Addition permits in City of Tacoma: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a home addition permit in City of Tacoma, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Tacoma Planning & Development Services.
Free lookup, no account needed — your lot polygon, zoning, setbacks and overlays, cited to City of Tacoma's source.
When does a home addition need a permit in City of Tacoma?
Permit required for any addition to an existing building, OR any new accessory structure ≥200 sqft. Alteration/addition <80% of building valuation = Residential Alteration (BLDRA) permit. ≥80% = Residential New Construction (BLDRN) permit (which subsumes site-development review).
How City of Tacoma adopted this rule
The threshold comes from the state code (WAC 51.51), which City of Tacoma adopts by reference in the provision quoted below.
“The International Building Code, International Residential Code, and International Existing Building Code, as adopted and amended by the Washington State Building Code Council under the State Building Code, as defined in TMC § 2.02.100 , are hereby adopted as the official Building Code of the City of Tacoma. The Tacoma Building Code as defined in TMC § 2.02.100 is also amended to include the adoption of IBC Appendix Chapter G, the adoption of IEBC Appendix A, and a new Appendix J added to the IEBC.”Source ↗verified 2026-04-29
What City of Tacoma says in its own permit handout
From Residential Garages and Sheds, published by City of Tacoma. This is the jurisdiction's own guidance on its permit process, not the ordinance text — where the two differ, the code governs.
“A building permit is required for any addition to an existing building or for any new accessory structure that is 200 square feet or larger.”Handout ↗read 2026-09-05
Required submittals
- site plan to scale 1"=20'
- floor plan 1/4"=1'
- building elevations
- foundation plan
- roof framing plan
- wall sections
- plumbing/mechanical plans
Inspection sequence
- foundation/footing
- plumbing rough-in
- electrical rough-in
- mechanical rough-in
- framing
- insulation
- drywall
- final
Contractor specialties needed
general
Who can do this work in City of Tacoma?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, active through April 10, 2027, bonded and insured — working throughout City of Tacoma and Pierce County. Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files the home addition permit with Tacoma Planning & Development Services, carries the project through review and inspections, and performs the construction. Call (206) 410-5100 for a City of Tacoma home addition quote.
Notes & caveats
From Tacoma residential-permit-process tip sheet: "BLDRA (Residential Alteration/Addition) — Remodels, additions, alterations of less than 80% building valuation, miscellaneous structures without living space or storage space (i.e. walls, fences, pools)." From garages-and-sheds tip sheet: "A building permit is required for any addition to an existing building or for any new accessory structure that is 200 square feet or larger." Applies to single-family + duplex + townhomes (≤6 units, ≤3 stories).
Addition permit fee — Washington baseline, not City of Tacoma's own schedule
Worked example for a $120,000 home addition project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.
| Building permit fee | $1,105.75 |
| Plan review | $718.74 |
| WA state surcharge | $6.5 |
| Estimated total | $1,830.99 |
Plan-review fee scales with valuation per UBC Table 1-A. State surcharge $6.50 per building permit. Trade permits (E/P/M) separate. We have not read City of Tacoma's adopted fee schedule, so this is not City of Tacoma's fee: it walks the standard valuation table most Washington cities adopt by reference, as a rough guide. The real numbers are in City of Tacoma's fee schedule ↗. Impact/utility fees may apply separately.
How to apply yourself
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your City of Tacoma home addition — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals (7).
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Tacoma Planning & Development Services ↗
- 4. Track review (typical: 30–90 days). Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (Plan-review fee scales with valuation per UBC Table 1-A. State surcharge $6.50 per building permit. Trade permits (E/P/M) separate.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
We pull home addition permits in City of Tacoma every month. We prepare the drawings and submittals, file with Tacoma Planning & Development Services, handle reviewer comments, and build the project.
Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured
Addition permits in City of Tacoma — FAQ
When does a home addition need a permit in City of Tacoma?
Permit required for any addition to an existing building, OR any new accessory structure ≥200 sqft. Alteration/addition <80% of building valuation = Residential Alteration (BLDRA) permit. ≥80% = Residential New Construction (BLDRN) permit (which subsumes site-development review).
How much does a home addition permit cost in City of Tacoma?
For a $120,000 home addition project, the estimated City of Tacoma permit fee is about $1,830.99 — building fee $1,105.75 + plan review $718.74 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.
How long does City of Tacoma take to review a home addition permit?
Typical review window: 30–90 days.