Review and Track Permits

Permit Timeline

The following table shows a six-month snapshot of the permitting timeline. Actual review times may vary depending on the permit type, application completeness, project complexity, and the number of review cycles required. Additional information or revisions requested during the review process may extend the overall timeline.

	LOS Target- 1st Review LOS Target	1st Review Median	% Met first Review LOS	Average Review Cycles- Permits Issued
Commercial Alterations	4 weeks	3.0 weeks	71%	1.7
Commercial New Buildings	8 weeks	6.7 weeks	67%	3.2
Residential Alterations	3 weeks	1.9 weeks	97%	1.4
Residential New Buidlings	4 weeks	3.6 weeks	66%	3.0
Site Development	4 weeks	6.0 weeks	13%	2.8
Work Orders	4 weeks	5.6 weeks	9%	3.1

Understanding the Permitting Timeline

What does first review mean? – The initial review of your permit application. This measures the City’s review time and does not include time spent waiting for applicant responses or revisions.

What is a cycle? – A review cycle is one complete review period. Reducing the number of review cycles by submitting complete and accurate application materials can help shorten the overall permitting process.

LOS (Level of Service) – Target review date

How to Check Permit Status

Track the status of your permit application at any time through the Accela portal. The portal shows each required review, whether it has been completed, is in progress, or is still pending, so you can see where your application is in the review process. An email notification will be sent after all required reviews are complete and the application has gone through review consolidation.

• Go to Tacoma Permits (ACA) – https://aca-prod.accela.com/tacoma/Default.aspx
• Use the global search bar at the top of the page or use the Search Permit Records function to locate a permit record.

If your application has passed the target Level of Service (LOS) review date and there has been no update, you may contact staff to request a status update.

Click here for the Permit and Inspection Status tip sheet.

Once your permit has been approved or disapproved, visit the After Permit Approval or Disapproval page to learn what to expect next.

How to Submit Plan Revisions

This tip sheet provides instructions on how to submit revisions (plan corrections) for Building Permits, Site Development Permits, and Work Order Permit applications that have not yet been issued.

Revisions may be submitted after receiving the Review Comment Memo. If you have questions about the resubmittal process, please contact Application Services at (253) 591-5030. If you have questions about a specific review comment, please contact the appropriate reviewer listed on the Contacts section of the Review Comment Memo.

Pre-Construction Meetings

Learn what to expect from a pre-construction meeting, when one may be required, and how to prepare. Read the Pre-Construction Meetings tip sheet for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Can I View the City’s Annual Performance Report?

Download the Annual Permit Performance Report.

Does the City allow deferred submittals?

A building permit review normally includes plumbing, mechanical, and energy code (MEP) unless the applicant chooses to defer submittal.  Please see the Deferred Submittals Tip Sheet for more information about this process.

Note: While energy code review is included in the building permit review, electrical permits are not included and must be obtained separately by the applicant’s electrical contractor/engineer from Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU). For more information, visit www.mytpu.org.

When does my application expire?

If an applicant has been notified that action is needed, such as, plan corrections or that a permit is ready to issue, it is the applicant’s responsibility to respond. If the applicant does not respond or take action within 180 days of being notified, the permit will be cancelled.

When does my permit expire?

A building permit will expire if the work hasn’t begun within 180 days from the date the permit was issued, and this must be verified by City inspection. Once work has begun, progress must be verified by City inspection.  At a minimum, a progress inspection must be completed every 180 days.

Land Use permits have different expiration timelines that will be listed in the Decision of the Land Use Permit.

Can I extend my permit?

If a permit has not yet expired, a permittee may apply for an extension of the permit if he/she is unable, for good and satisfactory reasons, to commence work or continue work within the time required. The request for extension may be made in writing to Planning & Development Services prior to the expiration of the permit. The department may extend the time for action for up to 180 days. Permits may be extended more than once at the departments discretion. Decisions for extensions may take up to five working days.

Building Permit Extensions Policy

If you wish to extend a permit, please send a request in writing to our office at Planning & Development Services, 747 Market Street, Room 345, Tacoma, WA, 98402 or via email at:

• Permit Staff, permits@tacoma.gov, for all Building, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits, as well as Site Development, Right-of-Way and Utility Connection permits
• Derek Gust, Tacoma Fire Department Engineer, dgust@tacoma.gov for all Fire Protection System permits

The extension request must include the following items:

1. Associated permit numbers
2. Reason for the extension
3. Date that the work will commence
4. Date that the work will be completed by

Land Use and ePermits permits cannot be extended.  If a Land Use permit or ePermit has expired, a new application will be required.