The purpose of this chapter is to standardize and regulate the location, size and construction of driveways from the standpoint of proper design and safe and efficient entries to and exit from roadways, and the safety of pedestrian traffic from the sidewalk area. This chapter is enacted under and pursuant to the police power of the City of Tacoma for the purpose of preserving the public health, safety and general welfare of its citizens.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)
“Change of use”
shall mean any change of purpose, service rendered or change in merchandise dispensed for which any land, building or structure is occupied, maintained, arranged, designed or intended.
“Driveway”
shall mean any area, construction or facility between the roadway of a street and private property to provide access for vehicles from the roadway of a street to private property.
“Established grade”
shall mean the profile and cross sections established and approved by the City Engineer.
“Planting strip”
shall mean the space between the street roadway or curb line and the property line, with exception of the sidewalk area.
“Roadway”
shall mean the paved, improved or proper driving portion of a street, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
“Sidewalk area”
shall mean that portion of the space lying between the street roadway or curb line and the property line which is reserved for sidewalks, either existing or proposed.
“Street”
as hereinafter used is intended to include any street, court, alley, or other public passage way within the City of Tacoma.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)
A. 
No person, firm or corporation shall commence work or permit any other person, firm, or corporation to commence work on the construction, alteration, repair or removal of any driveway or the paving of any planting strip on any street, alley or other public place in the City of Tacoma without a written permit first having been obtained from the Director of Public Works as provided for by Chapter 10.22 and amendments thereto.
B. 
Any party requesting such permits shall file a written application therefor with the Director of Public Works. Such application shall be made on a City form provided for that purpose, and shall include:
1. 
The name and address of the applicant.
2. 
The name and address of the owner of the property abutting the street where the work is proposed.
3. 
The exact location of the proposed work, giving the street address or legal description of the property involved.
4. 
A detailed plan accurately showing the dimensions of the abutting property and the dimensions and locations of all existing or proposed driveways and other pertinent features such as bus stops located adjacent to or within 150 feet of the proposed driveway, utility poles, hydrants, street light standards, and trees within the limits of the frontage of said property.
5. 
The plan shall also show the location of buildings, loading platforms and off-street parking facilities being served or to be served by such driveways.
6. 
The Director of Public Works may require, at his discretion, the filing of any other information when, in his opinion, such information is necessary to properly enforce the provisions of this chapter.
7. 
The Director of Public Works shall forward applications for exceptions to the City’s standards for driveways within 150 feet of a Pierce Transit bus stop or located on a transit street, designated pursuant to Section 11.05.492, to Pierce Transit for review and comment. Pierce Transit shall have up to 10 days to submit comments to the Director of Public Works, after which he may take action on the application for the permit.
C. 
No plan shall be approved nor a permit issued where it appears that the proposed work, or any part thereof, conflicts with the provisions of this chapter or any other ordinance of the City of Tacoma; nor shall issuance of a permit be construed as a waiver of the Zoning Ordinance or other ordinance requirements concerning the plan.
D. 
No permit shall be issued where it appears that the applicant for such permit has not complied with the provisions of this chapter in the performance of other work covered by this chapter unless and until the applicant has paid to the City of Tacoma as a penalty permit fee the sum of $200.00 or 10 times the permit fee required for such work, whichever amount is the lesser; such charge to be in addition to the permit fee usually applicable to the work for which the present application is made.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18; Ord. 25893 § 1, 1996-06-04)
All construction outlined in this chapter shall be performed in accordance with the Standard Specifications for Municipal Public Works Construction as prepared by the Washington State Chapter of the American Public Works Association, and the City of Tacoma Supplement thereto, as adopted by resolution of the City Council, the City of Tacoma’s Department of Public Works Standard Specifications for Street and Sewer Construction, and subsequent amendments to these specifications which are in effect at the time the permit is issued, and shall be performed to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works or his duly authorized representative.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)
Every driveway hereafter constructed or altered in street right-of-way shall conform to the following regulations. In cases where driveway provisions applicable to a particular application exist both in this section and in TMC Chapters 13.06, 13.06A or other sections of the TMC, all standards shall apply. If the application of the standards creates a conflict, the more stringent provisions shall apply.
