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.
Under Pierce County Code 18A.37.110, a standard home occupation in urban and rural zones is an allowed accessory use without a separate discretionary land-use permit, provided only the resident performs the activity, it stays within 500 square feet or 50 percent of the living space, and no more than one vehicle up to 18,000 pounds gross vehicle weight is used. Operations that add non-resident employees, more square footage, or larger vehicles rise to Cottage Industry Level I (Administrative Use Permit, two non-resident employees) or Level II in rural zones (Conditional Use Permit, four non-resident employees). A Washington state business license still applies. Note: PCC 18A.37.110 was amended by Ordinance 2026-520s.
Running a home occupation that exceeds these limits without the required Administrative Use or Conditional Use Permit is a zoning violation under Title 18A. County code enforcement can issue a notice of violation and impose civil penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard residential composting is allowed and encouraged in Pierce County with no permit, but a compost pile that creates odor, attracts vermin, or otherwis...
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Pierce County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or permitting synthetic/artificial turf on residential lots. Installation must still meet general zon...
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Pierce County encourages native and drought-tolerant plantings and requires native-vegetation retention on many development sites, but homeowners are free to...
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Rooftop rainwater collection is broadly allowed in Washington, and Pierce County has no ordinance prohibiting residential rain barrels or cisterns; larger sy...
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Pierce County government sets no county-wide residential watering schedule; outdoor watering rules are set by your water provider — mainly Tacoma Water and l...
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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 Pier...
See how Pierce County's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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