All businesses based in Lakewood or doing business in Lakewood are required to add a Lakewood city endorsement to their Washington State business license.
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1. Submit Application with DOR
Businesses are required to obtain a business license through the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR). The City of Lakewood reviews city business license endorsement applications within its jurisdiction and endorses business licenses that meet all City standards.
The City of Lakewood requires businesses to have a Certificate of Occupancy for each physical location occupied in Lakewood. Additional permits and inspections may be required prior to issuing a business license. Home occupation businesses do not require a Certificate of Occupancy.
Washington State requires all construction contractors to register with L&I. State law also requires construction contractors to be bonded and insured to protect the public.
2. Zoning and Permits
Lakewood Business Licensing staff will evaluate your application to make sure that the zone your business is located in allows for the type of business you have applied for. See the Lakewood Land Use and Development Codes for more information.
All businesses that perform construction or renovation of a space prior to moving in must submit a Commercial Tenant Improvement (TI) permit. TI permits will be evaluated by City permit staff. All tenant improvements and inspections must be completed to receive a Certificate of Occupancy and a City of Lakewood business license endorsement.
Businesses moving into a new space without any construction or renovation must submit an Occupancy Inspection permit. The Occupancy Inspection permit and inspections must be completed to receive a Certificate of Occupancy and a City of Lakewood business license endorsement.
All required permits must be completed before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued and the business license can be endorsed. Applying for a permit does not guarantee a business license endorsement. All documents must be submitted through the City of Lakewood Permit Center.
3. License Endorsement
Once all required permits and inspections are complete and a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, Lakewood Business Licensing staff will endorse your business license.
Types of Business Licenses
Lakewood General Business Licenses are for businesses with a commercial location within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. If you are not sure if your business address is within Lakewood’s jurisdiction, please contact Lakewood’s Business Licensing staff for more information: [email protected].
If your business will have more than one commercial location within Lakewood, you must complete a separate business license application for each location.
Lakewood General Business Licenses will only be endorsed for commercial addresses within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. Lakewood General Business Licenses cannot be endorsed for residential addresses, PO boxes, mail forwarding services, registered agents, or addresses not within Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Permitting
- Constructing new building: All required construction permits
- Moving into new space, no renovations: Change of Occupancy Permit
- Moving into new space with renovations: Tenant Improvement Permit
- Moving into new space as sub-lease, no renovations: No permits, case by case.
Lakewood Non-Profit Business Licenses are for tax-exempt corporations operating in the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Non-profit businesses may be exempt from city fees. To qualify, you must submit a copy of your business’ IRS 501(c) certificate with your application.
Lakewood Nonprofit Business Licenses will only be endorsed for nonprofit businesses operating in the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. Lakewood Non-Profit Business Licenses cannot be endorsed using PO boxes, mail forwarding services, or registered agents.
Lakewood Home Occupation Business Licenses are for businesses that are based at a residential address within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. If your business does not have a commercial location, it is most likely a home-based business.
Home-based businesses which are located in Lakewood’s jurisdiction must obtain a Lakewood Home Occupation Business License whether or not business will be conducted in the City of Lakewood. The license is based on your home address, not on where you perform work. Please check with the cities you plan to perform work in to ensure you have all proper licensing and permitting necessary to perform work in those jurisdictions.
Lakewood Home Occupation Business Licenses will only be endorsed for residential addresses within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. Lakewood Home Occupation Business Licenses cannot be endorsed for commercial addresses, PO boxes, mail forwarding services, registered agents, or addresses not within Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
Permitting
- Home-based businesses that will have clients or customers on-site, business signage on-site, or other outward appearance of a business at a residential address require a completed Home Occupation Permit.
Lakewood Non-Resident Business Licenses are for businesses that are located outside of Lakewood’s jurisdiction and will be performing work in the City of Lakewood.
Your primary business license is based on the location of your business, not where you will be performing work. All businesses based outside the City of Lakewood that perform work in the City of Lakewood must obtain a Lakewood Non-Resident Business License.
Lakewood Non-Resident Business Licenses cannot be endorsed for addresses within the City of Lakewood’s jurisdiction. forwarding services, registered agents, or addresses not within Lakewood’s jurisdiction.
The Rental Housing Safety Program (RHSP) oversees residential rental properties in the City of Lakewood. Rental properties must be registered with the City on an annual basis. All properties registered with the RHSP are required to pass City of Lakewood rental inspections.
Please see the RHSP home page for more information about registering rental properties and types of properties that are exempt from the RHSP program.
For more information about licensing residential rental properties, please contact Lakewood Rental Housing Safety Staff: [email protected]
Applications for specialty licenses are only available in person at Lakewood City Hall. You must make an appointment and speak with city staff to apply. Renewals will be mailed annually.
Specialty licenses include the following:
- Adult cabaret and entertainment
- Adult family home
- Bathhouse
- Christmas tree lots and seasonal sales
- Commercial and hobby kennels
- Pawnshops
- Public dances and dance halls
- Secondhand sales
- Solicitor’s and peddler’s
- Temporary business licenses
Questions?
Email the Business Licensing team at [email protected] or call 253-512-2261 for general questions.
For questions regarding permits please contact the permit team at [email protected].
Permit and Service Counter
Walk-ins welcome.
Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St SW
Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.