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Building Safety

Lakewood's Building Safety: The Rules That Matter

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Every city handles building safety a little differently. In Lakewood, Washington, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Building Permits

Lakewood adopts the 2021 International Building Code as the Lakewood Building Code under LMC 15.05.020, so a permit is required for construction, alteration or repair covered by IBC Section 105 unless a local exemption applies. The city carves out only a narrow retaining wall exemption: walls up to 4 feet tall, properly set back, that do not hold back a surcharge or hazardous liquids need no permit.

Key details: Governing code: 2021 International Building Code, LMC 15.05.020(A). Retaining wall exemption: Under 4 feet, properly set back, no permit. Application abandoned: 180 days with no good-faith progress. Permit expires: 180 days if work not started or stalled. Unpermitted work fee: Fee equal to the permit fee.

Starting work before pulling the required permit triggers a penalty fee equal to the permit fee itself under amended IBC Section 109.4 (LMC 15.05.060(F)). Beyond that, LMC 15.05.060(M) makes any violation of the Lakewood Building Code a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Appeals of a building official's decision go to the Hearing Examiner under LMC 15.05.060(L), and any further appeal to Pierce County Superior Court must be filed within 21 days.

Plumbing Permits

Lakewood adopts the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as part of the Lakewood Building Code under LMC 15.05.020(E), so plumbing work in the city runs on the UPC as amended by the state Building Code Council in WAC 51-56. LMC 15.05.040 applies the IBC's Chapter 1 administrative provisions, meaning the same permit, inspection and enforcement rules that govern building work also govern plumbing permits.

Key details: Governing code: 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, LMC 15.05.020(E). State amendment: WAC 51-56, Washington Building Code Council. Admin authority: IBC Chapter 1 provisions, LMC 15.05.040. Unpermitted work fee: Equal to the permit fee. Violation penalty: Up to 90 days jail, $1,000 fine, or both.

Commencing plumbing work before obtaining the permit draws a fee equal to the permit fee under amended Section 109.4 (LMC 15.05.060(F)). Because plumbing is part of the single Lakewood Building Code, a plumbing violation is also a misdemeanor under LMC 15.05.060(M): up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, on top of the permit and penalty fees already owed.

Building Inspections

Lakewood's amended building code lets the Building Official call for a special inspection whenever needed to prove code compliance, ties the final inspection to sign-off from outside reviewers such as SEPA and the local fire district, and requires a posted Certificate of Occupancy before any building can be used.

Key details: Special inspection: Building Official may order one anytime. Final inspection: Requires SEPA, fire district, other sign-offs. Certificate of Occupancy: Must be posted; only Official removes it. Pre-certificate use: Barred by amended IBC Section 111.1. Stop work order: Issued for unsafe or noncompliant work.

Continuing work after a stop work order has been served, other than work directed to remove the violation or unsafe condition, exposes the responsible person to the same penalties as any other Lakewood Building Code violation under amended Section 115.4 (LMC 15.05.060(O)): a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, per LMC 15.05.060(M).

Fire Sprinkler Requirements

Lakewood's amended residential code requires an automatic fire sprinkler system in every new townhouse, and its amended commercial building code requires sprinklers in any newly built structure, or any existing building undergoing a major improvement, once the fire area tops 5,000 square feet.

Key details: New townhouses: Sprinkler system required, IRC Appendix V/U. New buildings: Sprinklers required over 5,000 sq ft fire area. Major improvement threshold: >50% of assessed value within 72 months. Furniture/mattress retail: Sprinklers required over 2,500 sq ft. Underground supply piping: Needs its own construction permit.

Sprinkler systems are installed and inspected through the fire code permitting process; the underground supply piping for a sprinkler system needs its own construction permit under amended IFC Section 105.6.25 (LMC 15.05.080(F)), and starting that work before the permit issues doubles the fees under amended Section 106.3 (LMC 15.05.080(I)). Failing to install a required sprinkler system is a violation of the Lakewood Building Code, punishable as a misdemeanor under LMC 15.05.060(M): up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Electrical Permits

Lakewood, Washington adopts the National Electrical Code by reference for all electrical work in the city under LMC 15.25.010, but the city itself does not issue electrical permits. Permits and inspections come from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries or Tacoma Public Utilities, depending on which utility serves the address.

Key details: Adopted code: 2008 NEC (NFPA 70-2002) as later amended. Permit authority: WA L&I or Tacoma Public Utilities, not the city. Excluded article: Article 80 of the NEC excluded. Copy on file: Office of the City Clerk (LMC 15.25.020). Also adopted: NESC C2-2002, NFPA 20, NFPA 110.

Because permitting and inspection authority sits with the State Department of Labor and Industries or Tacoma Public Utilities rather than the City of Lakewood, enforcement of unpermitted or noncompliant electrical work runs through that agency under RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B: an inspector can red-tag an installation, require de-energizing until it is brought into compliance, and require a licensed electrician to correct the work before a certificate of inspection issues. The City of Lakewood's role under LMC 15.25.010 is limited to having adopted the same substantive wiring standard the state agency inspects against, so a Lakewood building or fire inspector who finds unpermitted electrical work during an unrelated inspection can still refer it to L&I or TPU for permitting and correction.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lakewood is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Lakewood's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.