnight is restricted.

Pierce County Code 18A.37.040 sets no limit on how many nights per year a vacation rental may operate. A rental meeting the five-room, ten-guest, affidavit, parking, and neighbor-notice standards may operate year-round. The only length limit is per stay: rentals over 30 consecutive days are not regulated as vacation rentals.

Unincorporated Pierce County allows short-term vacation rentals under Pierce County Code 18A.37.040 without a discretionary permit, as long as the owner files a Vacation Rental Affidavit and meets the guest-room, guest, parking, and neighbor-notice standards. Exceeding those standards triggers a Conditional Use Permit.

Pierce County Code 18A.37.040 does not limit vacation rentals to a host's primary residence. It permits rentals in any legally established single-family or accessory dwelling, so whole-home and non-owner-occupied vacation rentals are allowed once the owner files the affidavit and meets the guest-room, guest, and neighbor-notice standards.

Instead of a license, Pierce County Code 18A.37.040(B)(6) requires the owner to file a Vacation Rental Affidavit with Planning and Public Works. It states the owner's intent to operate the residence as a vacation rental, gives contact details, lists the advertising websites, and confirms neighbor notification was provided.

Short-term rentals in Pierce County owe the county lodging (hotel-motel) excise tax, set by the Department of Revenue at 2 percent for facilities of 25 or fewer units and 5 percent for 26 or more, plus state and local sales tax. RCW 64.37.020 makes the operator responsible.

Pierce County Code 18A.37.040 does not require a host or manager on-site during a vacation-rental stay. It requires only that the owner or representative supply contact and parking information and file the affidavit. State law RCW 64.37.030 requires a responsive contact, not physical presence.

Unincorporated Pierce County sharply limits consumer fireworks under PCC 17C.60.230. Discharge is legal only on July 4 (10 a.m.-11:59 p.m.) and New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. The Fire Marshal may ban them entirely during fire danger.

Recreational fire pits are allowed in Pierce County without a permit if kept small and controlled. Local fire districts cap pits at three feet across and two feet high, set well back from structures, burning only clean firewood or charcoal.

Pierce County promotes defensible space around homes in wildfire-prone areas. County code and DNR guidance urge clearing brush and spacing vegetation, with free hazard assessments offered by the fire districts and Pierce Conservation District.

Propane (LPG) storage in Pierce County follows the adopted International Fire Code and NFPA 58 through the Fire Prevention Bureau. Larger tank installs need a permit, and tanks must meet setback and clearance rules from buildings and property lines.

Outdoor burning in Pierce County is regulated by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which bans all land-clearing fires and prohibits yard-waste burning throughout urbanized areas. Recreational fires and permitted rural burning are the narrow exceptions.

Backyard recreational fires are allowed in Pierce County without a permit, but only small fires burning clean wood or charcoal. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency caps them at three feet across, and all fires stop during seasonal burn bans.

Washington law (RCW 43.44.110) requires smoke detection devices in all dwelling units. In Pierce County rentals, the landlord must install and ensure working alarms at move-in, while tenants handle battery upkeep. Fines apply for violations.

Pierce County has real wildfire risk in its eastern Cascade foothills, where homes intermingle with forest in the wildland-urban interface. Washington DNR maps hazard and defends state and private forestland, and the county issues summer burn bans.

Street parking on public roads in unincorporated Pierce County follows Washington state law, RCW 46.61.570, which prohibits stopping, standing, or parking within intersections, crosswalks, on sidewalks, and in other specified places. Pierce County may add time limits or restrictions by county resolution, and cities like Tacoma set their own on-street

In unincorporated Pierce County, RVs, boats, and trailers may be stored on private residential property, but occupying a recreational vehicle as a dwelling requires a Temporary Use Permit, and inoperable or derelict units fall under the Chapter 8.08 nuisance code. Cities set their own limits.

Unincorporated Pierce County has no blanket overnight on-street parking ban; state law RCW 46.61.570 governs where vehicles may stand, and a vehicle left too long may be tagged and impounded under RCW 46.55. Overnight living in an RV on a residential lot requires a Temporary Use Permit. Cities set their

Pierce County requires new development in unincorporated areas to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure under PCC 18A.35.040, following Table 18A.35.040-3 for EV charging stations, EV-Ready, and EV-Capable spaces. Equipment must meet RCW Chapter 19.28 and NEC Article 625, with exceptions for small parking areas and sites without power.

