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Board of Building Appeals

Establishment

The Board of Building Appeals was established as a quasi-judicial board that reviews and approves the updating of the City's Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, Dangerous Building, Minimum Housing, Boiler and Energy Codes.
 

Membership

The Board of Building Appeals consists of seven members who are nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council. The membership term is five years and includes Citizens who are qualified by training and experience to pass on matters pertaining to the Building Code.

 

Duties and Responsibilities


Hear and decide appeals
of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building Official or Fire Chief relative to the application and interpretation of the Building Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Fire Code and Energy Code. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted there under have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply or an equally good or better form of construction is proposed.

Hear appeals of orders or decisions based on the Dangerous Building Code, Minimum Housing Code, or Energy Code. The Board shall have the authority to concur with or modify such orders, provided both of the following conditions are considered:

  • That life safety and/or building structural integrity are not compromised by modification of the building official's order.
  • Where life safety and building structural integrity is not a factor, whether the improvement provided by the building official's order is relevant to the financial impact imposed.

Review new editions, suggested amendments, and proposed changes to the Building Code, Mechanical Code, Fire Code, Plumbing Code, Dangerous Building Code, Minimum Housing Code, and Energy Code, and may propose amendments to and changes of the aforementioned codes. The Board shall rule on the appropriateness of new editions along with the amendments and changes to the aforementioned codes, and make recommendations to the City Council concerning the adoption of said editions, amendments or changes.

The Board of Building Appeals shall have no authority relative to interpretation of the administrative provisions to the codes assigned to the Board's authority, nor shall the Board be empowered to waive requirements of these codes or to grant variances, unless specifically granted in TMC Chapter 2.17.

Staff Support

Staffing support to the Board of Building Appeals is provided by the Planning and Development Services Department.

Time

Held as-needed

 

Location

Room 335
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market Street
Tacoma, WA 98402

 

Additional Information

Staff Liaison
Quyen Thai
(253) 591-5465

General Information
(253) 591-5015



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