Tacoma, WA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning status
- conditional use in every residential district
- Minimum lot size
- 20,000 square feet
- Livestock
- not allowed
- Structures
- greenhouses only, up to 600 sq ft
Summary
Tacoma zoning treats agricultural uses as a conditional use in every residential district, requiring a conditional use permit, at least 20,000 square feet of land, and no livestock.
Agricultural uses CU CU CU CU CU
Such uses shall not be located on a parcel of land containing less than 20,000 square feet of area. Buildings shall not be permitted in connection with such use, except greenhouses having total floor area not in excess of 600 square feet. Livestock is not allowed. Within the STGPD overlay district, agricultural uses and greenhouses are subject to the STGPD high impact use table contained in § 13.06.070D.5.b.
Mining and quarrying N N N N N
Existing surface mines considered permitted as conditional use, subject to requirements contained in § 13.06.080, Subsection O.
Urban horticulture N N N N N
Residential Uses Dwelling Types/Housing Types
Houseplex P P P * *
In UR Districts, subject to the standards of § 13.06.020F, § 13.06.100F, and other applicable standards.
* In R-4 and R-5 Districts, residential development is subject to the standards of § 13.06.020G, § 13.06.100G, and other applicable standards.
Backyard Building P P P * *
In UR Districts, subject to the standards of § 13.06.020F, § 13.06.100F, and other applicable standards.
* In R-4 and R-5 Districts, residential development is subject to the standards of § 13.06.020G, § 13.06.100G, and other applicable standards.
Rowhouse P P P * *
Referred to as Dwelling, Townhouse in the R-4 and R-5 Districts. In UR Districts, subject to the standards of § 13.06.020F, § 13.06.100F, and other applicable standards.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Tacoma's Residential Districts use table lists "Agricultural uses" as a conditional use (CU), not a by-right use, across every residential zone: UR-1, UR-2, UR-3, R-4, and R-5. That means a property owner needs an approved conditional use permit under TMC § 13.05.010(A) before farming a residential lot. The use is barred outright on parcels under 20,000 square feet, no farm buildings are allowed except greenhouses capped at 600 square feet, and livestock is not allowed anywhere. Land inside the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District overlay faces a separate, more restrictive high-impact use table. The code contains no right-to-farm nuisance-protection statute; this is a zoning restriction, not a farming protection.
Violations & Fines
Farming a residential lot under 20,000 square feet, keeping livestock, or erecting a non-greenhouse farm building without an approved conditional use permit is a zoning code violation enforceable by the City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I farm my residential lot in Tacoma?
Can I keep farm animals on an agricultural-use lot in Tacoma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
Compare Tacoma to another location·View the Washington right to farm overview
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle agricultural zoning protection.