In unincorporated Pierce County, commercial vehicle parking is governed through Title 18A zoning use and off-street parking standards; using residential property to dismantle, salvage, store, or repair vehicles without required permits is a public nuisance under PCC 8.08.050. State placement rules in RCW 46.61.570 apply on public roads. Cities set

Loading and unloading on public roads in unincorporated Pierce County follows Washington's RCW 46.61.570, which allows parking for loading only temporarily while actually loading or unloading, and bars parking within 50 feet of a railroad crossing. Off-street loading facilities for development are set by the Title 18A zoning code. Cities

Pierce County runs a junk-vehicle removal program in unincorporated areas under the Chapter 8.08 nuisance code, and abandoned vehicles on public roads are handled under RCW Chapter 46.55. A vehicle left on a highway right-of-way may be towed 24 hours after tagging; on private residential property a vehicle may be

In unincorporated Pierce County, curb colors and no-parking markings are established by the County, not private residents. Under RCW 46.61.570, parking restrictions are effective only when set by official signs or markings, and parking limits are imposed by county resolution. Residents may not paint public curbs to reserve parking. Cities

Driveway and access standards in unincorporated Pierce County are set by the Title 18A zoning and off-street parking code (PCC 18A.35.040), with associated design standards in Title 18J. On public roads, RCW 46.61.570 bars parking in front of a driveway or within five feet of the curb radius leading to

Unincorporated Pierce County regulates oversized and large-vehicle storage through the Title 18A zoning code and the Chapter 8.08 nuisance provisions rather than a single size cap. A wrecked, dismantled, or derelict oversized vehicle is a public nuisance under PCC 8.08.050. On public roads, RCW 46.61.570 placement rules apply. Cities impose

Propane and charcoal barbecues are broadly allowed in Pierce County and are treated as recreational cooking, not regulated burning. They stay legal even during most burn bans, but must be kept a safe distance from structures.

Backyard smokers using charcoal, wood pellets, or propane are allowed in Pierce County as recreational cooking, no permit required. They generally stay legal during burn bans, but smoke that becomes a neighbor nuisance must be stopped.

In unincorporated Pierce County, retaining walls may be built within required setbacks to a maximum height of 6 feet under zoning. A building permit is required once a wall exceeds 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, or whenever it supports a surcharge.

Fences in unincorporated Pierce County may be placed within required setbacks up to 6 feet without a permit, must be measured from the adjacent ground including all attachments, and must preserve corner and driveway sight distance under Title 17B PCC. Cities set their own separate requirements.

In unincorporated Pierce County, fences and retaining walls may reach a maximum height of 6 feet within required setbacks, or up to 8 feet for security fencing serving a Utility, Industrial, or Agricultural Use. Sight-distance rules still apply at corners and driveways.

Pierce County zoning does not prohibit specific fence materials for typical residential fences. Barbed wire and other security devices are allowed and counted toward the 6-foot height limit. Sight-distance rules at corners and driveways govern placement more than material type.

A building permit is not required for fences 6 feet or under in unincorporated Pierce County. Fences taller than 6 feet require a building permit and must meet setbacks. Retaining walls over 4 feet also need a permit under the county's adopted residential building code.

Any typical fence material is allowed in unincorporated Pierce County, since zoning regulates height, setback, and sight distance rather than material type. Wood, vinyl, chain link, and masonry all qualify. Security fencing up to 8 feet is limited to utility, industrial, or agricultural uses.

Pierce County zoning does not set a shared-cost or boundary fence-ownership rule; those are civil matters between neighbors. The county does require that fences at corners and driveways meet the sight-distance standards of Title 17B PCC so views of traffic stay clear.

Backyard chickens and small livestock are allowed in unincorporated Pierce County, with limits scaled to lot size under zoning code PCC 18A.37.060. On lots under one-half acre, up to five small animals are allowed and roosters are prohibited; lots five acres or larger have no numeric limit.

