Building Setbacks & Zoning in Lakewood, WA

Lakewood maintains 133 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with building setbacks & zoning. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lakewood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Setback Rules

Lakewood's residential dimensional table, LMC 18A.60.030(A), sets front, garage, rear, and interior setbacks by zoning district: as little as 5 feet for MR1/MR2 front yards up to 15 feet in R1/R2, an 8-foot interior setback in the MF zones, and a flat 25-foot setback along any principal arterial or state highway.

Key details: Front yard, R1/R2: 15 feet. Front yard, MR1/MR2: 5 feet. Garage/carport setback: 20 feet, all zones. Interior setback, MF zones: 8 feet. Arterial/highway setback: 25 feet, all zones.

Building or fencing inside a required setback without approval is a code violation under LMC 1.44.010, enforceable by a notice of violation and, if work continues, a stop-work order under LMC 1.44.030. The general civil penalty in LMC 1.44.040 runs up to $500.00 for each day the encroachment remains, and the City can require the encroaching wall or structure to be moved or removed at the owner's expense.

Lot Coverage Limits

Lakewood caps building coverage at 45 percent of the lot in the R1 through R3 single-family zones, 50 percent in R4, and up to 60 percent in the multifamily MF zones, under the LMC 18A.60.030(A) dimensional table. Impervious surface limits run separately and higher, up to 75 percent in MR2.

Key details: Building coverage, R1-R3: 45% of lot. Building coverage, R4: 50% of lot. Building coverage, MF zones: 60% of lot. Impervious surface, R4: 70% of lot. Tree-preservation bonus: +5% impervious, Director's discretion.

Exceeding the building coverage or impervious surface maximum is a code violation under LMC 1.44.010, typically caught at building permit review before construction begins. If coverage is added after the fact without a permit, the City may issue a stop-work order under LMC 1.44.030 and assess the general civil penalty of up to $500.00 per day under LMC 1.44.040 until the excess coverage is removed or approved.

Structure Height Limits

Lakewood caps residential building height at 35 feet in its four single-family districts, R1 through R4, and its first multifamily-residential district, MR1, rising to 50 feet in MR2 and up to 80 feet in the densest multifamily zone, MF3, under the dimensional table at LMC 18A.60.030.

Key details: Governing table: LMC 18A.60.030(A). R1-R4 height limit: 35 feet. MF3 height limit: 80 feet, highest residential zone. Height measured from: Average undisturbed grade, LMC 18A.60.120. Downtown/Station overlay: Titles 18B/18C may control instead.

Constructing a residential building above the height limit for its zoning district without a variance or design review approval violates LMC 18A.60.030 and LMC 18A.60.120. Under LMC 18A.20.105(B), a violation of any Title 18A development standard is a Class 2 civil infraction, punishable under LMC 1.48.010 by a fine of up to $500.00, with each day of the violation treated as a separate infraction.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's building setbacks & zoning 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.