With the adoption of Resolution 42055, the Tacoma City Council has set December 1, 2026 as the date for a public hearing on the Planning Commission’s proposed updates to the City of Tacoma’s Off-Street Parking Code in response to the new Washington state off-street parking requirements. The public hearing will be held upon completion of the City Council’s regular agenda items, no earlier than 5:15 p.m., in the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market St., 1st Floor, Council Chambers) and on Zoom (meeting ID 848 3423 3126 / passcode 349099).
Between 2024 and 2025, the Washington State Legislature adopted several laws that changed how cities may regulate off-street parking, and the City must update its parking regulations to comply with these state requirements by January 27, 2027.
The Legislature identified several policy reasons for these changes, including reducing development costs, supporting housing production, encouraging transportation options, and reducing reliance on automobiles.
The Planning Commission’s recommendations go beyond the minimum changes required under state law. While state legislation limits or prohibits minimum off-street parking requirements for certain residential and commercial uses, and some developments near frequent transit, the Commission has recommended eliminating minimum off-street parking requirements citywide, across all zoning districts and land use categories.
The Planning Commission’s proposed updates to the City’s Off-Street Parking Code would:
- Remove minimum off-street parking requirements citywide for all zoning districts and land use categories. Removing minimum requirements would not prohibit parking. Property owners and developers could continue to provide off-street parking based on site conditions, market demand, operational needs, and other considerations.
- Revise accessible parking provisions by removing the City’s separate local requirement for accessible parking when no general off-street parking is provided. When off-street parking is provided, accessible parking would continue to be regulated under applicable state and federal accessibility requirements and the City’s Building Code.
- Address off-street parking requirements without changing the City’s on-street parking regulations or curb-management programs. The proposed amendments would retain applicable standards for parking design, site access, loading, emergency access, landscaping, bicycle parking, and other site development requirements.
The Planning Commission Findings of Fact and Recommendations Report provides the Commission’s findings, recommendations and supporting information. The documents are available at tacoma.gov/parkingcodeupdate.