Planning and Development Services
The mission of Tacoma’s Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) is to partner with the community to build a livable, sustainable, and safe city by providing strategic, timely, predictable, and cost-effective planning and development services with a culture focused on community engagement, customer service, creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
View Planning and Development Services’ 2025 Strategic PlanTop 5 Planning and Development Services Requests
- How do I apply for a building permit?
- How do I learn more about a building project in my neighborhood?
- How do I research current zoning, codes and regulations?
- My house is in a historic area – what modifications can I make to the property and structure?
- Does my neighborhood have a Neighborhood Plan?
Planning
We guide community growth and development in a manner that protects environmental resources, enhances quality of life, promotes distinctive neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown, and involves community members in the decisions that affect them.
Contact Planning at (253) 591-5030, Fax: (253) 591-5433 or email Planning Services.
Development Services
We provide pre-development consultations, plan reviews, permitting and inspections for residential, commercial, industrial, and site related development. We also process multiple types of land use permits for future development.
Historic Preservation
We provide support to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which oversees design review for alterations to City Landmarks and buildings within historic districts, maintains the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, and reviews and approves financial incentives for projects involving historic buildings.
PDS supports multiple different commissions, boards, and advisory groups that touch on various planning and development topics.
Department Director
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Meet the Director
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Planning and Development Services DirectorPeter Huffman
As director of the Planning and Development Services Department, Peter Huffman is responsible for comprehensive land use planning, building and land use permitting, inspections, and cross-departmental and regional coordination of planning and development policy for the City of Tacoma.
Major initiatives Huffman has led include development of the Permit Services Enterprise Fund and initiation of the implementation of a cost-for-service permit fee methodology, as well as formation and operation of cross-functional planning and development services teams to improve the delivery of permitting services and the process for developing zoning and development standards.
Huffman joined the City of Tacoma in 1994 as an urban planner conducting policy analysis on land use and transportation planning issues. He also served as an economic development specialist for four years staffing the Neighborhood Business District Revitalization Program. For nine years, he managed the long-range and comprehensive planning functions for the City of Tacoma before being named assistant director of the Community and Economic Development Department in January 2010. As assistant director, he directed the planning and development services of the Building and Land Use Services Division.
In January 2013, the Planning and Development Services Department was created combining the former Building and Land Use Division with the long-range planning and historic preservation functions into one department. Huffman was named interim director. In this role he is continuing to move forward with efforts aimed at improving the customer service culture, predictability and timeliness of Tacoma’s planning and permitting services.
Education
- Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Oregon
- B.A. in Political Science, Central Washington University
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- American Planning Association
- Urban Land Institute