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Historic Preservation Code Update

On October 21, 2025, the City Council adopted Ordinance 29063, updating several sections of the Tacoma Municipal Code relating to Historic Preservation, including TMC 13.01, 13.05, 13.07, and 13.12.570.
Historic Preservation Code Update

Contact

Reuben McKnight
Historic Preservation Officer
(253) 591-5220
Landmarks@tacoma.gov

Key amendments include:
• Changes to the process for consideration of local historic districts, including removing the authority for the Planning Commission to deny historic zoning requests, instead requiring all historic district proposals reviewed by Planning Commission to be considered by City Council, defining the respective roles of the Landmarks and Planning Commissions, and introducing guidelines for assessing repeat historic district submissions.
• Creation of additional eligibility criteria for historic districts and nominations of individual properties to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places
• New design review exemptions for non-visible alterations
• Expansion of the Special Tax Valuation program eligibility requirements to include National Register properties
• Creation of a new, non-regulatory Community Heritage Register
• Changes to nomination requirements to comply with changes to state law, including requirement for owner consent for properties under 125 years old
• Guidance for mitigation in demolition permit reviews

Link to ordinance and exhibits

FAQs

1. What are the Historic Preservation Codes?
The Tacoma Municipal Code has several areas that pertain to the historic preservation program. These describe the powers and duties of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the scope of the historic preservation program, financial incentives, the process for putting properties on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places (known as City Landmarks), the creation of local historic districts, and the design review process. The only sections being reviewed in this update include:

  • Tacoma Municipal Code (TMC) 1.42: Landmarks Preservation Commission, Historic Preservation Officer and financial incentives
  • TMC 13.02: Planning Commission, specifically language relating to the review of historic special review district overlay zones (usually called local historic districts for short)
  • TMC 13.05: Land use permit procedures, including the design review process for City Landmarks and Historic Districts
  • TMC 13.07: Landmarks and Historic Districts, including the nomination process and criteria
  • TMC 13.12: Environmental code, specifically cultural resource review and demolition review requirements

2. Why are the Historic Preservation Codes being updated?
The City recently updated its Comprehensive Plan, including the Historic Preservation policies and goals. The code amendment will implement the policy changes in the updated plan, as well as respond to direction from City Council, the Planning Commission, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission over the past several years including:

  • In 2023, the City Council, in response to feedback from the Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission regarding issues with the process for creating local historic districts, established a moratorium on the creation of new districts until November 5, 2025. The amendments will clarify the respective roles of the Planning and Landmarks Commissions in the historic district review process, align the review process with other City goals and policies including housing, equity and sustainability, and reduce barriers.
  • Improve access to historic preservation through the use of improved incentives, especially for underserved areas.
  • Incorporate new requirements resulting from recent state legislation, including Substitute House Bill 1576, which placed certain limitations on local historic preservation programs.
  • Improve review of projects for potential cultural and archaeological resources.

3. How will these changes affect my property/development?
The code amendments may reduce some of the design review requirements for properties within local historic districts and make incentives more broadly available. The historic nomination process will be simplified, as will the demolition review process. For properties in archaeologically sensitive areas, there may be additional review required if encountering archaeological materials is anticipated. For properties already listed on the historic register, requirements will likely be unchanged.

For most properties proposed for listing on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, owner consent will be required to complete the process (consent is presently not required by code).

4. How do I find historic properties and historic districts?
Go to www.tacoma.gov/historicpreservation, and click on Tacoma’s Historic District & Landmarks. This will take you to a page where you can view a list or go to www.tacomapermits.org and click on “Explore Maps” to find interactive maps.

5. Where can I find more information about historic preservation in Tacoma?
Visit www.tacoma.gov/historicpreservation, and click on Tacoma’s Historic District & Landmarks. Toward the bottom of the page there is an FAQs section.

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Email: landmarks@tacoma.gov