Washingtoner - City of Tacoma Launching New Voluntary Demolition Salvage Program to Promote Resource Reuse and Streamline Permitting

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Beginning July 1, 2026, the City of Tacoma will launch its new Voluntary Demolition Salvage Program to encourage the recovery and reuse of building materials prior to demolition activities. Developed in response to City Council direction to support environmental sustainability and reduce the volume of construction waste sent to landfills, the program offers a practical framework for preserving usable building components that would otherwise be discarded.

Participation in the program is entirely voluntary. Property owners and contractors seeking demolition permits retain full autonomy to decide whether to participate based on their specific project needs.

"I am so pleased to see this exciting new program launch, and I hope that many in our community will take advantage of it," said At-Large Council Member Kristina Walker. "There are incredible local efforts happening in Tacoma to nurture deconstruction and salvage work, and we are seeing such great momentum in our region around amplifying our circular economy. I first started discussions about advancing our deconstruction and salvage efforts in 2024 with local construction companies and contractors, salvage and deconstruction industry representatives, historical building experts, community members, workforce leaders, Habitat for Humanity, and City staff from multiple departments. This new program is one of the first efforts we identified as vital for Tacoma through those discussions and in Resolution 41385, and I'm grateful to all the City staff who worked hard to bring it to life."

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The City has established an incentive to encourage participation in the salvage assessment program. Applicants who choose to have their structures evaluated by a verified salvage assessor can submit a completed Salvage Assessment Form through the City's permitting portal as part of their permit record. Upon submission, future building permits associated with that specific project site will qualify for priority review and expedited permit processing. All standard fees associated with priority and expedited permitting are waived for participants, and the processing incentives apply regardless of whether the assessment finds specific salvageable materials on-site.

By participating, applicants can access a range of potential environmental, economic, and community benefits. Material recovery helps conserve natural resources and supports local sustainability goals, while contractors may lower their hauling costs, reduce disposal and tipping fees, and create opportunities for material resale or donation.

"Salvaging and reusing materials from homes and buildings is a great way to reduce waste, and it also enables developers and homeowners to include unique architectural features and area-specific building materials in their projects to preserve the historic character we have in Tacoma," said At-Large Council Member Latasha Palmer. "I am thrilled that Council Member Walker kicked off the City's efforts to advance deconstruction and salvage work, and I am excited to be a part of it moving forward. We cannot simply continue to dump reusable materials into our landfill without serious consequences. I hope that community members will not only engage in our new salvage demolition assessment program but that they will also work to include beautiful and unique salvaged items in their homes and buildings."

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"We issue around 100 demolition permits per year for various buildings and structures in Tacoma, and I have no doubt that thousands of tons of reusable items wound up in our landfill," said District 1 Council Member John Hines. "This new program is designed to make it easy for property owners and contractors to not only have a salvage assessment but to get priority review for their permits by doing so. We have done a great deal of work in the past couple of years to create new programs and laws that bolster recycling and material reuse in Tacoma, and this program is yet another big step forward."

"Residents of the city and my district take pride in how we handle waste," said District 4 Council Member Sandesh Sadalge. "I recently visited our recycling center and saw firsthand the tremendous work being done to recover and process materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill. That experience made clear how much impact waste diversion efforts can have on our community. This voluntary program creates another pathway for residents and businesses to identify salvage opportunities before demolition begins. It is another way we give people a choice to reduce waste, conserve resources, and support a more sustainable future for Tacoma."

When applying for a standard demolition permit, applicants will automatically receive informational materials outlining salvage opportunities, process steps, and available regional evaluation resources.

Contractors and property owners can find additional information, view program resources, and connect with verified online salvage assessors through the Northwest Building Salvage Network.

Details are available at tacoma.gov/demosalvage.

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