Stormwater permits in City of Tacoma: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a stormwater / drainage 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 stormwater / drainage need a permit in City of Tacoma?
Ecology's Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW, 2024 edition) is the state floor. A municipal stormwater permittee may instead adopt a REGIONAL manual Ecology has determined equivalent, and most do — some counties publish their own, some cities publish their own, and others adopt Ecology's directly. WHICH MANUAL APPLIES IS A PER-JURISDICTION FACT and it changes the numbers: review thresholds for new plus replaced impervious surface and for land-disturbing activity differ between manuals, so read this jurisdiction's own adopting chapter before quoting one. Critical-area and closed-basin parcels get stricter review under every manual.
From City of Tacoma's own code
“A. Surface water drainage. 1. General. All drainage facilities shall be designed per the requirements of the COTSWMM. Site drainage shall not be directed onto/across adjacent properties without first obtaining necessary easements from the property owner and approval of the Public Works Department. All existing and proposed drainage courses shall be identified on the plans. Existing drainage shall be maintained unless an alternative drainage system is provided that is approved by the Building Official.”Source ↗verified 2026-09-05
What City of Tacoma says in its own permit handout
From New Residential Combination Permits, 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.
“You only need to submit a separate SDEV permit application if you are going to be grading or filling 50 cubic yards or more or clearing 7,000 square feet or more before your building permit has been issued.”Handout ↗read 2026-09-05
Required submittals
- drainage report (full or simplified)
- site plan with impervious calc
- BMP / facility detail
- geotech if infiltration claimed
Inspection sequence
- pre-construction (BMPs in place)
- facility installation
- final stabilization
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 stormwater / drainage 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 stormwater / drainage quote.
Notes & caveats
Issuing body is city public works / county DPER, often parallel to the building permit. On-site infiltration / detention required where infeasible to discharge to municipal storm. Critical-area parcels (steep slope, salmon-bearing watercourse) get more conservative review.
How to apply yourself
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your City of Tacoma stormwater / drainage — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals (4).
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Tacoma Planning & Development Services ↗
- 4. Track review. Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (Drainage review fees are commonly tiered by project size in the city's fee schedule.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
We pull stormwater / drainage 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
Stormwater permits in City of Tacoma — FAQ
When does a stormwater / drainage need a permit in City of Tacoma?
Ecology's Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW, 2024 edition) is the state floor. A municipal stormwater permittee may instead adopt a REGIONAL manual Ecology has determined equivalent, and most do — some counties publish their own, some cities publish their own, and others adopt Ecology's directly. WHICH MANUAL APPLIES IS A PER-JURISDICTION FACT and it changes the numbers: review thresholds for new plus replaced impervious surface and for land-disturbing activity differ between manuals, so read this jurisdiction's own adopting chapter before quoting one. Critical-area and closed-basin parcels get stricter review under every manual.
How much does a stormwater / drainage permit cost in City of Tacoma?
Current fee per the City of Tacoma fee schedule: Drainage review fees are commonly tiered by project size in the city's fee schedule.. Plus ancillary plan-review/tech-surcharge fees per city schedule.