Deck permits in City of Lakewood: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a deck permit in City of Lakewood, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Lakewood Community Development..
Free lookup, no account needed — your lot polygon, zoning, setbacks and overlays, cited to City of Lakewood's source.
When does a deck need a permit in City of Lakewood?
Permit NOT required if ALL of: not attached + <30in above grade at any point + <200sqft + does not serve as main entry door + (for shoreline properties) not more than 18in high. Critical-area proximity always triggers permit.
How City of Lakewood adopted this rule
The threshold comes from the state code (WAC 51.51), which City of Lakewood adopts by reference in the provision quoted below.
“Pursuant to RCW 19.27.031 , the following codes as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council herein adopted and further amended, shall be collectively known as the Lakewood Building Code: 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.”Source ↗verified 2026-04-29
What City of Lakewood says in its own permit handout
From Do I Need A Building Permit? (dated May 20, 2025), published by City of Lakewood. This is the jurisdiction's own guidance on its permit process, not the ordinance text — where the two differ, the code governs.
“Permits are NOT required for the following: … Decks: Not attached to buildings, are less than 30 inches above grade at any point, less than 200 square feet, do not serve as main entry door, and are not more than 18 inches high for shoreline properties. Exceptions: when near critical area, or critical area buffer, a permit is required to review placement.”Handout ↗read 2026-09-05
Required submittals
- site plan with setbacks
- framing plan w/ ledger detail
- footing detail
- guard/handrail detail
Inspection sequence
- footing
- framing
- final
Contractor specialties needed
general
Who can do this work in City of Lakewood?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, active through April 10, 2027, bonded and insured — working throughout City of Lakewood and Pierce County. Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files the deck permit with Lakewood Community Development., carries the project through review and inspections, and performs the construction. Call (206) 410-5100 for a City of Lakewood deck quote.
Notes & caveats
From Lakewood handout B4 (Do I Need a Building Permit?): "Decks: Not attached to buildings, are less than 30 inches above grade at any point, less than 200 square feet, do not serve as main entry door, and are not more than 18 inches high for shoreline properties. Exceptions: when near critical area, or critical area buffer, a permit is required to review placement." Lakewood's shoreline 18-inch rule is more restrictive than the inland 30-inch rule.
Deck permit fee — Washington baseline, not City of Lakewood's own schedule
Worked example for a $18,000 deck project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.
| Building permit fee | $293.25 |
| Plan review | $190.61 |
| WA state surcharge | $6.5 |
| Estimated total | $490.36 |
Most jurisdictions handle decks as field-inspection or simplified plan review. We have not read City of Lakewood's adopted fee schedule, so this is not City of Lakewood's fee: it walks the standard valuation table most Washington cities adopt by reference, as a rough guide. The real numbers are in City of Lakewood's fee schedule ↗. Impact/utility fees may apply separately.
How to apply yourself
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your City of Lakewood deck — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals (4).
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Lakewood Community Development. ↗
- 4. Track review. Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (Most jurisdictions handle decks as field-inspection or simplified plan review.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
We pull deck permits in City of Lakewood every month. We prepare the drawings and submittals, file with Lakewood Community Development., handle reviewer comments, and build the project.
Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured
Deck permits in City of Lakewood — FAQ
When does a deck need a permit in City of Lakewood?
Permit NOT required if ALL of: not attached + <30in above grade at any point + <200sqft + does not serve as main entry door + (for shoreline properties) not more than 18in high. Critical-area proximity always triggers permit.
How much does a deck permit cost in City of Lakewood?
For a $18,000 deck project, the estimated City of Lakewood permit fee is about $490.36 — building fee $293.25 + plan review $190.61 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.