Tacoma planning commission to hold public hearing on proposed off-street parking code overhaul

Tacoma residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed overhaul to the city’s off-street parking code, prompted by new Washington state limits on when cities may require parking minimums for new development.

The Tacoma Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m. Written comments are due Aug. 7, 2026.

Why Tacoma is updating its parking rules

Washington law restricts how and when cities can impose minimum off-street parking requirements. For example, RCW 35.21.994 places caps on the size of minimum parking requirements and also limits when cities can require any minimum parking at all for certain types of housing and other developments.

Because Tacoma’s existing off-street parking standards were adopted before those limits, the City says it must update its parking code for new development and redevelopment. This Parking Code Update focuses on off-street parking—parking located on private property, in lots, or in garages—not on-street parking managed by the City’s Public Works Department.

What Tacoma is asking the public to weigh

Tacoma’s project materials describe two approaches the City and Planning Commission are evaluating:

• Option A: State compliance only — update Tacoma’s parking standards only as needed to meet minimum requirements under state law.
• Option B: Broader citywide parking reform — go beyond minimum compliance and consider removing minimum parking requirements citywide.

Tacoma says the Planning Commission directed staff to draft code amendments based on Option B, and those draft amendments are now available for public review and comment.

Key dates and how to participate

• July 1, 2026: Tacoma says the Planning Commission released direction for the draft review to prepare public-facing code amendments.
• Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 (about 5:30 p.m.): Planning Commission public hearing on the proposed Parking Code Update.
• Aug. 7, 2026: deadline for written comments.

To participate, Tacoma directs people to the project’s materials and updates on the Parking Code Update page. For written input, the City says comments may be submitted during the public review period by email to planning@tacoma.gov with the subject line “Parking Code Update.”

Why parking minimum rules can matter

Parking minimum requirements can influence real-world project decisions. When minimums are required, developers may need to build more off-street parking than they otherwise would—something that can affect site layout, development costs, and how much space is available for housing, landscaping, and other site needs.

Tacoma also emphasizes a common point of confusion: the city is not proposing a ban on parking. Rather, the update is about whether and when Tacoma can require developers to include minimum off-street parking, under state limits. Parking that is provided would still need to meet applicable safety and accessibility requirements.

What happens next

Tacoma says no final decisions have been made in the Parking Code Update. Public feedback and Planning Commission guidance will inform a recommendation to the City Council, which will consider adoption later in 2026.

Sources

• City of Tacoma — Parking Code Update project page
• RCW 35.21.994 — Minimum parking requirements
• Tacoma Planning Commission — Parking Code Update draft work plan (Dec. 17, 2025 packet)