How to check a property's permit history in Pierce County

Building permits in Pierce County are kept by whoever issued them: the county for unincorporated land, and each city for its own. 15,090 new homes were permitted on unincorporated land and in Tacoma since October 1, 2021; the other cities' permits are not in our data yet.

1. Find which office covers the lot: a city, or the county for unincorporated land. Colvos Parcel shows it on every report.
2. Search that office's permit records by parcel number or address: Pierce County uses PALS, and Tacoma uses its Accela portal.
3. Compare the permits with what is on the lot: an addition, garage or second unit with no permit is worth asking about.
4. Check the dates: a recent final inspection means the work was signed off.

By community

• Tacoma
• Puyallup
• Gig Harbor
• Bonney Lake
• Lakewood
• Spanaway
• Graham
• University Place
• Buckley
• Orting
• Eatonville
• Roy

Every community in Pierce County

Questions

Where are building permits kept in Pierce County?

With the office that issued them: Pierce County for unincorporated land, and each city for its own. Colvos Parcel gathers the county's and Tacoma's permits for each lot.

How these numbers are worked out