Concrete Patios & Stairs in Spanaway, WA

Patios & stairs in Spanaway: what to know

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department tells owners not to build patios, driveways, sport courts, or fire pits over a drainfield, and to keep roof drains away from it. A septic lot also has a reserve area set aside for a future replacement field. On a flat back yard, a patio that looks well placed can sit on both. We look up the system’s as-built record before we lay out a slab.

Much of Spanaway is flat prairie, so stairs tend to be short: a landing and a step or two at a back door, or a run down to a lake-side yard. The soil takes water well, but a slab that tilts toward the foundation still delivers it to the wrong place, so we pitch it toward lawn.

Permits and rules in Spanaway

Pierce County’s exempt-work list covers sidewalks, driveways, and decks that stay within 30 inches of grade and are not over a basement or story below. A ground-level patio sits in that territory, though we confirm it with the county rather than assume it. Higher platforms and stairs with guards are different, and a spa or hot tub has its own county application. Setbacks and critical areas still apply. We confirm Pierce County’s setback and permit rules for the slab before we price it.

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

How we approach it

Look up the septic as-built record before laying out any slab
Pitch the slab away from the house toward lawn that can absorb water
Keep landings low where the layout allows, since height brings county review
Set hot tub and outdoor kitchen pads after utilities and permits are settled

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 Spanaway

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

Questions from Spanaway homeowners

Can I pour a patio over my Spanaway septic drainfield?

No. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department advises against patios, driveways, and fire pits over a drainfield because the pipes cannot carry heavy loads. The reserve area should stay clear too. The system’s as-built record shows where everything sits.

How high can a Spanaway patio or landing be before the county gets involved?

County exemptions for decks and walkways stop at 30 inches above grade, or anything over a basement or story below. A ground-level patio is a different case. We confirm with Pierce County before building anything raised, since stairs and guards add requirements.

Do I need county approval for a hot tub slab in Spanaway?

The pad is flatwork, but Pierce County lists spas and hot tubs as their own application type. We pour the slab to your spa’s weight and drainage needs once the county tells us what it wants for your lot.