Rental Property Rules in Lakewood, WA

If you live in Lakewood or are thinking about moving there, rental property rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Lakewood has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of rental property rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Rental Registration

Every residential rental unit in Lakewood, Pierce County, must carry its own City-issued rental housing license, renewed annually on a calendar-year cycle. Owner-occupied units, hotels renting under 30 days, and government-owned housing are among the exemptions from this registration duty.

Key details: License required: Each residential rental unit, individually. License cycle: Calendar year, January 1 to December 31. Fee: Set by City fee schedule, LMC 3.20.010. Owner-occupied exemption: Yes, owner or owner's parent/child. Short-term lodging exemption: Stays under 30 days at hotels/motels.

Renting out a unit without the required license, or letting a license lapse, exposes an owner to the same license denial, suspension, or revocation process in LMC 5.60.120 that applies to noncompliant units, plus the chapter's own penalty schedule in LMC 5.60.150: an infraction of $150 per day for the first 10 days a violation continues and $500 per day after that, with each day a separate violation that cannot be reduced except on a showing the violation was fixed.

Repairs & Habitability

Lakewood, Pierce County, ties every rental license to a habitability check: owners must show a certificate that the unit has no substantial RCW 59.18.060 defect, such as unsafe structural elements, exposure to weather, hazardous wiring, or blocked fire exits, and renting a unit that fails to meet that certificate is unlawful.

Key details: Certificate required: No more than once every 5 years. Recent inspection credit: Within previous 24 months accepted. Self-certification option: City-approved form allowed. Noncompliant rental: Unlawful to rent under 5.60.100. Falsified certificate penalty: Gross misdemeanor, up to $5,000.

Renting or continuing to occupy a unit that has not met the certificate-of-inspection requirement violates LMC 5.60.100 and can trigger license denial, suspension, or revocation under LMC 5.60.120, plus the chapter's penalty schedule at LMC 5.60.150: $150 per day for the first 10 days a violation continues and $500 per day after that. Knowingly submitting or helping submit a falsified certificate of compliance, or falsified supporting information, is a gross misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 under LMC 5.60.150(B), on top of the daily infraction.

Rent Control

Rent control is PREEMPTED by Washington State law. RCW 35.21.830 prohibits cities and counties from enacting rent control ordinances. Lakewood may not impose rent control on private residential rental properties.

Key details: Rent Control: PREEMPTED. RCW 35.21.830 prohibits local rent control. State Law: RCW 35.21.830. Lakewood Rule: No rent control: state law prohibits. Tenant Rights: RCW 59.18 (Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act).

Illegal rent increases above allowed limits: tenant may recover excess rent paid. Retaliation against tenants asserting rent control rights: treble damages in some states. Failure to register rental units: $100–$500 per unit per month.

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

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's rental property rules 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.