Tacoma, WA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Height allowance
- 12 inches above roof surface
- Pitched roofs
- cannot exceed the ridgeline
- Applies to
- all Tacoma zoning districts
- Code section
- TMC § 13.06.010(F)(4)(f)
Summary
Tacoma's zoning code lets rooftop solar panels exceed the district height limit by up to 12 inches above the roof surface, and pitched-roof panels can't rise above the ridgeline: no height variance needed.
Solar panels/collectors are allowed to exceed the maximum height limit provided they do not extend more than 12 inches above the surface of the roof, as measured to the upper side of the solar panel, and on pitched roofs do not extend above the ridgeline (see examples below).
g. For the purpose of adding insulation to the exterior of the existing building structural frame, the maximum allowable roof height may be increased by 8 inches, only. Existing buildings not conforming to development standards shall not exceed the maximum allowable height limit by more than 8 inches. This exception is not applicable within view-sensitive districts.
G. Lot area restrictions.
1. Applicability. The following provisions apply to all zoning districts, except as hereinafter provided, and except where modified by the provisions of Section 13.06.050 relating to Downtown Districts, Title 19 relating to Shoreline Management, and other sections of the TMC.
2. Purpose. (Reserved) 3. Lot area established.
a. Any building or structure hereafter built, enlarged, or moved on a lot shall conform to the area regulations of the district in which such building or structure is located.
b. No lot area, now existing or hereafter established, shall be so reduced or diminished such that the yards, setbacks, open spaces, or total lot area be made smaller than required by the chapter, except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter.
4. Lot area exceptions.
a.
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
Title 13's general height-restriction rules apply citywide, in every zoning district. Under the height-exceptions subsection, solar panels and collectors are excused from the district's maximum building height as long as they don't extend more than 12 inches above the roof surface, measured to the panel's upper edge, and don't rise above the ridge on a pitched roof. A separate insulation-related exception lets the roofline itself grow by up to 8 inches; the two exceptions are independent. Installing solar still requires a standard building permit: this provision only removes the need for a separate height variance or conditional use permit.
Violations & Fines
Rooftop panels that rise more than 12 inches above the roof surface, or that exceed a pitched roof's ridgeline, no longer qualify for the exemption and count toward the district's standard height limit, risking a code violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a height variance to install rooftop solar in Tacoma?
Does the height exemption cover a ground-mounted solar array?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
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