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Tacoma
Content current as of 04/03/26

Stormwater Permits & Manuals

Whether you’re planning a sewer or stormwater connection, repair, or a special discharge, the City of Tacoma requires permits to ensure projects meet safety and environmental standards. 

Permits not only help protect our community’s infrastructure but also play a key role in safeguarding our environment. Explore the requirements for each type of permit so your project complies with city guidelines. Here you can also learn more about the Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM) and the standards for stormwater management in Tacoma.

Contact

Stormwater Management

(253) 591-5588

Center for Urban Waters
326 East D Street
Tacoma, WA 98421

Quick Links

Stormwater Management Program Business Source Control Stormwater Site Plan Templates Preventing Water Pollution Sewer Backups & Flooding Business Inspections Pretreatment Program Make a Splash Grant Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI)

Permits

Permits not only help protect our community’s infrastructure but also play a key role in safeguarding our environment. Below you can explore the requirements for each type of permit, so your project complies with city guidelines. If you still have questions, please contact us.

If you’re working on your own private plumbing or side sewer project, a City of Tacoma permit is required to ensure the work meets proper standards. City inspectors will verify that your project complies with all regulations. Visit the Wastewater Resources web page for more details on private side sewers and to access the Side Sewer Availability Manual.

Contractor Requirements

For pumping or side sewer work done in City rights-of-way, you must hire a licensed and bonded contractor certified to work in Tacoma. You can find contractors in local directories under “Sewer Contractors” or by visiting the Labor and Industries website.

Get your permit at:

Planning and Development Services
747 Market Street, Room 345, Third Floor
Tacoma, WA 98402

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone: (253) 591-5030
For more information, visit GeoHub.

If you work on your own private stormwater system that is connected to the City’s stormwater network, a City of Tacoma permit is required. This includes any private systems with stormwater facilities or connections involving the City curb. The permit ensures your system aligns with City standards.

Any stormwater work in the City right-of-way must be performed by a contractor licensed and bonded to work in the City of Tacoma. Look under “Sewer Contractors” in your local directory or visit the Labor and Industries website for more information about hiring a contractor.

To discharge additional or short-term waste into the wastewater system, you’ll need a Special Approved Discharge Permit.

Applications and fees must be submitted at least 30 days before the requested discharge date. Fees vary based on the quantity and strength of the discharged wastewater, with an administrative fee of $200 – $650.

Note: Sampling may be required to ensure discharges meet water quality standards. Learn more about our efforts to reduce pollutants by checking out our stormwater pollution prevention tips.

For more information on Special Approved Discharge Permits, fees, and regulations, call (253) 591-5588.

To discharge anything other than rainwater into the stormwater system, you’ll need a special discharge permit.

Applications and fees must be submitted at least 30 days before the requested discharge date. Fees vary and are calculated based on the treated water’s quantity and include:

  • $500 application fee (due at submission)
  • $300 annual administration fee (due by January 30 each discharge year)
  • $0.0013347 per gallon discharged

Sampling may be needed to confirm compliance with water quality standards, supporting efforts to keep our bays, lakes, and streams clean. Learn more about keeping our water clean.

For more information about stormwater discharge permits, fees, and regulations, call (253) 591-5588.

What is a Stormwater System Development Charge (SDC)?
A Stormwater SDC is a one-time fee assessed when a property adds new impervious
surfaces (like buildings, driveways, or pavement). The fee helps pay for systemwide
stormwater infrastructure needed to manage growth.

Stormwater SDC – FAQ

 

What is a Wastewater System Development Charge (SDC)?
A Wastewater SDC is one-time fee assessed when a new property connects
to the City’s wastewater system or when an existing property increases its service capacity
(for example, by upsizing a water meter). These fees help pay for systemwide infrastructure
needed to support population growth.

Wastewater SDC – FAQ

 

Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM)

The City of Tacoma Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM) outlines the minimum requirements and technical standards for stormwater management within Tacoma. Updated regularly, the manual aligns with the latest National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, clarifies information, and incorporates updated policies.

Please take a moment to look over the documents listed below and consider offering feedback to the City. All comments are welcome and appreciated. Where a comment may not fit into changes in this manual update, they will be saved and considered for future revisions, policy memos, and implementation guidance.

