The City of Lakewood’s Planning Division reviews land use permit applications for consistency with the City’s current Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Development Regulations. The division also administers and coordinates annual updates to the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations as directed by the Lakewood City Council or mandated by the state through the Growth Management Act (GMA), the Shoreline Management Act (SMA), the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), or other legal requirements.
Visit the Lakewood Permit Center page to apply for a permit or to learn more about allowed uses on your property.
Language
Announcements
The City Council is scheduled to take action on the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Amendments on September 21.
Docket items currently include:
The draft amendments are available to review here. For more information please contact Tiffany Speir, Planning Division Manager, at [email protected].
Draft docket materials are available to view here. In summary, the items include:
| 27CPA # | Subject |
| 2027-01 [From 26CPAs] | Review and update zoning and development regulations as needed regarding residential densities and building heights in Transit Areas per HB 1491, Promoting transit-oriented housing development Compliance deadline: June 30, 2029 What State Law Requires: Defines station areas; updates definition of major transit stop; addresses floor area ratios, density requirements and bonuses, transit-oriented development regulations, affordability requirements, parking requirements, MFTE approvals, and establishes SEPA categorical exemptions. Identifies a grant program for local governments to implement, but does not fund the grant program. |
| 2027-02 | Review and update zoning and development regulations as needed per HB 2266: Encouraging permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters Compliance deadline: June 2028. What State Law Requires: Regulating “STEP” housing types (permanent supportive housing and transitional housing as residential uses and indoor emergency shelters and housing as uses with external impacts.) The bill outlines what can be regulated through local government permitting versus regulating as a funder. |
| 2027-03 | Review and update zoning and development regulations as needed per HB 2418: Concerning permit review processes Compliance deadline: June 30, 2027 What State Law Requires: Building from SB 5290, this bill further refines the Local Project Review Act (RCW 36.70B) to streamline permit review processes for residential development. |
| 2027-04 | Review and update zoning and development regulations as needed per SB 6026: Residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. Compliance deadline: December 2027 What State Law Requires: Allowing more residential development in areas zoned for commercial or mixed-use with certain exceptions |
| 2027-05 | Review and update zoning and development regulations as needed per House Bill 1974: Establishing land banking authorities. Compliance deadline: N/A (voluntary program) What State Law Requires: Helps reduce the time it takes to secure land for housing development through local land banking authorities in cities and counties. Land banks benefit neighbors and the community by managing abandoned or underutilized properties, allowing developers to purchase land and preserve it for later development of affordable housing. |
| 2027-06 [From 26CPAs] | Consider adopting optional GMA Housing Element Compliance Review per SB 5148: Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. Compliance deadline: N/A (optional) What State Law Requires: N/A (optional) |
| 2027-07 | Review and update zoning and development regulations re certain funding and exemptions related to providing and maintaining affordable housing and related services as needed per SB 6027: Modifying certain funding and exemptions related to providing and maintaining affordable housing and related services. Compliance deadline: N/A What State Law Requires: See SB 6027 |
| 2027-08 | Review and update zoning and development regulations re affordable housing on property owned by religious organizations as needed per 2SHB 1859: Expanding opportunities for affordable housing developments on properties owned by religious organizations. Compliance deadline: None stated. Bill effective date = June 11, 2026 What State Law Requires: Clarifies and updates city regulatory requirements for religious organizations seeking a density bonus for an affordable housing project. |
| 2027-09 [From ‘26] | Update LMC to allow Pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Designs. |
| 2027-10 | Update Comprehensive Plan to incorporate 2024 Tree Canopy Assessment Data. |
| 2027-11 | Update LMC to incorporate updates to 18A.40.027 use table, associated development regulations, and cross-references. |
| 2027-12 | Update LMC to add “Construction Storage” as an allowed Commercial 3 / Industrial Use. |
| 2027-13* | Update LMC at Chapter 2.90 to reduce terms of Planning Commissioners from 5 years to 4 years consistent with other City boards and commissions and with other jurisdictions’ planning commission terms. |
| 2027-14 | Review Comprehensive Plan Land Use Policy UD-2 for amendment per City Council Direction. |
