Lakewood, WA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Guest cap
- no flat number, tied to IBC occupant load
- Governing adoption
- LMC 15.05.020(A), 2021 IBC
- Cross-reference
- LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(i)(x)
- Pre-opening check
- inspected by City and Fire District
- Max penalty
- $500 Class 2 civil infraction
Summary
Lakewood, Washington does not print a flat guest-count cap for short-term rentals; instead LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(i)(x) requires 'maximum occupancy shall be regulated consistent with LMC Title 15,' which adopts the 2021 International Building Code occupant-load rules by reference under LMC 15.05.020(A).
x. Maximum occupancy shall be regulated consistent with LMC Title 15. ... A. The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC), including Appendix Chapters E, G, and J, published by the International Code Council and amended by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-50 WAC, is hereby adopted by reference and as subsequently amended by 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
Rather than setting its own bedroom-based or per-guest number for short-term rentals, Lakewood ties STR occupancy to the building code it has already adopted. as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-50 WAC' as the Lakewood Building Code, and the IBC's occupant-load tables are what actually calculate how many people a given dwelling unit or accessory apartment can legally hold based on floor area and egress capacity. 090(B)(2)(c) already requires before an STR can open. 090(B)(2)(i)(xi) reinforces the point by requiring the STR to keep meeting all applicable performance standards for its zoning district or shoreline designation, so a unit's approved occupancy can also be affected by conditions specific to a shoreline environment near American Lake or Steilacoom Lake.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the occupant load the International Building Code sets for the specific STR structure violates LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(i)(x) and LMC Title 15's adopted building code. LMC 18A.20.105(B) treats the violation as a Class 2 civil infraction under LMC 1.48.010, carrying up to a $500.00 penalty, and the fire and building inspection required under (B)(2)(c) can flag an over-occupied unit before it is ever rented.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum number of guests allowed at a Lakewood short-term rental?
Who checks that a Lakewood STR isn't over its occupancy limit?
Does Lakewood's building code or its zoning code set STR occupancy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle occupancy limits.