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Lakewood, WA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit fee: set by Lakewood City Council
Application type: Type II procedure, LMC 18A.20.080
Business license: required before and during operation
Ongoing duty: all local, state, federal taxes
Annual renewal: notarized compliance affidavit required
Max penalty: $500 Class 2 civil infraction

Summary

A Lakewood, Washington short-term rental permit is not free: LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(f)(vii) requires the application to include the STR permit fee set by the Lakewood City Council, and LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(i)(xii) separately requires the operator to meet every local, state and federal license and tax obligation for as long as it operates.

vii. The STR permit fee as established by the City of Lakewood City Council. ... xii. ... The STR shall meet all local, state, and federal requirements regarding licenses and taxes.

View official code

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

090(A), footnoted to the operating conditions at (B)(2). 090(B)(2)(f)(vii) requires the complete application to include 'the STR permit fee as established by the City of Lakewood City Council,' meaning the dollar figure is not fixed in the zoning code itself but is set administratively and can change by Council action. 090(B)(2)(a) as a threshold requirement separate from the permit fee. 090(B)(2)(i)(xii) imposes an ongoing duty: the STR 'shall meet all local, state, and federal requirements regarding licenses and taxes,' which in Washington covers state and local retail sales tax and lodging tax collected on short-term stays in addition to the municipal business license renewal.

090(B)(2)(h) further requires the owner's annual business license renewal to include a notarized affidavit confirming the general operating regulations, including this tax and license duty, are still being met.

Violations & Fines

Failing to pay the required STR permit fee or letting a required tax or license obligation lapse breaches LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2), and LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(iii) makes the permit invalid once the associated business license no longer exists. Beyond permit invalidation, LMC 18A.20.105(B) treats a Title 18A violation as a Class 2 civil infraction under LMC 1.48.010, carrying up to a $500.00 penalty per day and location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Lakewood's short-term rental permit fee?

The municipal code does not print a dollar figure; LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(f)(vii) instead requires the fee to be 'as established by the City of Lakewood City Council,' so the current amount is set by Council action rather than fixed in the zoning ordinance itself.

Do Lakewood short-term rental hosts have to pay lodging tax?

Yes. LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(i)(xii) requires every STR to meet all local, state and federal license and tax requirements, which covers the state and local taxes Washington applies to short-term lodging in addition to the City's own business license.

What happens to my STR permit if my business license lapses?

LMC 18A.40.090(B)(2)(iii) says an STR permit is valid only until the associated business license no longer exists, so letting the license lapse invalidates the permit and the property can no longer be legally rented short-term until both are reinstated.

Sources & Official References

[1]Lakewood Municipal Code, Title 18A § 18A.40.090

Other rules in Lakewood

Short-Term Rental PermitsSome Restrictions Short-Term Rental Parking RulesSome Restrictions Occupancy LimitsSome Restrictions Host Presence RuleSome Restrictions Noise RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: EV ChargingLight Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy Restrictions Environmental Rules: Boat Dock PermitsSome Restrictions

All Lakewood rules

How Lakewood compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Washington short-term rentals overview

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