The City of Tacoma will launch a one-year pilot program in January 2026 aimed at accelerating the permitting and delivery of “middle housing” developments. The initiative is designed to expand upon the City’s existing permitting framework for smaller residential projects to facilitate the Home in Tacoma policy goals.
The pilot program specifically targets residential projects with seven to 20 units, as well as townhome subdivisions consisting of 10 to 20 homes. The City identifies these projects as the “missing middle,” a housing category that bridges the gap between single-family detached homes and large-scale multifamily developments.
To expedite these projects, the City is scaling a model previously utilized for developments of six units or less. Key operational changes include the consolidation of permitting authority within the Planning & Development Services Department and the utilization of a dedicated staff review team. This structure is intended to streamline decision-making when addressing complex code intersections, such as conflicts between right-of-way improvements and site amenities.
The pilot program places a heavy emphasis on the quality of initial applications to eliminate back-and-forth delays. It includes free pre-application meetings and introduces a mandatory pre-submittal checklist. These measures are designed to ensure all applications are “intake ready” upon submission.
To support this process, a dedicated project coordinator will partner with applicants from the feasibility phase through permit issuance. This approach offers developers a single point of contact and consistent continuity throughout the project’s lifecycle.
In addition to process changes, the City is investing in the creation of pre-approved townhouse building plans, with a target release date by the end of 2026. By providing pre-vetted designs, the City aims to reduce engineering and design costs for developers while significantly shortening review times.
The pilot program also incorporates data-driven accountability measures. New tracking enhancements will allow the City to measure every phase of the review process, providing data to identify specific bottlenecks and assess which improvements yield the best results for the long term.
More information is available on the City’s website.