The Pierce County Council approved a six-month moratorium on new involuntary confinement centers in unincorporated Pierce County, passing Ordinance No. O2026-505 by a 5–2 vote. Councilmembers Robyn Denson, Bryan Yambe, Paul Herrera, Jani Hitchen, and Rosie Ayala voted in favor. Councilmembers Amy Cruver and Dave Morell voted against.
The moratorium blocks the county from accepting or processing permit applications for new detention facilities or other facilities that involuntarily confine people. It also covers expansions of existing facilities. The pause will last six months unless extended by the council or until the council adopts updated county code.
Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello submitted the ordinance after U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a pre-solicitation notice for a new involuntary confinement center in the region. Mello said existing county code lacks adequate guidelines for how such facilities should be sited near neighborhoods. "These facilities have significant impacts to nearby neighborhoods, and our existing code fails to provide adequate guidelines," Mello said in a statement.
The council also approved an amendment exempting Crisis Recovery Centers from the moratorium. Those facilities provide mental health assessment services and are not considered involuntary confinement under the ordinance. During the six-month window, the county will review development regulations and gather community input before deciding whether to update its code.