In unincorporated Pierce County it is unlawful to let any animal leave the owner's premises unless it is under physical restraint adequate to the animal's size and nature. There is no fixed leash-length number; violations are a Class 3 civil infraction under PCC 6.03.010, enforced by Pierce County Animal Control.

Pierce County has no breed-specific ban. Dangerous-dog status is determined by an animal's behavior, not its breed, under PCC Chapter 6.07, and Washington law (RCW 16.08.100) bars proving a dog dangerous solely by showing it to be a particular breed.

No more than five dogs and/or cats may be individually licensed at a residence in unincorporated Pierce County under PCC 6.04.010. Keeping six or more dogs and/or cats requires a kennel or cattery license, and licenses are issued by the Pierce County Auditor.

Beekeeping is allowed in unincorporated Pierce County under PCC Chapter 8.94. Hives must be registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, kept in movable-frame hives, and placed at least 25 feet from a property line (closer only behind a 6-foot flyway barrier).

Pierce County Code has no ordinance specifically prohibiting the feeding of wildlife in the unincorporated county. Feeding that attracts pests or creates a health or safety problem can still be addressed as a public nuisance, and Washington state wildlife rules discourage feeding deer and other game.

Potentially dangerous wild animals are tightly regulated in unincorporated Pierce County under PCC Chapter 6.16. Species prohibited by state law (RCW 16.30.010) may not be kept at all; other potentially dangerous wild animals require a permit from the Pierce County Auditor.

Pierce County addresses hoarding through animal-cruelty, neglect, and licensing law. Keeping six or more dogs and/or cats requires a kennel license, owners must provide 'adequate care,' and cruelty or neglect is enforced under state law (RCW 16.52) and can lead to a 10-year ban on owning animals for habitual violators.

Livestock keeping in unincorporated Pierce County is set by zoning code PCC 18A.37.060 and scales with lot size. Lots under one-half acre allow only two small livestock; lots five acres or larger have no numeric limit. Setbacks and manure-management rules apply.

Cats that go off their owner's premises must be licensed and wear a current tag under PCC 6.04.010, issued by the Pierce County Auditor. Cats are subject to the same at-large restraint rules as other animals, and no more than five dogs and cats may be licensed per residence.

Maximum building height in unincorporated Pierce County is set by zone. Residential zones such as Suburban Residential (SR), Residential Resource (RR), and ROC are capped at 35 feet, while rural zones like R5 through R40 allow 40 feet. Denser and commercial zones permit more.

Building setbacks in unincorporated Pierce County depend on the zone. In the Suburban Residential (SR) zone, the minimums are 25 feet front on an arterial, 15 feet front on a non-arterial, 5 feet interior/side, and 10 feet rear. Detached accessory structures keep a 3-foot minimum setback.

Pierce County zoning controls building bulk mainly through yard-area limits rather than a single lot-coverage percentage. Detached single-story accessory structures may cover up to 25 percent of an interior yard and 50 percent of a rear yard, and on lots under 1 acre they cannot exceed 2,000 total square feet.

Routine pruning of ordinary yard trees is unregulated, but trees retained under an approved county landscape or tree-conservation plan must be pruned to code, and significant and legacy trees may only be pruned by a professional tree service under PCC 18J.15.130.

Pierce County encourages native and drought-tolerant plantings and requires native-vegetation retention on many development sites, but homeowners are free to choose their own yard plants; the mandates apply to development landscape and clearing plans, not existing private landscaping.

Every Pierce County landowner has an enforceable duty under RCW 17.10.140 to eradicate class A noxious weeds and control listed class B and C weeds. The Pierce County Noxious Weed Control Board (PCC Chapter 8.24) inspects, orders control, and can abate at the owner's cost.

Pierce County government sets no county-wide residential watering schedule; outdoor watering rules are set by your water provider — mainly Tacoma Water and local water districts — which can impose voluntary or mandatory curtailment during shortages under their own utility ordinances.

Unincorporated Pierce County has no numeric lawn-height limit, but overgrown vegetation that harbors vermin, blocks sight lines, or becomes a fire or health hazard can be abated as a public nuisance under PCC Chapter 8.08, and noxious weeds must be controlled under RCW 17.10.140.

