How Lakewood Handles Noise Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Lakewood maintains 133 local ordinances across all categories, and 8 of those deal specifically with noise ordinances. 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.

Quiet Hours

Lakewood, Washington does not set a blanket citywide noise curfew, but its public-disturbance ordinance specifically bars yelling, shouting, whistling or singing near public streets between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., or at any time it unreasonably disturbs a neighbor's peace. Violations carry a civil penalty up to $250.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 8.36.010(A), (B)(3). Yelling/shouting curfew: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.. Construction hours: Barred 10 p.m.-7 a.m. weekdays. Community-event exemption: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.. First penalty: Civil fine up to $250.

Violating LMC 8.36.010, including the 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. restriction on yelling and shouting near public streets, is punishable by a civil penalty of up to $250.00 for a first offense. A second or subsequent violation within a two-year period carries a civil penalty of up to $500.00 under LMC 8.36.010(D).

Aircraft Noise

Lakewood, Washington requires extra sound insulation in new buildings inside the Clear Zone and Air Corridor 1/2 districts around Joint Base Lewis-McChord that sit within the 65 Ldn aircraft noise contour. Public-facing and office portions of new structures must hold interior noise to 45 dB or less under LMC 18A.40.130(E)(3).

Key details: Interior noise limit: 45 dB Ldn in public/office areas. Applies in: CZ, AC1, AC2 zones, 65+ Ldn contour. Remodel trigger: improvements ≥25% of building value. Small-addition exemption: under 500 sq ft, no sleeping rooms. Disclosure required: recorded before building permit issues.

Building without the required interior noise insulation or without recording the noise disclosure statement is a City Code violation the Planning and Public Works Department and Building Official enforce through the standard permit process. Under LMC 1.44.010 the City may issue a notice of violation or a stop work order on noncompliant construction, and under the citywide General Civil Penalty, LMC 1.44.040, an uncorrected ordinance violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 for each day the violation continues.

Vehicle Noise

Lakewood, Washington's noise ordinance makes three kinds of vehicle sound a public disturbance: repeated repair or engine-testing noise in a residential district, a car stereo audible more than 50 feet away, and tire squeal from hard acceleration or braking. A first violation draws a civil penalty of up to $250.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 8.36.010(B)(2),(5),(7). Stereo distance test: Audible over 50 ft from vehicle. Repair/testing noise: Restricted in residential districts. First penalty: Civil fine up to $250. Repeat penalty (2 yrs): Civil fine up to $500.

A first violation of LMC 8.36.010 is a civil penalty of up to $250.00. Any second or subsequent violation within a two-year period jumps to a civil penalty of up to $500.00 under LMC 8.36.010(D). The City enforces this chapter through its police department, and each instance of a public disturbance noise can be cited separately.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Lakewood, Washington bans amplified sound, loudspeakers, music or other audio equipment played loud enough to carry more than 50 feet from its source without the property owner's consent, and more than 50 feet from the property line even with consent. A violation is a civil penalty up to $250.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 8.36.010(B)(6). Off-property/without consent limit: Not audible past 50 ft from source. On-property/with consent limit: Not audible past 50 ft from property line. Business presumption: Business sound presumed consented, rebuttable. First penalty: Civil fine up to $250.

A first violation of LMC 8.36.010 carries a civil penalty of up to $250.00. Any second or subsequent violation of the chapter within a two-year period is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500.00 under LMC 8.36.010(D), and each day or instance of excessive amplified sound can be cited separately.

Construction Hours

Lakewood, Washington bars construction noise, including equipment, power tools and hammering, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and between 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends. A violation of the noise chapter is a civil penalty of up to $250 for a first offense.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 8.36.010(B)(8). Weekday restricted hours: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Weekend restricted hours: 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.. Applies to: Construction equipment, power tools, hammering. First penalty: Civil fine up to $250.

A first violation of LMC 8.36.010, including construction noise outside the permitted hours, is a civil penalty of up to $250.00. A second or subsequent violation of the noise chapter within a two-year period carries a civil penalty of up to $500.00 under LMC 8.36.010(D), with each day of ongoing violation treated separately.

Decibel Limits

Lakewood, Washington's only numeric decibel standard for residential noise applies specifically to home occupations run from accessory buildings: LMC 18A.40.110(B)(7)(g) bars noise at or above 45 decibels intruding on a neighboring residential property outside set daytime hours. The city's general noise ordinance, LMC 8.36, instead measures most other noise by audible distance, not decibels.

Key details: Decibel limit: 45 dB (home occupation in accessory building). Protected hours: 7am-6pm M-F, 9am-5pm Sat (all day Sun). Governing section: LMC 18A.40.110(B)(7)(g). General noise ordinance: LMC 8.36 uses distance, not decibels. General noise penalty: $250 first offense, $500 repeat, LMC 8.36.010(D).

A home occupation in an accessory building whose noise reaches or exceeds 45 decibels on a neighboring residential property outside the permitted hours violates LMC 18A.40.110(B)(7)(g), enforceable as a home occupation permit violation. Absent a more specific fine for this subsection, LMC 1.44.040's general civil penalty of up to $500.00 per day of violation applies. Noise from other residential or commercial sources not tied to a home occupation instead falls under Chapter 8.36 LMC, where a first public-disturbance-noise violation carries a civil penalty of up to $250.00 and a second or subsequent violation within two years carries up to $500.00.

Barking Dogs

Lakewood treats habitual howling, yelping or barking that unreasonably disturbs a neighbor as a code violation under LMC 6.04.090. Before any animal can be seized, an animal control officer must first give the owner notice of the complaint and a chance to fix it; repeated problems can bring a written noise nuisance declaration under LMC 6.04.091.

Key details: Trigger: Habitual howling, yelping or barking. Step one: Owner notified of neighbor complaint. Nuisance declaration appeal: Hearing Examiner review. Final remedy: Confinement or removal from City. Noncompliance penalty: Misdemeanor, up to 90 days/$1,000.

Failing to correct a noise complaint can escalate from a notice of animal noise nuisance to a Hearing Examiner order confining or removing the animal from Lakewood under LMC 6.04.092. Disobeying that confinement or removal order is a misdemeanor under LMC 6.04.110, carrying up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine as defined in LMC 6.02.010. Officers may also seize and impound a noisy animal once the required notice-and-opportunity steps have been completed.

Leaf Blower Rules

Lakewood, Washington restricts noise from lawnmowers, powered hand tools like leaf blowers, snow removal equipment and composters to before 10:00 p.m. and after 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, and before 10:00 p.m. and after 9:00 a.m. on weekends, under LMC 8.36.010(B)(9). A violation carries a civil penalty up to $250.00, or $500.00 for a repeat within two years.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 8.36.010(B)(9). Weekday hours: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Weekend hours: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Covers: Lawnmowers, powered hand tools, snow equipment, composters. First penalty: Up to $250.00 civil penalty.

Running yard equipment outside the permitted hours under LMC 8.36.010(B)(9) is a civil penalty violation of up to $250.00 under LMC 8.36.010(D), rising to up to $500.00 for a second or subsequent violation within a two-year period. Because the property possessor, not just the equipment operator, is liable under LMC 8.36.010(A), a homeowner can be cited for a landscaping crew's early-morning leaf blower.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's noise ordinances 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.

All of the above reflects Lakewood's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.