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Zoning Updates

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Residents gathered around an information board during the April 3 Zoning Updates open house.

May update: More information

April was a busy month for this project, and it has produced a lot more detailed information about the proposed Zoning Updates. These details can get you ready for the third Planning Commission public hearing on May 21. Please dive in to all that is available and share you comments about this project:

May update: More information

April was a busy month for this project, and it has produced a lot more detailed information about the proposed Zoning Updates. These details can get you ready for the third Planning Commission public hearing on May 21. Please dive in to all that is available and share you comments about this project:

The Comprehensive Plan is an advisory document for the community that informs decisions on housing, transportation, sustainability, parks and more for the next 15 years. It allows you as residents to set the vision for what you want the city to become. The Zoning Updates executes the community's vision as a regulatory document through the city's Zoning Ordinance.

Why are zoning updates important?

Zoning is a set of laws that regulate how land can be used in a specific area, and cities create these regulations to promote the health and safety of the community. Over the years, these zoning laws need to be updated, and Lakewood is in the process of updating its Zoning Ordinance.

The proposed changes that the Planning Commission and City Council will discuss in the coming months cover three main areas outlined below. Visit the News feed to learn about these different areas of updates:

  • Technical changes that clean up, clarify and modernize the zoning regulations.
  • City Council requested changes that will address housing needs.
  • Modifications required under new state laws.

Follow this discussion and stay up to date on this work:

  • Q&A about Zoning Updates

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    This Q&A breaks down the Zoning Updates in easier-to-understand language and answers some of the most fundamental questions:

    • Why are the updates occurring?
    • Why are they important?
    • What’s changing?

  • Categories of updates

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    Proposed Zoning Updates

    This outlines the Zoning Updates the city is proposing for approval in the coming months.

    Technical changes
    These will involve numerous changes to update language, make cross-references clear and ensure that previously inaccurate or outdated information, definitions or terms are removed.

    Council requested changes
    On Dec. 9, 2024, the Lakewood City Council passed a resolution outlining its intentions, values, and top policy priorities. The Zoning Updates Staff Report outlines these items.

    State law requirements
    Changes to state law are requiring several of the significant updates to the city's Zoning Ordinance, and these are outlined here:

    1. HB24-1152: This new state law now requires cities to allow 500-750-square-foot accessory dwelling units (ADUs) wherever single-family homes are allowed.
    2. HB24-1304: This new state law prohibits cities from requiring minimum parking requirements for multifamily complexes built in the future in areas considered a "transit service area." The law defines these transit service areas as within one-quarter mile of bus stops with buses operating on at least a 30-minute frequency or within one-quarter mile of a light rail station.
    3. HB24-1313: This new state law now requires cities to increase the overall density of allowable residential units to 40 units per acre in certain transit service areas. In this law, transit services areas are defined as within one-quarter mile of bus stops with buses operating with at least a 15-minute frequency or within one-half mile of a light rail station.
    4. HB24-1007: State law now prohibits cities from limiting the number of people who may live in a dwelling except based on health and safety as determined by the number of bedrooms and other physical aspects of the home.
Page last updated: 25 Apr 2025, 01:49 PM