Business Licensing & Operations in Lakewood, WA

If you live in Lakewood or are thinking about moving there, business licensing & operations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Lakewood has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of business licensing & operations, and some of them might surprise you.

Tattoo & Body Modification

Lakewood, Washington classifies tattoo and body piercing services as a "restricted" personal service under LMC 18A.10.180, and the city's commercial and industrial land use table at LMC 18A.40.040 confines that use to a conditional use permit in only the C1 and C2 commercial zones. Every other zone in this Pierce County city, including downtown's CBD and the neighborhood commercial NC1/NC2 zones, is closed to it outright.

Key details: Use category: "Personal services, restricted" (LMC 18A.10.180). Allowed zones: C1 and C2 only. Permit type: Conditional use permit required. Residential zones: Not allowed in R1-R4 or MR/MF zones. Downtown/Station District: May be governed by Title 18B/18C instead.

Operating a tattoo or body piercing business in a zone other than C1 or C2, or opening in C1 or C2 without first obtaining the required conditional use permit under LMC 18A.40.040, is an unpermitted land use that the Department of Planning and Public Works can deny, condition, or order stopped, separate from any City of Lakewood business license the operator is also required to hold under Title 5.

This is one of the stricter rules in Lakewood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Towing Companies

Lakewood, Washington's Chief of Police, under LMC 10.28.020, sets the specifications towing companies must follow when they tow and store vehicles impounded by Lakewood police in Pierce County, subject to City Manager approval. Tow contractors handling these impounds must also notify owners within 24 hours, and impounded owners pay a $100.00 administrative fee plus towing and storage costs before redemption.

Key details: Sets specs: Chief of Police, City Manager approval. Owner notice: Mailed within 24 hours of impound. Admin fee: $100.00 before redemption. Appeal deadline: 15 days to Municipal Court. Governing section: LMC 10.28.020.

Towing companies that fail to follow the Chief of Police's approved specifications, or the notice requirements in LMC 10.28.040, expose the City to liability for improper impoundment, and an administrative hearings officer who finds the towing, storage, or special fees improper can order the City to reimburse the vehicle owner for any overpayment. Vehicle owners who skip the required $100.00 administrative fee cannot redeem their vehicle.

Secondhand Dealers

Every pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, or secondhand precious metal dealer operating in Lakewood, Pierce County, must hold a City business license on top of the state licensing and reporting duties in RCW 19.60 and RCW 19.290. The city also caps the number of licensed pawnshops at four.

Key details: License required: City business license, Chapter 5.02. State law layered on top: RCW 19.60 and RCW 19.290 fully adopted. Pawnshop cap: Four licensed pawnshops citywide. Cap direction: Can only decrease, never increase. Pawnbroker extra requirement: Valid federal firearms license.

Operating as an unlicensed secondhand dealer or pawnbroker is enforceable through Title 5's general penalty, LMC 5.02.250, a misdemeanor and/or a civil infraction of $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third and later offenses, with each day a separate violation. The adopted state provisions carry their own penalties: RCW 19.60.066 makes prohibited pawnbroker transactions a criminal offense, and RCW 19.290.070 sets penalties for scrap-metal recordkeeping violations.

Adult Entertainment

Lakewood, Pierce County, requires a City license for every adult cabaret plus separate manager and entertainer licenses, bans operation between 2:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and confines new sexually oriented businesses to designated overlay zones set at least 1,000 feet from any existing one.

Key details: License required: Cabaret, manager, and entertainer each. Hours ban: 2:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. SOB spacing: 1,000 feet from any existing SOB. Location limit: Confined to mapped SOBO overlay zones. Minimum age: 21, or 18 if no liquor served.

Operating, managing, or working at an unlicensed adult cabaret, or violating the chapter's conduct or facility standards, is a misdemeanor under LMC 5.16.090. The City may also declare a violating cabaret a public nuisance and sue to enjoin or abate it (LMC 5.16.100), and can pursue any other legal or equitable remedy under LMC 5.16.110. A SOB sited outside a designated overlay or within 1,000 feet of an existing SOB has its license application denied under LMC 18A.50.250(B) and 18A.50.260.

This is one of the stricter rules in Lakewood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Auto Repair on Residential Property

Lakewood, Washington allows noncommercial vehicle repair at a home only under LMC 18A.60.180: one vehicle at a time, work limited to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends, and painting is banned outright.

Key details: Vehicle limit: One vehicle at a time. Weekday hours: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Weekend hours: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Multifamily (3+ units): Only inside fully enclosed garage. Painting vehicles: Prohibited.

Violating LMC 18A.60.180 is a zoning code violation enforced by the Lakewood Community Development Department, typically through a notice of violation with a compliance deadline before civil penalties or code enforcement citations follow. Painting a vehicle, exceeding the one-vehicle limit, working outside the permitted hours, or leaving parts and hazardous materials exposed outdoors are each independent grounds for citation, and unresolved violations can escalate to civil infraction fines under the City's general code enforcement provisions.

Massage Establishments

Lakewood, Washington requires a massage business license under LMC 5.35.050 before operating; running one unlicensed is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Key details: Business license required: LMC 5.35.050. License term: 1 year, renewable. Fees due: 4 weeks before opening. Unlicensed operation penalty: Up to 364 days jail, $5,000 fine. Ordinary violation penalty: Up to 90 days jail, $1,000 fine.

Under LMC 5.35.030, ordinary violations of Chapter 5.35 are a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, plus a civil penalty of up to $250 per violation assessed by the City Manager or designee. Operating without a business license under LMC 5.35.050, or performing massage without the required practitioner's license under LMC 5.35.060, is elevated to a gross misdemeanor carrying up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, and the City has stated its intent that a conviction serve as a predicate offense for further prosecution under RCW 18.130.190(7)(a) and (7)(b). The City may also pursue an injunction or other equitable relief under LMC 5.35.040 to stop ongoing violations regardless of any other remedy pursued.

Compared to other cities, Lakewood takes a harder line on massage establishments. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pawnbrokers

Lakewood, Washington caps pawnshop licenses at four citywide under LMC 5.12.060, requires owners and employees to pass criminal and firearms background checks, and bars pawn transactions before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

Key details: Citywide pawnshop cap: 4 licensed pawnshops. Transaction hours: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.. Closed holidays: 5 major holidays, no pawn transactions. Owner requirement: Federal firearms license required. Background lookback: 7 years, felonies and specified crimes.

LMC 5.12.140 bars any pawnbroking transaction before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m., and entirely on New Year's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, though the store may stay open for ordinary retail sales on those days. LMC 5.12.170 requires immediate notification to the City's law enforcement department if serial numbers on inspected property appear defaced, changed or altered. Because Chapter 5.12 is a business licensing chapter enforced alongside Chapter 5.02 LMC, violations expose an operator to license suspension or revocation as well as the general licensing penalties in Chapter 5.02, and failing to meet the owner or employee background criteria in LMC 5.12.075 or 5.12.076 is independent grounds to deny or pull a license.

Compared to other cities, Lakewood takes a harder line on pawnbrokers. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Lakewood, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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.