How are restaurants graded in Pierce County?

Pierce County uses a Three-Tier Rating evaluation method for food safety inspections, administered by Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

Who handles fire safety inspections in Pierce County?

Fire safety for commercial kitchens in Pierce County is overseen by Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau.

How many food facilities are in Pierce County?

Pierce County has approximately 5,500+ permitted food facilities.

Local Results

Pierce County, Washington

Name: Pierce County Restaurant Inspection Data
Creator: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

The Score Behind Every Table.

Data verified: April 2026

WashingtonThree-Tier RatingWAC 246-215

Pierce County — Food Safety & Fire Safety

Food Safety: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

Fire Safety: Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau

Washington's second-largest county — home to Tacoma's revitalized food scene, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the gateway to Mt. Rainier — using a three-tier rating system that sets it apart from most WA counties.

The Score Behind Every Table.

Food Safety

Evaluation

Three-Tier Rating

Public Posting

No mandate

Inspection Freq.

Risk-based

Facilities

5,500+

Fire Safety

Fire Code

WAC 51-54A

Cleaning Standard

NFPA 96

Cleaning Freq.

Per NFPA 96 Table 12.4

Authority

Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau

Three-Tier Ratings

Pierce County uses a three-tier rating system administered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Unlike the numeric blue/red placard system used in most Washington counties, Pierce County evaluates facilities against WAC 246-215 and assigns one of three ratings: Satisfactory, Needs Improvement, or Unsatisfactory. This system provides clearer public-facing outcomes than a simple point total.

Satisfactory

Facility meets requirements with no critical violations.

Needs Improvement

Violations found requiring correction within specified timeframe.

Unsatisfactory

Critical violations present. Immediate corrective action or closure required.

Fire Safety

Fire Authority

Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau

Tacoma Fire Department covers City of Tacoma. West Pierce Fire & Rescue covers University Place/Lakewood. East Pierce Fire & Rescue covers Bonney Lake/Buckley/Sumner. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue covers Parkland/Spanaway. Graham Fire & Rescue, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One.

Hood Cleaning Standard

NFPA 96 Table 12.4 schedule: monthly for high-volume/solid fuel cooking, quarterly for moderate volume, semi-annual for low-volume/seasonal.

Suppression Inspection

UL-300 wet chemical suppression systems required for all commercial cooking hoods. semi-annual inspection and certification per NFPA 96 / UL-300.

UL-300 wet chemical suppression system required in all commercial cooking hoods
Semi-annual suppression system inspection and certification
Hood and duct cleaning per NFPA 96 Table 12.4 schedule
Fire code compliance per 2021 IFC

Official Inspection Portal

Search Pierce County restaurant inspections

TPCHD Food Safety Inspections

Source: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

Inspection Authority

Agency

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

Code Basis

WAC 246-215

Cities in Pierce County

See food safety and fire safety requirements for each city.

Tacoma Lakewood Puyallup University Place Bonney Lake Spanaway Edgewood Fircrest Steilacoom DuPont Orting Sumner Buckley Eatonville Gig Harbor Milton South Prairie Carbonado Roy Wilkeson Ruston

ScoreTable

The Score Behind Every Table.

All data from official public health and fire authority records only · founders@getevidly.com

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