A. 
Location.
1. 
No driveway shall be so located or designed as to create a hazard to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit bus operations, light rail operations, or motorists, or invite or compel illegal or unsafe traffic movements.
2. 
Every driveway must provide access to an off-street parking or other vehicular area located on public or private property. Every vehicle entering the driveway must be able to park, stand, or load entirely off the street right-of-way.
3. 
No driveway shall be allowed to a public or private parking area in conjunction with industrial, commercial, multi-unit dwelling, church, or any like use that requires a vehicle to back out on to any street.
4. 
Unless otherwise approved by the Director of Public Works, all driveways, including the returns, shall be confined within lines perpendicular to the curb line and passing through the property corners.
5. 
No driveway shall be constructed in such a manner as to be a hazard to any existing street-lighting standard, utility pole, traffic-regulating device, fire hydrant, sidewalk, curb ramp, or other public facility. The cost of relocating any such public facility, when necessary to do so, shall be borne by the applicant. Said relocation of any public facility shall be performed only through the agency holding authority for the particular structure involved.
6. 
No construction, alteration or repair shall be permitted for any driveway which can be used only as a parking space on street right-of-way or which provides access only to the areas between the street roadway and private property.
7. 
New driveways shall be located as close as practical to the property line most distant from any street intersections. Location shall be subject to the approval of the City Engineer.
8. 
New driveways shall be located from an alley or court when suitable access is available, such as an abutting right-of-way that is or can practicably be developed. In the event of site redevelopment, existing driveways would need to be reconstructed to meet current standards. Abandoned driveways shall be removed when required by the City Engineer.
9. 
When suitable alley or court access is not available, driveways shall be limited to the lowest pedestrian-classified roadway adjacent to the site, as designated in TMC Chapter 13.06 (non-designated street, designated pedestrian street, designated core pedestrian street, or Primary Pedestrian Street).
10. 
Projects that utilize an alley or court for vehicle access and that cannot practicably limit vehicular access only to the alley or court, shall also be allowed to have additional vehicular access from abutting non-designated pedestrian streets.
11. 
Driveways shall be located to reduce the possibility of weaving, lane shifts, or other conflicts in the traffic stream. Existing driveways on both sides of the roadway shall be analyzed to determine proper location for a new driveway. New and reconstructed driveways shall be placed outside the functional area of nearby intersections and driveways. The following shall be used for minimum spacing between driveways and intersections, unless special authorization is given by the City Engineer.
Speed Limit
Functional Classification
Access Spacing (to centerline)*
35-40 miles per hour
All
600 feet
<=30 miles per hour
Principal or Collector Arterial
300 feet
Minor or Unclassified Arterial
150 feet
Local Street
50 feet
*The spacing standards are for full access. Restricted access (right-in, right-out), shall be half the amount shown in the table above provided that a physical median restricts left turns. No reduction shall be made on local streets, and no reduction shall be made when measuring from highway ramps or existing or planned traffic signals or roundabouts.
B. 
Size and number.
1. 
The Director of Public Works may limit the size and location of new driveways along transit streets, designated pursuant to Section 11.05.492, pedestrian streets, designated pursuant to Section 13.06, and established bike facilities.
2. 
Except as otherwise provided herein, the width of any driveway shall not exceed 30 feet exclusive of the radii of the returns, the measurement being made parallel to the center line of the street, unless special authorization is given by the Director of Public Works. Where driveways are to enter on courts or alleys having a right-of-way width of 40 feet or less, the width of the driveways may exceed 30 feet and the limitation of the percentage of property frontage in driveways may be waived when required for safety reasons, provided the overall plan of the location of such driveways shall meet the approval of the Director of Public Works.
3. 
