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..
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.
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
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 estimate in City of Lakewood
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 | $4.5 |
| Estimated total | $488.36 |
Most jurisdictions handle decks as field-inspection or simplified plan review. Computed from the City of Lakewood fee bracket schedule · source ↗. Impact/utility fees may apply separately.
How to apply
- 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 (typical: —). 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.
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 $488.36 — building fee $293.25 + plan review $190.61 + surcharges. Fees scale with project valuation per the city schedule.