Rooftop rainwater collection is broadly allowed in Washington, and Pierce County has no ordinance prohibiting residential rain barrels or cisterns; larger systems or those used for potable or plumbed uses may trigger plumbing-permit and Health Department review.

Removing a tree from an ordinary private lot outside a development or critical area is generally unregulated, but trees retained under an approved conservation or landscape plan cannot be removed except as a documented hazard, and county-wide clearing limits restrict how much vegetation a site can lose.

Pierce County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or permitting synthetic/artificial turf on residential lots. Installation must still meet general zoning, impervious-surface, stormwater, and critical-area rules that apply to any ground-cover change.

Backyard residential composting is allowed and encouraged in Pierce County with no permit, but a compost pile that creates odor, attracts vermin, or otherwise becomes a public nuisance can be abated under PCC Chapter 8.08; large-scale composting is a permitted solid-waste facility.

Pierce County has no standalone permit for cutting a tree on an ordinary developed private lot, but development sites need a tree-conservation plan under PCC 18J.15.030 (retain 30% of significant trees), and clearing or removal in critical areas or beyond limits requires a site development permit.

In unincorporated Pierce County, a building permit from Planning & Public Works (PPW) is required to construct an in-ground or above-ground residential pool, spa, or hot tub, because Washington enforces the 2021 International Residential Code through the State Building Code, WAC 51-51.

Above-ground pools in unincorporated Pierce County follow the same rules as in-ground pools: prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep are exempt, but any above-ground pool holding water over 24 inches deep needs a permit and a compliant 48-inch barrier under 2021 IRC Appendix G.

Any outdoor residential pool in unincorporated Pierce County that holds water over 24 inches deep must be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches high, per the 2021 International Residential Code Appendix G that Washington adopts through WAC 51-51 and PPW enforces.

Residential pool safety in unincorporated Pierce County follows 2021 IRC Appendix G, adopted through Washington's WAC 51-51, which requires self-closing, self-latching pedestrian gates on the barrier; public and semipublic pools are separately regulated by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Officer under PCC Chapter 8.44.

In unincorporated Pierce County, spas and hot tubs fall under 2021 IRC Appendix G, but county guidance provides that a spa or hot tub with an approved lockable safety cover, and a pool with a powered lockable cover complying with ASTM F1346, need not have a separate 48-inch barrier installed.

Selling homemade non-hazardous foods from a Pierce County home requires a Washington Cottage Food Operation permit from the state Department of Agriculture (WSDA) under RCW 69.22 and Chapter 16-149 WAC, with a $35,000 annual gross sales cap.

For home occupations in unincorporated Pierce County, signage is regulated by Title 18B of the Pierce County Code (Development Regulations - Signs), as directed by PCC 18A.37.110, so any home-business sign must comply with the county's sign standards for residential zones.

A basic home occupation in unincorporated Pierce County is allowed as an accessory use under PCC 18A.37.110 if only the resident performs it and one vehicle up to 18,000 pounds is used; larger cottage industries need an Administrative Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit.

A home-based day care in unincorporated Pierce County may operate from a residence under PCC 18A.37.100, serving up to 12 individuals with a DCYF-approved fence around the outdoor play area, and must hold a Washington family home child care license from DCYF.

Unincorporated Pierce County allows home occupations as an accessory use in urban and rural zones under Pierce County Code 18A.37.110, capping the activity at 500 square feet or 50 percent of the dwelling's living space, whichever is less, with no outside display or storage.

Pierce County Code Chapter 8.08 sets no numeric grass-height limit for unincorporated properties; overgrown vegetation is addressed only where it creates a public nuisance under PCC 8.08.040 or a fire, sight-distance or drainage hazard. Noxious weeds are separately controlled by the Pierce County Noxious Weed Control Board under RCW 17.10.

Pierce County Code 8.08.050(F) makes property where solid waste has accumulated a public nuisance unless the waste is securely stored in receptacles designed to prevent threats to health, safety or the environment. Curbside carts in unincorporated areas are supplied by the WUTC-certificated hauler serving each area.