The width of any driveway shall not be less than 9 feet, exclusive of the radii of the returns, the measurement being made parallel to the center line of the street.
4. 
All driveways for other than one-unit dwellings and duplexes shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width, exclusive of the radii of the returns, the measurement being made parallel to the center line of the street. The radius of all driveway returns shall be a minimum of 10 feet, except on nonarterial streets for one-unit dwellings or duplexes, which shall have a minimum radius of five feet.
5. 
The total width of all driveways on a street for any one ownership shall not exceed 50 percent of the frontage of that ownership along the street, and shall not be more than one in number except as allowed under subsection 6.e. Any driveway which has become abandoned or unused through a change of the conditions for which it was originally intended, or which, for any reason, has become unnecessary, shall be closed and the owner shall replace any such driveway with a standard curb and sidewalk to be constructed in accordance with the specifications of the City of Tacoma in force at the time of replacement.
6. 
Wherever, in a single ownership, the total width of existing driveways on a street is over 50 percent of the frontage of the ownership on that street, or any driveways are wider than 30 feet, such existing driveways shall be made to conform to the provisions of this chapter in the event of any of the following:
a. 
Any alteration, widening, relocation, or repair of existing driveways in the ownership.
b. 
Any construction of additional driveways in the ownership.
c. 
Any change of use as defined in Section 10.14.020 of this chapter.
d. 
Upon the alteration or repair of any one or more of the driveways as aforesaid, the Director of Public Works may require such changes in any or all the driveways of that ownership as he may deem necessary for the better movement of traffic or to provide better protection to pedestrians.
e. 
Where a single ownership is developed into more than one unit of operation, each sufficient in itself to meet the requirements of off-street parking and/or loading as required by the Zoning Ordinance, and where the Director of Public Works determines that the safety of pedestrians or vehicular traffic is not endangered, and where there is necessity for separate access to the street, then, and in those events, the requirements outlined above may be construed to apply to each separate unit of operation rather than to the entire ownership.
7. 
The angle between any driveway and the street roadway or curb line shall not be less than 45 degrees.
8. 
The two side borders of each driveway shall be parallel.
C. 
Provisions based on existing conditions.
1. 
Where standard curbs and gutters of Portland cement concrete are existing or to be constructed in conjunction with driveways, the following provisions shall apply to the driveway construction:
a. 
When Portland cement concrete sidewalks are existing, driveways shall be placed from the curb line to the existing sidewalk line, and shall be constructed of Portland cement concrete. When that section of sidewalk in line with the proposed driveway is in poor condition and determined by the Director of Public Works to be unsafe, the driveway section shall be constructed of Portland cement concrete through the sidewalk to that edge of the sidewalk which faces the property line. Any portion of the remaining sidewalk abutting the ownership for which the driveway is being constructed which is in poor condition shall be repaired or replaced. In either case, driveways may also be extended to the property line with either Portland cement concrete or asphaltic concrete. All commercial driveways shall have a minimum of six inches in thickness through the back of the sidewalk.
b. 
Whenever any driveway is constructed to cross an existing sidewalk which has been determined by the Director of Public Works to differ in grade from the established grade, the driveway shall nevertheless be placed at the established grade, and shall be constructed of Portland cement concrete through the sidewalk to that edge of the sidewalk which faces the property line. Such driveways may also be extended to the property line either with Portland cement concrete or asphaltic concrete. If the existing sidewalk abutting the driveway is below the established grade, an approved temporary patch shall be applied over the sidewalk to meet the driveway, and such patch shall be feathered out to a smooth and even edge. If the sidewalk abutting the driveway is above the established grade, a suitable amount of sidewalk shall be removed and replaced, as directed by the Director of Public Works, to meet the driveway at the proper elevation. Such changes of sidewalk grade shall be confined to the limits of the frontage of the property involved, unless written agreements from the adjoining property owners are presented to the Director of Public Works. Warps, dips, or other conditions existing in the sidewalk which would cause an uneven joint between such sidewalk and a driveway shall be repaired, or the sidewalk replaced, as directed by the Director of Public Works.
c. 