| 2027-15 | Update Comprehensive Plan Energy & Climate Change and Natural Environment Elements to incorporate Natural Environment and Climate Change (NECC) Task Forces’ recommendations Compliance deadline: June 30, 2029 What State Law Requires: Requires major updates to city Comprehensive Plan elements and development regulations. See HB 1181, Improving the state’s response to climate change by updating the state’s planning framework |
| 2027-16 | Update LMC to incorporate Natural Environment and Climate Change (NECC) Task Forces’ recommendations Compliance deadline: June 30, 2029 What State Law Requires: Requires major updates to city Comprehensive Plan elements and development regulations. See HB 1181, Improving the state’s response to climate change by updating the state’s planning framework |
| 2027-17 [From ‘26] | Update LMC to allow permanent or semi-permanent “food truck pods” |
| 2027-18 | Private rezone – Redesignate/rezone parcels 0220368009, -012, -013, -027, -029; and 0220364105 and -107 (Addresses: 3706, 3707, 3708, 3840, 3852, 3862, 3880, and 3884 Steilacoom Blvd. SW S.; and 9200 S. Tacoma Way.) Current designation/zoning: Commercial (C) / Commercial 2 (C-2) Proposed designation/zoning: Industrial (I) / Industrial 1 (I-1) |
| 2027-19 | Private rezone – Redesignate/rezone parcels 2200000172, -173, -192 (Address: 15515 Maas Ln. SW) Current designation/zoning: Neighborhood Business District (NBD) / Neighborhood Commercial 2 (NC2) Proposed designation/zoning: Commercial (C) / Commercial 2 (C2) |
| 2027-20 | Private Rezone – Redesignate/rezone the MR2 portion (the four-plex portion) of Parcel 5400000541 and all of Parcel 5400000610 (Address: 10240 Bridgeport Way SW) Current designation/zoning: Mixed Residential (MR) / Mixed Residential 2 (MR2) Proposed designation/zoning: Neighborhood Business District (NBD) / Neighborhood Commercial 2 (NC2) |
| 2027-21 [From ‘26] | Private rezone – Redesignate/rezone parcel #0220364100 (Address: 3615 Steilacoom Blvd. SW) Current designation/zoning: Corridor Commercial (CC) / Commercial 2 (C-2) Proposed designation/zoning: Neighborhood Business District (NBD) / Neighborhood Commercial 2 (NC2.) |
| 2027-22 | Amend LMC 18A to increase the maximum height of residential fences from 6 feet to 7 feet per the International Building Code. |
| 2027-23 | Amend LMC Section 13.04.160 (C) to allow collection of sewer lien appeal fees |
The Lakewood Planning Commission recommended against proposed zoning and regulation amendments that would allow cannabis retail, processors, producers and testing laboratories within the city. The code amendments address land use requirements as well as specialty business licenses. The City Council will begin considering the Commission’s recommendations on September 14 and hold a public hearing on September 21 at 6:00 pm. You can participate in the public hearing live in person or through ZOOM. You can also provide written comments to the Council. Details on how to participate will be available on the first page of the meeting materials that will be published here under the “Meetings” tab.
The Planning Commission began its review of the cannabis amendments in a study session on July 15. View the meeting materials here. View the discussion here starting at 39:00.
The City Council will hold a public hearing for the 2026 Annual Development Regulation Amendment Package on September 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm. Public testimony for public hearings are accepted via mail, email or live during the meeting either in person or via ZOOM. Details on how to participate will be available on the first page of the meeting materials that will be published here under the “Meetings and Agendas” tab.
View the draft amendments here. A brief description of the amendments is included below:
Amendment 1. Replacing multiple specific land use type tables in various sections of LMC Chapter 18A.40 with one single consolidated table for ease of reference and navigation and updating certain Open Space and Recreation (OSR) use setback standards.
Amendment 2. Amend LMC Chapters 17.22 and 17.38 to include both short subdivision and boundary line adjustment regulations as appropriate.
Amendment 3. Amend LMC Chapter 1.36 and Section 5.02.190 and directing applicants to file an appeal through the City’s online permitting portal.
Amendment 4. Amend LMC Chapter 8.36 and Section 18.40.025 to allow limited exceptions for approved weekend and night work as appropriate.
The Lakewood City Council has adopted an expansion of where commercial childcare centers can locate within the City. You can view the final locations in Ordinance 842.
Natural Environment and Climate Change
In 2025, the City of Lakewood is developing a Natural Environment and Climate Change (NECC) Program that consolidates adopted policies, priorities, and action items from several focus areas – urban forestry and tree canopy work, climate change and resiliency, and energy efficiency – into a single implementation plan. Details regarding environmental protection and actions can be found at the webpages linked below:
Contact
Planning
[email protected] or 253-512-2261
Planning Division Manager – Tiffany Speir
(253) 983-7702
Email handle: TSpeir
To email Tiffany Speir, add her email handle before @cityoflakewood.us