Public Feedback & Comments

Second Draft – 2026 SWMM

The City is accepting comments on the Second Draft of the 2026 SWMM through May 1, 2026

Many of the changes in the current draft 2026 SWMM are mandated by the Washington State Department of Ecology, as part of compliance with the NPDES permit issued to the city. To ensure Tacoma’s SWMM is equivalent to Ecology’s statewide manual, certain elements must match.  Some of the bigger changes in the 2026 SWMM include clarification of Ecology’s intent for project exemptions; changes to allowable volume deviations in wetland modeling; added treatment goals for roads, parking areas and light rail; and new thresholds for commercial/industrial redevelopment projects with hard surfaces equaling at least half of the existing hard surface area.

Please take a moment to look over the documents listed below and consider offering feedback to the City. Comments provided by the Washington Department of Ecology on the draft 2026 SWMM are included below, along with the City’s responses to Ecology.

All comments are welcome and appreciated. Where a comment may not fit into changes in this manual update, they will be saved and considered for future revisions, policy memos, and implementation guidance.  Please use the Comment Template Spreadsheet to provide comments.

 

This version of the SWMM has color coded revisions. Use the Color Code Key if needed. If you are color vision deficient, please email swmupdates@tacoma.gov or call (253) 502-2105 and we will provide accessible documents.

 

Second Draft SWMM – Color Coded Response to Ecology Comments – 10.1 Response to Ecology Comments – 10.2

Language Services

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For questions or assistance
Phone: 253-502-2105

First Draft – 2026 SWMM

The City of Tacoma completed a public comment period on the First Draft of the 2026 SWMM.

Public comments on the First Draft – 2026 SWMM closed May 17, 2025. Responses to those comments can be found below.

This version of the SWMM has color coded revisions. Use the Color Code Key if needed. If you are color vision deficient, please email swmupdates@tacoma.gov or call (253) 502-2105 and we will provide accessible documents. We hosted two public comment webinars in April and May. Below you’ll find the video recordings and Q&As from those webinars.

Public Comment Webinar #1:  Video   |  Q&A
Public Comment Webinar #2:  Video  |  Q&A

 

DRAFT 2026 SWMM (Public Comment Version) Response to Public Comments (#1)

 

 

Language Services

¿Necesita esta información en español?

Quý vị có cần nhận được thông tin này bằng tiếng Việt không?

이 정보자료가 한국어로 필요한가요?

Вам нужна эта информация на русском?

Чи потрібна вам ця інформація українською мовою?

Kailangan ba ninyo ang impormasyong ito sa Tagalog?

E te mana’omia lenei fa’amatalaga i le gagana Samoa?

តើអ្នកត្រូវការព័ត៌មាននេះ ជាភាសាខ្មែរ ឬទេ?

您需要这些信息以简体中文提供吗？

For questions or assistance
Phone: 253-502-2105

Stormwater Site Plans (SSPs)

Alongside the SWMM update, the City is revising document templates applicants use to create Stormwater Site Plans (SSPs) for a project. SSPs are the documents that explain what a project is building and what devices or facilities it will use to manage stormwater.

These templates are being updated to be more user-friendly and additional helper-tools such as threshold tables and embedded calculators are being developed to size basic stormwater elements such as a biofiltration swales. Feedback on these forms is especially valuable and will help guide development of the final templates.

Please take a moment to look over the documents listed below and consider offering feedback to the City. Feedback on these forms is especially valuable and will help guide development of the final templates. Please submit comments via email: swmupdates@tacoma.gov. 

 

SSP Template – Long Form SSP Template – Short Form

 

 

Language Services

¿Necesita esta información en español?

Quý vị có cần nhận được thông tin này bằng tiếng Việt không?

이 정보자료가 한국어로 필요한가요?

Вам нужна эта информация на русском?

Чи потрібна вам ця інформація українською мовою?

Kailangan ba ninyo ang impormasyong ito sa Tagalog?

E te mana’omia lenei fa’amatalaga i le gagana Samoa?

តើអ្នកត្រូវការព័ត៌មាននេះ ជាភាសាខ្មែរ ឬទេ?