Where Portland cement sidewalks do not exist, the driveways shall be constructed of Portland cement concrete from the curb line to that edge of the proposed sidewalk which faces the property line. Such driveways may also be extended to the property line with either asphaltic concrete or Portland cement concrete.
2. 
Where Portland cement concrete curb and gutter are neither existing nor being constructed in conjunction with driveways, temporary driveways of asphaltic concrete may be constructed from the line of the street roadway to the property line. If the sidewalk section has been graded to an established grade, the asphaltic concrete temporary driveway must meet that grade and conform to that grade through the future sidewalk area. If the sidewalk section has not been graded to an established grade, the asphaltic concrete temporary driveway shall be constructed as near the future sidewalk grade as it is possible to determine. Such driveways shall be considered temporary and subject to removal and replacement at the expense of the owner of the abutting property, at such time as standard curbs and gutters or sidewalks are constructed. Portland cement concrete driveways shall not be permitted unless standard curbs and gutters are constructed.
D. 
Driveways for nonresidential use. When driveways are constructed to serve property developed for other than residential use, the following improvements shall be required in connection with such driveway construction:
1. 
Where the existing roadway is at the established grade line, or if it is practical to establish the curb grade, and where adequate storm water drainage is provided, the construction of standard curbs and gutters of Portland cement concrete along the ultimate edge of the pavement, as determined by the Director of Public Works, shall be continuous between any two driveways for one ownership. Standard curbs and gutters of Portland cement concrete shall also be continuous between the driveways and lines extended from the property corners perpendicular to the curb line. Where single ownership is developed into more than one unit of operation, each sufficient in itself to meet the requirements of off-street parking and/or loading as required by the Zoning Ordinance, the requirements for curbs and gutters as outlined above shall be construed to apply to each separate unit of operation rather than to the entire ownership. Construction of the driveways shall be as outlined in this chapter.
2. 
Concrete curb and gutters and sidewalks, if not already existing, shall be constructed on all streets abutting a new, remodeled, or change of use in a property to be used for commercial purposes unless waived by the Director of Public Works. Such waiver will only be granted when the City has not determined the street width or grade or other valid reasons which make the present construction of such improvements inadvisable at the time. A condition of this waiver shall be that the owner will agree to construct the necessary curb and gutter and sidewalks when the City shall so direct. The owner shall post a bond or make a cash deposit with the City Treasurer, to be held in trust until such curb and gutter and sidewalks shall be constructed. The amount of the bond or of the cash deposit shall equal the amount estimated by the City to be the cost of the necessary work. This bond or cash deposit is toward the cost of this work and is no assurance that the work can be constructed within the amount of the bond or deposit.
3. 
If concrete curb and gutter and/or sidewalks to exist on all streets abutting a new, remodeled, or change of use in a property are to be used for commercial purposes, all broken or off-grade curb and gutter and/or sidewalks shall be replaced by the owner. Also, all driveways not conforming to this chapter shall be remodeled or replaced as directed by the Director of Public Works. The provisions of this section may be waived for the same reasons, and under the same terms, as in the immediately preceding subsection.
4. 
The installation of curb and gutter, and/or a driveway or driveways, on streets which are not paved with Portland cement concrete or asphaltic concrete, or where the alignment of the new gutter line is different from that previously existing, the existing pavement shall be connected to the new gutter line, using such materials and such design as shall be specified by the City Engineer.
5. 
