On June 16, 2026, the Tacoma City Council voted to adopt Substitute Ordinance No. 29108, officially enacting the 2026 Annual Amendment to the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code. The approved ordinance updates local development and zoning standards to comply with newly enacted Washington state legislative mandates and address feedback received from community members.
“It is important that our local regulations stay aligned with Washington state legislative mandates,” said District 1 Council Member John Hines. “Ensuring clarity and consistency in our municipal code is crucial for maintaining neighborhood growth. I am pleased that our annual code updates reflect input from our community, and I’m grateful for the hard work the City’s Planning Commission and Planning and Development Services Department took on to bring this package forward to the City Council. These code amendments will help enhance public safety, environmental protections, and public heath—all of which are key issues for our community.”
The annual amendment process occurs each year to assess regulatory updates, ensure local files remain current, correct technical errors, and implement strategies for growth management. The adopted 2026 package addresses four primary areas: pre-annexation planning for the McKinley area, updates to special needs housing and shelter standards, technical plan and code clean-ups, and state-mandated legislative amendments for daycare facilities and binding site plans.
These updates are designed to expand access to early childhood care, clarify guidelines for housing providers, and protect natural assets while keeping pace with statewide standards:
- Expanding Child Care Access: In compliance with Senate Bill 5509, the amendments eliminate previous enrollment capacity limits and remove conditional use permit requirements for daycare facilities within Urban Residential zones (UR-1, UR-2, and UR-3). The Council also adopted Planning Commission recommendations requiring a conditional use permit for daycare facilities within the M-1 Light Industrial District to ensure site-specific safety, proper air quality, and secure outdoor play areas.
- Alignment with State STEP Housing Laws: In response to state legislation (House Bill 2266 / Senate Bill 2266), the City has updated its standards for Shelter, Transitional, Emergency, and Permanent (STEP) supportive housing. Local zoning has been adjusted to remove restrictions that are more stringent than standard lodging or residential development within the zone. The City is also expanding the public notification radius to 500 feet and establishing a mandatory public meeting requirement for shelter permits.
- Response to Environmental Feedback: The substitute ordinance includes text clarifications to code references for the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District. These technical edits direct permit applicants to review overlay standards, protecting natural resources without expanding use restrictions beyond their intended boundaries.
- Pre-Annexation Planning: The ordinance establishes low-scale residential land use designations and Urban Residential-1 (UR-1) zoning for three parcels within the McKinley Potential Annexation Area. These designations match the surrounding residential context and will take effect automatically upon the finalization of the annexation process.
The City Council’s adoption followed a public engagement process managed by the Tacoma Planning Commission. This process included public notices, direct mailings to nearby property owners, informational sessions, and formal public hearings on March 4 and May 19, 2026.
Community members can review the complete text of the adopted ordinance and its accompanying exhibits on the City’s website.