Landscaping Rules in Lakewood, WA

If you live in Lakewood or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Lakewood has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Composting

Lakewood, Washington exempts small compost piles from its public nuisance rules under LMC 8.18.010(A): a pile stays legal only if it is under four feet tall, no more than six feet across at ground level, at least 30 feet from any dwelling, and at least four feet from a neighboring property line.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 8.18.010(A). Max height: Under 4 feet. Max diameter: Under 6 feet at ground level. Setback from dwellings: 30 feet or more. Setback from property lines: 4 feet or more.

A compost pile that exceeds the four-foot height, six-foot diameter, 30-foot dwelling setback, or four-foot property-line setback in LMC 8.18.010(A) is no longer automatically shielded from nuisance enforcement. If it is then found to harbor rodents or other pests, or otherwise meets the nuisance criteria in LMC 8.16.010, the City can order it corrected under LMC 8.16.050 and, if the order is ignored, abate it and bill the owner.

Lakewood is more permissive than most cities when it comes to composting. That said, there are still limits.

Weed Ordinances

Lakewood, Washington caps weeds, brush and grass at an average height of 15 inches under LMC 8.52.010, and bans any uncontrolled vegetation that obstructs sightlines on streets and sidewalks or creates a fire hazard. The City Manager can grant a variance for rural-feeling properties where overgrowth is not visible from neighbors, and violators face a civil fine of up to $500.00 per day.

Key details: Height limit: Average 15 inches for weeds/brush/vines. Governing section: LMC 8.52.010. Fine: Up to $500 per day, civil. Variance available: From City Manager for rural/agricultural lots. Appeal window: 14 days to City Council.

Letting weeds or vegetation go uncontrolled under LMC 8.52.010 is punishable by a civil fine of up to $500.00 per violation, and each day the overgrowth continues is treated as a separate violation. The City can also abate the vegetation itself under the nuisance procedure in Chapter 8.16 LMC and bill the property owner for the cost, in addition to the fine.

Native Plants

Lakewood's landscaping code encourages, but does not itself mandate, native and drought-tolerant plants. LMC 18A.70.180 sets out water-conservation guidelines favoring plants native to the Pacific Northwest, while a companion section, LMC 18A.70.140(B)(7), separately requires their use in every required landscape design plan.

Key details: Guideline section: LMC 18A.70.180 (recommended, not mandatory). Mandatory companion rule: LMC 18A.70.140(B)(7). Preferred plant order: Native, then Pacific NW-common species. Mulch depth guidance: 2-3 inches depending on coverage. Severity: Guideline; no standalone penalty.

LMC 18A.70.180's water-conservation and plant-type guidance is advisory and carries no separate penalty. The companion mandate at LMC 18A.70.140(B)(7), requiring native and drought-tolerant plants to be incorporated into any required landscape design plan, is enforceable as a Class 2 civil infraction under LMC 18A.20.105(B), capped at $500.00 per LMC 1.48.010, with each day of noncompliance a separate violation.

The rules around native plants in Lakewood lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

A significant tree in Lakewood, defined as 9 inches or more in diameter, cannot be removed without a tree removal permit under LMC 18A.70.320(D). Lots under 10,000 square feet in single-family zones are exempt, and removed trees generally must be replaced at a 2-to-1 diameter ratio.

Key details: Significant tree threshold: 9-inch diameter, evergreen/deciduous. Oregon white oak threshold: 4-inch diameter. Permit requirement: LMC 18A.70.320(D). Small-lot exemption: Single-family lots under 10,000 sq ft. Replacement ratio: 2:1 diameter inches, LMC 18A.70.320(I).

Removing a significant tree without a permit, or without meeting the retention percentages or 2-to-1 replacement ratio, violates LMC 18A.70.320. If the City determines a claimed emergency removal did not actually meet an emergency condition, LMC 18A.70.310(D)(5) requires the owner be cited. Tree preservation violations are Class 2 civil infractions under LMC 18A.20.105(B), capped at $500.00 per LMC 1.48.010, with each day and each tree a separate violation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lakewood actively enforces its tree removal & heritage trees requirements.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Lakewood gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 2 of the 4 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Lakewood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.