Lakewood adopts ordinance to standardize municipal code enforcement penalties

Lakewood City Council on April 7 adopted Ordinance 827 amending Lakewood Municipal Code chapter 1.44 to standardize procedures for code‑enforcement notices, stop‑work orders and penalties.

The measure, introduced at the meeting and previously reviewed at a council study session, is intended to create a single, consistent enforcement framework across the city’s enforcement arms. "The focus of ordinance 827 is Lakewood Municipal Code chapter 1.44 general penalties," said Remack, a staff member, who told the council the changes "aim to establish a holistic and strategic and standardized approach to the enforcement across the entirety of the Lakewood Municipal Code when it comes to code enforcement." Remack said the ordinance would standardize procedure for noticing violations, stop‑work orders and penalties, and apply across community safety and resource teams and planning and public works inspection functions.

Council member Branstetter moved adoption and Council member Bell seconded. The council adopted the ordinance by voice vote after brief remarks noting the item had been reviewed in study session earlier in the month. The ordinance was presented to the council as an item for adoption without additional amendment at the meeting.

The ordinance changes the city’s enforcement approach to provide uniform notice and remediation steps where those were previously inconsistent across different code sections. The city did not present a roll‑call tally at the meeting; the motion carried when members in attendance signified assent by voice.

The council did not attach additional direction to staff on implementation at the April 7 meeting; council members said the study session review had addressed procedural questions.

Ordinance 827 will appear in the city code as an amendment to chapter 1.44 (General Penalty) and will be posted with the adopted ordinance language in the city clerk’s records.