您需要这些信息以简体中文提供吗？

 

For questions or assistance
Phone: 253-502-2105

2021 SWMM

The update to the 2021 SWMM is being offered to the public for a second time to invite comments and feedback until May 16, 2026. As part of Permit Compliance, the City of Tacoma is updating the July 2021 SWMM. Publication of the final updated manual will be July 1, 2026 when the manual goes into effect for all projects that apply for permitting starting on that date. Please submit comments via email swmupdates@tacoma.gov.

The July 2021 SWMM is applicable to the following projects:

  • Applications submitted on or after July 1, 2021
  • Applications submitted before November 24, 2015, that have not started construction by July 1, 2021 (even if a construction permit has been approved and issued)
  • Applications submitted before July 1, 2021, that have not started construction by July 1, 2026
2021 SWMM (PDF)
For questions or assistance
Phone: 253-502-2105

Full-Day Training Materials

Full-Day Recorded Training
Full-Day PowerPoint Only
Full-Day Stormwater Site Plan Example
Full-Day Soils Report Example

Half-Day Training Materials

Half-Day Recorded Training
Half-Day PowerPoint Only
Half-Day Stormwater Site Plan Example
Half-Day Operation and Maintenance Manual Example

SWMM Policy Documents

ESD23-004 Change of Use

ESD23-004 - Change of Use (December 14, 2023)

ESD23-003 - BMP S117 - Dumpsters CORRECTED (August 30, 2023)

ESD23-01

ESD23-001 - Known Capacity Issue Mitigation Requirements (June 14, 2023)

ESD22-02

ESD22-02 - Redevelopment Project Minimum Requirements Threshold Determination (October 21, 2022)

Executive Directive ESD22-02

ESD22-02 Executive Directive

ESD22-01 Separation and Public & Private Stormwater

Tacoma Filterra Plant List

City of Tacoma Filterra Plant List

Interim Policy Document

ESD21-02 - Interim Policy for City of Tacoma Design Manual (October 19, 2021)

ESD16-1 Reclaimed Asphalt & Concrete

ESD16-1 - Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Millings and Recycled Concrete Aggregate (August 15, 2016)

STGPD Infiltration Policy

ESD17-1 - South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Infiltration Policy (January 9, 2017)

The following policy documents shall be used in conjunction with the SWMM.

Payment In Lieu of Construction Program

Greater than 90% capacity has been used in the Gravel Pit facility. Potential participation in the program is very limited. There are no immediate plans to add capacity to continue the Payment In-Lieu of Construction Program for Flow Control. Once capacity has been fully used, the program for flow control will cease until future projects can be funded and constructed. Once the project ceases, all projects will be required to install site-specific flow control facilities in order to meet MR#7 (if required). Potential projects cannot reserve limited capacity.

The City is currently in the design phase for a project that will alter the drainage basin for the Thea Foss Basin. This may affect which new development projects can participate in the program. Before completing an application for inclusion in the Thea Foss Program for a new development project contact us to ensure that the project can utilize the program.

Contact Mieke Hoppin at mhoppin@tacoma.gov to check on available capacity for your project.

Program Documents

Regional Facilities Plan 2022

Regional Stormwater Facility Plan – Attachment 2: Thea Foss Watershed (September 2022)

Payment In-Lieu of Program Tip Sheet - Gravel Pit

Gravel Pit - Tip Sheet (August 2016)

Foss Tip Sheet

Thea Foss Watershed - Tip Sheet (March 2019)

Tacoma Regional Stormwater Facility Plan

City of Tacoma Regional Stormwater Facility Plan (June 2016)

Attachment 1: Flett Creek Watershed (August 2017)

Flett Creek Addendum June 2022

Addendum to Attachment 1: Flett Creek Watershed (June 2022)

Regional Facilities Plan 2022

Attachment 2: Thea Foss Watershed (September 2022)

Application For Payment In-Lieu of Construction Program – Gravel Pit

Application: Payment In-Lieu of Construction – Foss Facilities

Updated March 2025

Voluntary Agreement & Covenant: Gravel Pit

Updated January 2026

Voluntary Agreement & Covenant: Foss Facilities

Updated January 2026

Contact

Stormwater Management

(253) 591-5588

Center for Urban Waters
326 East D Street
Tacoma, WA 98421