Deck permits in Tacoma: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)

When does a deck need a permit in Tacoma?

Tacoma TMC 13.05: permit if deck >30in above grade or attached. Apply via Accela ACA.

How long a deck permit actually takes in Tacoma

42 permits issued in the last 12 months: half were issued within 43 days of application and 80% within 115 (over-the-counter and plan-reviewed together; the City's records do not separate them).

Days from application to issue, measured by Kolmo from City of Tacoma residential building permits (Accela Permit Data, City of Tacoma open data).

How Tacoma adopted this rule

The threshold comes from the state code (WAC 51.51), which 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 Tacoma says in its own permit handout

From Residential Porches and Decks, published by Tacoma. This is the jurisdiction's own guidance on its permit process, not the ordinance text — where the two differ, the code governs.

“Guards should be located along open-sided walking surfaces, including stairs, ramps and landings, that are located more than 30 inches measured vertically to the floor or grade below at any point within 36 inches horizontally to the edge of the open side. A guardrail is a rail that prevents people from falling off or being hit by something. Required guardrails must be at least 36 inches high.”

Handout ↗read 2026-09-05

Required submittals

• Site plan with setbacks
• Sectional drawing

Inspection sequence

1. Footing
2. Framing
3. Final

Contractor specialties needed

General contractor

Notes & caveats

Tacoma's deck exemption is IRC R105.2 Building item 10, which TMC 2.02.010 adopts as the State adopts it (TMC 2.02.540 changes only the sidewalk, reroofing and electrical items): "Decks not exceeding 200 square feet (18.58 m2) in area, that are not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door required by Section R311.4." A deck that fails any one of these needs a building permit.

Deck permit fee estimate in Tacoma

Worked example for an $18,000 deck project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.

Tacoma counts an attached deck as an addition: the combination permit is 2.81% of valuation (uncovered wood decks valued at 67% of ICC Building Valuation Data, Table 8-5), plan review 45% of that fee, and the site development permit at 65% plus 45% for its review, which Table 8-4 Note 1 lets the city adjust where all hard surfaces total under 2,000 sq ft. Table 1 adds the Technology Program (5%), Natural Resources Program (5%) and Reserve Fund (2%) on permit and plan review fees and Emergency Preparedness (5%) on permit fees; the state building code fee is $6.50. Computed from Tacoma's adopted fee schedule · source ↗. Land use, fire and engineering review, intake, impact and utility fees, where they apply, are charged separately.