County recording office
Pierce County Auditor
Rounding up the details
Washington WUCIOA vs. RCW 64.38
Communities created on or after July 1, 2018 generally follow WUCIOA (RCW 64.90) — budget ratification, reserve studies, resale certificates; many older HOAs still follow RCW 64.38.
County recording office
Pierce County Auditor
Pacific Northwest rainfall accelerates rot, moss, and paint failure. Set clear maintenance standards for siding, decks, and drainage.
Board checklist
Municipal trash schedules, curb placement, and code enforcement pathways.
City of Tacoma Environmental Services and neighborhood code compliance address municipal nuisance issues separately from HOA rule enforcement.
Mediation, courts, and state resources when board actions are challenged.
Disputes in Washington may go to mediation or state courts. Small claims limits apply in Pierce County—confirm with the auditor or court clerk.
Tacoma regulates short-term rentals and many commercial-residential uses through city licensing and the Tacoma Municipal Code (verify with Planning & Development Services). HOA restrictions must align with WUCIOA and valid city licensure.
Late fee estimator
Enter your typical monthly assessment to see how local caps may apply. KindHOA can automate notices and fee schedules once your board defines the rules.
Estimated legal ceiling
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Many associations cannot assess late fees until accounts are at least 30 days past due and proper notice has been sent. You entered 15 days past due.
Tell us about your community. We'll show you how KindHOA automates dues, late fees, and resident communication — free for self-managed HOAs.
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A volunteer board guide for Tacoma: understand where municipal code ends, where your HOA covenants begin, and how to comply with Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA).
The quick answer
Reviewed by the KindHOA Editorial Team · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
Official municipal code
Tacoma city ordinances
Read the published city code directly from the official online library before comparing it to your HOA covenants.
Summaries below are for board orientation. Verify requirements in the official Tacoma municipal code (opens in a new tab).
Tacoma municipal code
Tacoma regulates short-term rentals and many commercial-residential uses through city licensing and the Tacoma Municipal Code (verify with Planning & Development Services). HOA restrictions must align with WUCIOA and valid city licensure.
HOA governing documents
HOAs enforce recorded use restrictions (minimum lease terms, guest limits, parking) when consistent with applicable city licensure and state law. Covenant enforcement requires notice, cure periods, and uniform application.
Zoning & building code
Tacoma zoning code governs fence heights, setbacks, and critical shoreline or slope buffers where applicable. HOA design standards may be stricter when recorded in CC&Rs.
Permit thresholds
Tacoma building and land-use permits are required for many structural and trade projects. HOA ACC review is additive, not a substitute for city permitting.
HOA architectural control
HOAs review fences and additions through architectural committees under CC&Rs. Municipal compliance alone does not satisfy HOA design or notice requirements.
State / local protections
RCW 64.38.055 restricts HOAs from prohibiting solar panels in Washington state, though reasonable location/aesthetic rules apply. Drought-resistant landscaping is also protected under Washington environmental policy. Confirm rights with association counsel.
What HOAs may still regulate
HOAs may adopt reasonable design rules that meet statutory tests (location, color, timeline). Associations cannot impose outright bans where state law voids them.
HOAs must maintain detention ponds, swales, and drains to meet local stormwater permits.
Board checklist
Cities and counties increasingly regulate STRs. HOAs should align covenant enforcement with municipal registration rules.
Board checklist
Tacoma zoning code governs fence heights, setbacks, and critical shoreline or slope buffers where applicable. HOA design standards may be stricter when recorded in CC&Rs.
City of Tacoma Environmental Services and neighborhood code compliance address municipal nuisance issues separately from HOA rule enforcement.
Tacoma building and land-use permits are required for many structural and trade projects. HOA ACC review is additive, not a substitute for city permitting.
RCW 64.38.055 restricts HOAs from prohibiting solar panels in Washington state, though reasonable location/aesthetic rules apply. Drought-resistant landscaping is also protected under Washington environmental policy. Confirm rights with association counsel.
Disputes in Washington may go to mediation or state courts. Small claims limits apply in Pierce County—confirm with the auditor or court clerk.
KindHOA is educational software for self-managed boards, not a law firm, and this guide is not legal advice. State statutes, local ordinances, and your community’s recorded CC&Rs control and change over time — confirm liens, amendments, and enforcement with association counsel and the official sources above.
Free CCIOA checklist plus Denver, Westminster, Springs guides.