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Verify a Contractor Licence in Tacoma, Washington

Washington contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries. Registration is a STATE record; Tacoma does not issue it.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Check contractor registration with Washington State Labor & Industries Contractor

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Fee schedule

Building permit fee
TACOMA HAS A CHAPTER CALLED "FEE CODE" AND IT CONTAINS NO PRICES. Show full citationTACOMA HAS A CHAPTER CALLED "FEE CODE" AND IT CONTAINS NO PRICES. TMC Chapter 2.09 sets out the TYPES of fee and the METHOD of calculating them; TMC 2.09.010 provides that "Fee amounts shall be ratified by Resolution, or approved by the City Manager, or designee ... and shall be calculated pursuant to the PDS Fee Schedule (on file in Tacomapermits.org)." All five tables in the chapter were checked for a dollar figure and none carries one, so no amount is printed here. THE CITY PUBLISHES A FEE ESTIMATOR on tacomapermits.org, which is the right tool for an actual number. AND CHECK WHETHER YOU ARE EXEMPT BEFORE YOU PAY: TMC 2.09.030 and its Table I exempt or adjust permit fees for several classes of project, including alterations and repairs to a single-family home owned and occupied by a qualifying low-income senior or permanently disabled owner.
Not stated in this guide - see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Verify a Contractor Licence permit actually take in Tacoma?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

    Tips

    • Contractor registration is a state record in Washington, not a city licence Contractor
    • Inspections are requested through TacomaPermits.org

    Frequently asked questions

    Tacoma requires a verify a contractor licence permit for: Check contractor registration with Washington State Labor & Industries. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Tacoma - Planning and Development Services at 253-591-5030 before starting work.

    In Tacoma, the published Building permit fee is: Not stated in this guide - see notes. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Tacoma does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Tacoma - Planning and Development Services at 253-591-5030 for current turnaround.

    Depending on your project, Tacoma may also ask for: No city document required. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Tacoma - Planning and Development Services. Phone: 253-591-5030. Office hours: In-person services 9 AM to 1 PM, Monday through Thursday. Official information: https://www.tacomapermits.org/.

    Tacoma, Washington has adopted: TACOMA NAMES NO EDITION, AND THE ADOPTION POINTS AT A DEFINITION. TMC 2.02.010 provides that "The International Building Code, International Residential Code, and International Existing Building Code, as adopted and amended by the Washington State Building Code Council under the State Building Code, as defined in TMC SS 2.02.100, are hereby adopted as the official Building Code of the City of Tacoma."; AND THE DEFINITION NAMES NO YEAR EITHER. TMC 2.02.100 lists "The International Building Code ("IBC"), including Appendix E and G"; "The International Residential Code ("IRC"), including IRC Appendices F, Q, and Appendix U ... provided that IRC Chapters 11 and 25 through 43 are not adopted"; "The International Existing Building Code ("IEBC") including Appendix A"; and the Uniform Plumbing Code "including Appendices A, B, and I ... provided that UPC Chapters 12 and 14 are not adopted". No edition year is attached to any of them.; THE ROLLING CLAUSE EVEN HANDLES RENUMBERING. TMC 2.02.100: "All amendments to the State Building Codes adopted by the Washington State Building Council from time to time are hereby, upon the effective date of such amendments, incorporated in this Chapter as though fully set forth herein. In the event that any provisions of the State Building Codes are renumbered, any reference in this chapter to such provision shall refer to such provision as renumbered."; TMC 2.02.010 also adds appendices beyond the state adoption: "the adoption of IBC Appendix Chapter G, the adoption of IEBC Appendix A, and a new Appendix J added to the IEBC."; RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.. Local amendments apply — see the Tacoma overview page for the full list.

    Sources & verification

    Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

    Online permit portal

    Codes & ordinances

    Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Tacoma building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

    Property Access

    Tacoma's permit history is searchable by address

    83,280 permits in our copy of Tacoma's register — searchable by street address, with permit type, status, issued date and valuation where the city publishes them. This is what we hold, not a statement of everything Tacoma has issued.

    70,092 of these 83,280 permits — 84.2% — carry an issued date, and those run from 2016 to 2026. The remaining 13,188 have no date at all.

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    Other permits in Tacoma

    Building PermitPermit Fee Exemption or Adjustment

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