Lakewood, WA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2008 NEC (NFPA 70-2002) as later amended
- Permit authority
- WA L&I or Tacoma Public Utilities, not the city
- Excluded article
- Article 80 of the NEC excluded
- Copy on file
- Office of the City Clerk (LMC 15.25.020)
- Also adopted
- NESC C2-2002, NFPA 20, NFPA 110
- Governing statute
- WAC 296-46B and RCW 19.28
Summary
Lakewood, Washington adopts the National Electrical Code by reference for all electrical work in the city under LMC 15.25.010, but the city itself does not issue electrical permits. Permits and inspections come from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries or Tacoma Public Utilities, depending on which utility serves the address.
The 2008 Edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 – 2002) and any subsequent amended versions adopted by the Department of Labor Industries, including Annex A, B, and C, but excluding Article 80; the 1999 edition of Centrifugal Fire Pumps (NFPA 20 – 1999); the 2002 Edition of Emergency and Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110 – 2002); Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard (ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B.1-May 2001 including Annex 1 through 5); Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathway and Spaces (ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A-December 2001 including Annex 1 through 4); Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications (ANSI/TIA/EIA 607 – 1994); Residential Telecommunications Cable Standard (ANSI/TIA/EIA 570-A-1999); and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC C2-2002 excluding Appendixes A and B) are hereby adopted by reference as part of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 852, passed June 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010 adopts the 2008 Edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70, 2002) and any later versions amended by the Department of Labor and Industries, including Annexes A, B and C but excluding Article 80. The same section pulls in related standards used for commercial and residential construction in Lakewood: the 1999 edition of Centrifugal Fire Pumps (NFPA 20), the 2002 Emergency and Standby Power Systems code (NFPA 110), three ANSI/TIA/EIA telecommunications cabling and grounding standards, and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC C2-2002, excluding Appendixes A and B).
Where these standards conflict with each other, the chapter sets an order of precedence, with the National Electrical Code controlling over the fire pump, standby power and telecommunications standards. 28, except that 'Department' means either the State Department of Labor and Industries or Tacoma Public Utilities, depending on which utility provides electric service to the property. That means a Lakewood property owner pulls an electrical permit from L&I or from TPU, not from Lakewood's own building counter, even though the substantive wiring standard is the one the city has adopted into its own code. 28, so either document can be reviewed at City Hall without going to the state agency first.
Violations & Fines
Because permitting and inspection authority sits with the State Department of Labor and Industries or Tacoma Public Utilities rather than the City of Lakewood, enforcement of unpermitted or noncompliant electrical work runs through that agency under RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B: an inspector can red-tag an installation, require de-energizing until it is brought into compliance, and require a licensed electrician to correct the work before a certificate of inspection issues. The City of Lakewood's role under LMC 15.25.010 is limited to having adopted the same substantive wiring standard the state agency inspects against, so a Lakewood building or fire inspector who finds unpermitted electrical work during an unrelated inspection can still refer it to L&I or TPU for permitting and correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Lakewood issue electrical permits?
What electrical code applies to wiring work in Lakewood, WA?
Where can I see a copy of the code Lakewood has adopted?
Are low-voltage or telecommunications wiring standards covered too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Washington building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Electrical Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle electrical permits.