Vacant and rural lots in unincorporated Pierce County fall under Code Chapter 8.08, which makes accumulated solid waste, junk vehicles, abandoned appliances and unsecured hazards public nuisances regardless of whether the parcel is occupied. Owners remain responsible for abatement costs under PCC 8.08.

Pierce County requires no permit for occasional residential garage or yard sales in unincorporated areas, treating them as an accessory home activity rather than a business. Sales must not create a public nuisance under Code Chapter 8.08, and off-premise signs in the county right-of-way are not allowed.

Pierce County Code Chapter 8.08 declares accumulated solid waste, junk vehicles, unpermitted salvage sites and unfinished structures to be public nuisances in unincorporated Pierce County, and lets Planning & Public Works order abatement after voluntary compliance fails. Cities like Tacoma and Puyallup enforce their own blight codes.

Converting a garage into living space in unincorporated Pierce County requires a building permit, and creating an independent unit is treated as an accessory dwelling unit under PCC 18A.37.120 with size limits.

A building permit is required for all carports in unincorporated Pierce County regardless of size, and carports must meet Title 18A accessory-structure setbacks and the 3-foot minimum setback under PCC 18A.37.020.

Unincorporated Pierce County exempts a one-story tool or storage shed of 200 square feet or less from a building permit under PCC 17C.30.040, but larger structures and setbacks under Title 18A still apply.

Unincorporated Pierce County treats a tiny home under 400 square feet on a permanent foundation as a residence permitted like a single-family house, while recreational vehicles cannot be used as a permanent dwelling beyond 120 days.

Unincorporated Pierce County allows accessory dwelling units under PCC 18A.37.120. Two ADUs are permitted per lot inside an Urban Growth Area and one outside, attached or detached, with size caps and a building permit.

Pierce County Code sets no countywide curb setout time, so cart placement in unincorporated areas follows the WUTC-certificated hauler's tariff. Waste must still be securely contained under PCC 8.08.050(F), and haulers must offer accommodations for long or steep driveways and residents with limited mobility under PCC 8.29.030.

Pierce County Code 8.29.030 requires certificated haulers to offer every-other-week, single-stream curbside recycling to all single-family homes in unincorporated areas, using an approximately 96-gallon cart. Recycling participation by residents is voluntary, but haulers must provide the service and accept a defined list of materials.

Pierce County Code Chapter 8.30 establishes a county solid waste handling system for all unincorporated areas, but residential garbage collection is provided by private haulers certificated by the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission (WUTC), not the county. Murrey's Disposal, LeMay, American Disposal and DM Disposal serve the unincorporated county.

Pierce County residents dispose of bulky items, appliances and extra debris either through their WUTC-certificated hauler's on-call bulky pickup or by self-hauling to a county transfer station or the LRI landfill. Abandoning large appliances is a specific nuisance under PCC 8.08.050(E) and dumping them elsewhere is a misdemeanor.

Dumping garbage, sewage or debris on any street, public property or private property without the owner's consent is a misdemeanor under Pierce County Code 8.32.020. State law RCW 70A.200.060 layers on penalties from a civil infraction up to a gross misdemeanor plus cleanup restitution, depending on the volume of litter.

Garage sale signs are temporary signs under PCC 18B.10.040 in unincorporated Pierce County. They need no permit, but only one non-yard temporary sign is allowed per road frontage and signs may not sit in the right-of-way.

In unincorporated Pierce County, political signs are protected speech treated as temporary yard signs under PCC 18B.10.040, need no permit, must stay under 32 square feet, and may not block traffic visibility.

Pierce County's countywide exterior illumination standards in PCC 18J.15.085 require hidden light sources, downward-directed shielded floodlights, and a 3000 Kelvin maximum color temperature to limit skyglow and glare.

Pierce County's exterior illumination standards in PCC 18J.15.085 require lighting to avoid glare and light trespass onto neighboring properties, keeping illumination on the premises it is intended to light.

Under the Pierce County Park Code (Chapter 14.08), gated parks follow posted hours and, in other areas, no person may be present or park a vehicle more than one-half hour after legal sunset without a permit.