Historic Preservation Code Update

1. What are the Historic Preservation Codes?
The Tacoma Municipal Code has several areas that pertain to the historic preservation program. These describe the powers and duties of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the scope of the historic preservation program, financial incentives, the process for putting properties on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places (known as City Landmarks), the creation of local historic districts, and the design review process. The only sections being reviewed in this update include:

• Tacoma Municipal Code (TMC) 1.42: Landmarks Preservation Commission, Historic Preservation Officer and financial incentives
• TMC 13.02: Planning Commission, specifically language relating to the review of historic special review district overlay zones (usually called local historic districts for short)
• TMC 13.05: Land use permit procedures, including the design review process for City Landmarks and Historic Districts
• TMC 13.07: Landmarks and Historic Districts, including the nomination process and criteria
• TMC 13.12: Environmental code, specifically cultural resource review and demolition review requirements

2. Can I request additional areas of the Historic Preservation Code and/or Program be reviewed?
Not at this time. The current code review is limited in scope.

3. Why are the Historic Preservation Codes being updated?
The City recently updated its Comprehensive Plan, including the Historic Preservation policies and goals. The code amendment will implement the policy changes in the updated plan, as well as respond to direction from City Council, the Planning Commission, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission over the past several years including:

• In 2023, the City Council, in response to feedback from the Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission regarding issues with the process for creating local historic districts, established a moratorium on the creation of new districts until November 5, 2025. The amendments will clarify the respective roles of the Planning and Landmarks Commissions in the historic district review process, align the review process with other City goals and policies including housing, equity and sustainability, and reduce barriers.
• Improve access to historic preservation through the use of improved incentives, especially for underserved areas.
• Incorporate new requirements resulting from recent state legislation, including Substitute House Bill 1576, which placed certain limitations on local historic preservation programs.
• Improve review of projects for potential cultural and archaeological resources.

4. What is the timeline for the historic preservation code amendments?
The City is working to adopt code amendments by Fall 2025.

5. What regulatory changes are anticipated?
The City anticipates changes to the process and criteria for creation of local historic districts, improvement of cultural resource protections, broader access to the Special Tax Valuation tool (a property tax incentive that temporarily reduces property assessed value for historic buildings that have been renovated), changes to demolition review requirements, and the potential creation of a commemorative (non-regulatory) sites register.

6. How will these changes affect my property/development?
The code amendments may reduce some of the design review requirements for properties within local historic districts and make incentives more broadly available. The historic nomination process will be simplified, as will the demolition review process. For properties in archaeologically sensitive areas, there may be additional review required if encountering archaeological materials is anticipated. For properties already listed on the historic register, requirements will likely be unchanged.

For most properties proposed for listing on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, owner consent will be required to complete the process (consent is presently not required by code).

7. How do I find historic properties and historic districts?
Go to www.tacoma.gov/historicpreservation, and click on Tacoma’s Historic District & Landmarks. This will take you to a page where you can view a list or go to www.tacomapermits.org and click on “Explore Maps” to find interactive maps.

8. Where can I find more information about historic preservation in Tacoma?
Visit www.tacoma.gov/historicpreservation, and click on Tacoma’s Historic District & Landmarks. Toward the bottom of the page there is an FAQs section.

9. How can I participate in this code update and provide comments?
The City conducted citywide public outreach during the Comprehensive Plan update process and will be meeting with various stakeholders June through August 2025, including planned community sessions during the month of July.

Comments can also be made on draft amendments at the Planning Commission Public Hearing which will likely be in August.

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Email: landmarks@tacoma.gov