Development Services

Lakewood Development Services reviews all permits, building applications, and building inspections. Use this page to find information on permits, building information, and building inspections in Lakewood.

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9/4/24: UPDATED DRAFT 2024 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations available to view here.

To learn more about new policies and regulations under consideration and how to participate at the City Council level, please visit the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review page

2025 Comprehensive Plan, Zoning, and Regulation Amendment Cycle: Planning Commission to review potential docket list September 4

Changes to the Lakewood Comprehensive Plan, and some related changes to zoning code and development regulations, are allowable once per year under state law. As the first step in this process, the City of Lakewood invites interested parties to identify proposed changes. Afterward, the Lakewood Planning Commission and then City Council will review and confirm the list of amendments to be considered over the course of the year, including privately-initiated amendments. This list is known as the “Annual Comprehensive Plan Docket.” The Planning Commission will review the draft list of amendments for the 2025 docket on September 4 at 6:30 pm. Questions? Send them to [email protected]

The 2021 updates to the International Building Code take effect March 15, 2024, per the Washington State Building Code Council. More information about these updates, including what sections are amended, is available on the state building code council’s website. All applications submitted and deemed complete by the end of business on March 14, 2024, will be reviewed for compliance with 2018 codes. Applications received on March 15 or later must comply with the 2021 adopted codes. Applicants using the 2018 code are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. We anticipate a high volume of applications to come in before the deadline. Development Services staff will work with applicants to ensure submittals meet all requirements. REMINDER: Building permit applications will be accepted after approvals of any land use or environmental permit or for any approval required from the City of Lakewood for a project action, including but not limited to subdivisions, conditional uses, shoreline substantial development permits, and Building Line Adjustments (BLA).

Permit Information

• Submit permit applications and building inspection requests here.
• Link to request a Business License through Washington State here.

Please note that while permits can be submitted 24/7, permits are processed during business hours Monday – Friday only.

How to Apply for a Permit:

• Choose the applicable permit application from the list below. All applications must be submitted electronically through the Permit Dashboard.
• Land use permits must be approved prior to building permit application.
• Plans must be complete at the time of submittal.
• Commercial projects are required to submit building, plumbing, and mechanical permit applications at the same time. Deferred submittals are no longer accepted.
• Residential projects only require a building permit at the time of submittal.
• Once the documents have been reviewed, the permit technician will enter the permit into our permit system. An email will then be sent with payment information.
• Once payment has been received, the receipt will be available online through the dashboard.
• Note: The City does not process permits for work within mobile homes. Please contact the state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).

The archived permit search function for permits that were submitted before October 2021 is currently down. If you have a simple question about the status of an archived permit, email [email protected] . If you need documents related to an archived permit, please submit a public records request.