Concrete Patios & Stairs in Lake Tapps, WA

Patios & stairs in Lake Tapps: what to know

Start at the water and work back. Cascade owns the lakebed and shoreline up to the 545-foot contour, and its property policy lists hardscape, with patios, steps, and retaining walls as examples, as needing Cascade’s permission for new work on its ground. Full pool is 543 feet, so a patio that feels like part of your yard may sit partly on Cascade’s land.

Steps down to the shore are a separate question. The county’s shoreline code spells out an unpaved access path, no wider than 4 feet, at close to a right angle with the shore, with no trees removed. Poured stairs are not addressed there, so we ask the county how it treats them on your parcel.

Permits and rules in Lake Tapps

Shoreline review applies in unincorporated Lake Tapps to development within about 200 feet of the water, and even exempt work needs an exemption application. Pierce County exempts decks, sidewalks, and driveways with a walking surface no more than 30 inches above grade, while a taller deck needs a permit, a guard, and setbacks. Bonney Lake parcels follow that city’s process. We check current requirements, Cascade’s included, before we quote.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Find the 543 and 545 foot lines on the parcel before laying anything out
Keep slabs and steps off Cascade ground unless Cascade has said yes
Ask the county how poured stairs toward the shore are treated
Grade the patio to shed water inland, not down the bank

For the full process, see our Concrete Patios & Stairs page.

Building in the cold months? See our guide to winter concrete pours.

Our patios & stairs work, serving Lake Tapps

Examples of our work. We build patios & stairs in Lake Tapps and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Lake Tapps homeowners

Can I add a concrete patio right at the water’s edge on Lake Tapps?

Not without checking first. Cascade owns the shoreline up to the 545-foot contour and lists new patios on its property as needing permission, and the county sets a 50-foot setback measured from the 543-foot full-pool line. We map your lot against both.

Do I need a permit for steps down to my dock on Lake Tapps?

The shoreline buffer rules describe an unpaved path up to 4 feet wide and do not mention stairs, so poured steps are a question for the county. Cascade’s policy also lists stairs as hardscape needing permission on its ground. We ask both before quoting.

Does the winter drawdown on Lake Tapps change how a patio should be built?

Cascade’s 2025 notice put the winter level near 539 feet but told owners to design new bulkheads for 543, the level it can raise the lake to. We judge a patio’s elevations against full pool, not against what you see in January.