Business Licensing & Operations in Lakewood, WA (2026)
7 verified business licensing & operations rules for Lakewood, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Lakewood WA Adult Cabaret License and SOBO Spacing
Significant RestrictionsLMC 5.16.020(A); LMC 5.16.050(E); LMC 18A.50.260
A. It is unlawful for any person to conduct, manage or operate an adult cabaret unless such person is the holder of a valid and subsisting license from the City to do so, obtained in the manner provided in this chapter. ... E. It is unlawful for any adult cabaret to be operated or otherwise open to the public between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. ... Newly established or created SOBs sh...
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.
Massage Business License Rules in Lakewood, WA
Significant RestrictionsLMC 5.35.050; 5.35.030(C)
5.35.050 License for business required. ... It is unlawful to conduct, operate or maintain a massage business unless such establishment or premises is licensed as hereinafter provided. ... C. Violation of LMC 5.35.050 and/or 5.35.060. Any person who violates LMC 5.35.050 and/or 5.35.060 shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a jail sentence of up to ...
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.
Lakewood, WA Tattoo Parlor Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsLMC 18A.10.180; LMC 18A.40.040
“Personal services, restricted” means personal services that may tend to have a potentially offensive effect upon surrounding areas and which may need to be dispersed to minimize their adverse impacts. Examples of these uses include: check cashing stores; fortune tellers; palm and card readers; psychics; soup kitchens; spas and hot tubs for hourly rental; tattoo and body piercing services.
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.
Lakewood WA Secondhand and Pawnshop Dealer License
Some RestrictionsLMC 5.12.011(A); LMC 5.12.013
A. Every entity doing business within the City as a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer or secondhand precious metal dealer, as those terms are defined by RCW 19.60.010, shall be subject to the regulations set forth in this chapter and shall be required to obtain a City of Lakewood business license, as set forth in Chapter 5.02 LMC. ... Every entity subject to this chapter shall be required to report...
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.
Pawnbroker License Rules in Lakewood, WA
Significant RestrictionsLMC 5.12.060; 5.12.140
5.12.060 Limitation on number of pawnbrokers. ... The current number of pawnshops (four) shall represent the maximum number of pawnshops able to be licensed by the City; provided, that any reduction in the number of licensed pawnshops shall reduce the maximum number of licensed pawnbrokers available in the City to the reduced number. ... 5.12.140 Prohibited transactions. No pawnbroking transact...
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.
Home Auto Repair Rules in Lakewood, WA
Some RestrictionsLMC 18A.60.180
The repair, service, restoration, modification, assembly, disassembly, construction, reconstruction, or other work on a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle or a sporting vehicle on any residential premises in any zone that allows residential uses shall be subject to the following standards: A. Work shall be limited to the noncommercial repair and maintenance of motor vehicles, recreational vehi...
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.
Lakewood, WA Rules for Police-Ordered Towing Companies
Some RestrictionsLMC 10.28.020
The Chief of Police is authorized to prepare specifications for towing and storage of vehicles, including instructions to towing companies, containing such provisions as the Chief of Police shall deem advisable and not in conflict with this chapter. The specifications shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Manager.
Looking for Pierce County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lakewood city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Pierce County →