Where construction of driveways and curb and gutter are waived in accordance with Section 10.14.050D.2, driveways shall be properly delineated by the permit holder by spot posts or other means as directed by the City Engineer. The driveways shall be of asphaltic cement concrete from the existing roadway surface to the property line. Such driveways shall be considered temporary and subject to removal and replacement at the expense of the owner of the abutting property at such time as standard curbs and gutters or sidewalks are constructed. Natural drainage along the edge of the roadway shall be provided for, either with a pipe culvert or a valley gutter, as determined by the Director of Public Works, so that no drainage water is impounded because of the temporary driveway. Where pipe culvert is used, a suitable warning marker shall be used on each end of the culvert.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18; Ord. 25893 § 2, 1996-06-04; Ord. 28157 Ex. B, 2013-06-25; Subst. Ord. 28986 Ex. I, 2024-11-19)
Nothing herein provided shall be construed as permitting the parking of vehicles on such strips. The “outer planting strip,” as referred to in this subsection, shall mean that area lying between the curb and the sidewalk and not normally used as a walkway.
A. 
Any paving of outer planting strips shall be by special permission of the Director of Public Works or designee. Any paving of outer planting strips, when permitted, shall be a minimum depth of two inches of asphaltic cement concrete with one-inch minimum crushed rock base, of three and one-half inches of Portland cement concrete, or pervious concrete, in accordance with the Design Manual requirements for pervious concrete sidewalks. The subgrade and edges for impervious surfacing shall be well treated with an approved sterilant.
B. 
Where adjacent roads and sidewalks are constructed of pervious concrete or porous asphalt, the adjacent planting strip to be paved may be required to be constructed of pervious concrete to match the adjacent surfacing to the property line. A sterilant shall not be used under areas surfaced with pervious concrete or porous asphalt.
C. 
The paving of planting strips shall not be permitted in any location where Portland cement concrete sidewalks and Portland cement concrete curbs do not exist, except in industrial-zoned areas where the requirement for sidewalks has previously been waived.
D. 
No outer planting strip of a width greater than four feet may be paved without provision for the prevention of parking, by the use of trees, shrubs, or posts, or other approved devices.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18; Ord. 28330 Ex. A, 2015-11-24)
Whenever driveways or planting strips are to be paved with Portland cement concrete, there shall first be placed an approved conduit for ornamental street lights, if none already exists. Conduit shall be placed one foot toward the street from the edge of the sidewalk, unless otherwise directed by the Director of Public Works. Locations of conduits shall be identified by scribing a two-inch diameter circle at each edge of the slab when it is poured. The use of conduit in any particular area may be waived by the City Light Division, Street Lighting Engineer, in writing to the contractor or by verbal request to the Public Works Engineering Division, in time to be specified on the special permit.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)
A. 
Paved or hard surface areas.
1. 
Whenever any area is to be paved or hard surfaced, a plot plan of the entire area to be improved shall be submitted to the Director of Public Works. In addition to the information required under Section 10.14.030B for application for a driveway permit, the plot plan shall show the details of grading, drainage and surfacing, including the surfacing material to be used. Developers of parking areas shall also meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
2. 
All such paved or hard-surfaced areas shall be provided with approved catch basins or drainage to dispose of all the water that may fall upon such areas. Under no circumstances shall water be allowed to run across a sidewalk area. All drainage provisions shall be of such design as to carry surface water to the nearest practical storm sewer or other means of disposal approved by the Director of Public Works.
3. 
No person shall construct or alter any such storm drainage structure without having first obtained a written authorization therefor from the Director of Public Works.
4. 
No permit shall be issued until the proposal has been approved by the Director of Public Works and, where necessary, by the Planning Commission.
B. 
Driveways. Where any driveway is to be constructed across an existing drainage ditch, a suitable culvert or other drainage structure, as determined by the Director of Public Works, shall be provided at the expense of the owner of the abutting property.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)
Whenever any area on private property is used for the purpose of parking automobiles, trucks or other vehicles, whether for the sale of such vehicles, public parking, or for other reasons, adequate barriers shall be provided to prevent the parking of vehicles in such a manner that they overhang the sidewalk. Such barriers shall be constructed as directed by the Director of Public Works.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)
All driveway paving, planting strip paving, drainage structures, or any other improvements within the space between the property line and the roadway shall be maintained in a safe and usable condition at the expense of the owner of the abutting property.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)
Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $300.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 20966 § 1, 1977-01-18)