Tacoma Building Permits
Building Permits and Plans in Tacoma
Tacoma has more old houses than almost anywhere else in Pierce County, and more people trying to fit a backyard cottage, an addition, or a second unit onto them. Build Sherpas draws the plans and handles the permit with the City of Tacoma, from our office in Sumner.
Send Us Your Address | Call (253) 799-0606
Who issues the permit
Inside city limits, residential permits go through the City of Tacoma's Planning and Development Services. Nearby areas with Tacoma addresses, like Parkland, Spanaway, and parts of the east side, may be unincorporated Pierce County, and Pierce County runs those permits. Fircrest, University Place, Fife, and Lakewood each have their own departments. We confirm the jurisdiction from your parcel first.
What makes Tacoma different
- Older housing. Many homes in the North End, Hilltop, the East Side, and South Tacoma are close to a century old. Walls, foundations, and framing often don't match today's code, so we measure and draw the house as it actually stands.
- Historic districts. Homes in districts like North Slope or the Wedge can need design review before exterior changes. We check whether yours is in one.
- Zoning changes. The city's Home in Tacoma updates now allow more kinds of housing on residential lots. What you can build still depends on your zone, the lot size, and the alley or street access.
- Tight lots. DADUs on small city lots come down to setbacks, height, and where utilities tie in.
What Build Sherpas does here
- DADU and ADU plans
- Home addition plans
- Energy code forms
- Permits for work already built
- Build consulting
- Submitting the permit and answering review comments
We don't build, and we don't engineer or stamp. Old houses often need engineering for new openings, beams, or foundation work. Our sister firm Dow Engineering PLLC, in the same office, handles that when it's required. Air leakage testing at final comes from WA Blower Door.
Tacoma permit FAQ
Q: Can I build a DADU on my Tacoma lot?
A: Often, yes, but it depends on the zone, lot size, setbacks, alley or street access, and how sewer and water would connect. We check those before you pay for design.
Q: Is my house in a historic district?
A: Some Tacoma neighborhoods, like North Slope and the Wedge, have historic districts that can require design review for exterior changes. Send us the address and we'll check.
Q: Can you help with work that was done without a permit?
A: Yes. We draw what's actually there and take it through the city's process. See our permits for work already built page.
Q: Do you work with my contractor?
A: Yes. We work with homeowners and contractors alike, and we can answer review comments while your contractor keeps building.
Start your Tacoma project
Send us the address, a few photos, and a sentence about what you want to build.
Call (253) 799-0606 · Email office@dowengineeringpllc.com
16202 64th St E Ste 117, Sumner, WA 98390 · By appointment
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