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Lakewood council introduces ordinance to create temporary special‑events permit
Summary
Councilmembers voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance 2026‑2, establishing a temporary special‑events permit to regulate pop‑ups, commercial events and cultural exhibits; staff said the permit allows conditions, revocation and citations (first infraction $100) and CEQA exemption was added.
Lakewood City Council on March 7 voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance 2026‑2, adding a temporary special‑events permit to the Lakewood Municipal Code to regulate short‑term commercial, cultural and recreational events.
Aldo Cervantes, the city’s director of community development, told the council the new permit would give staff authority to set conditions, revoke approvals for violations and address public‑safety concerns now difficult to handle under only a business license or building permit. He said the measure targets pop‑up retail, circuses, car shows and similar temporary activities and is intended to spur economic development while preserving safety standards.
Councilmember Rogers asked about enforcement and whether the code would apply to private‑property pop‑ups she has observed in District 1. Cervantes said staff would first determine whether an existing entitlement covered the activity; if not, the city could issue a citation to the property owner and event organizer. The city attorney explained that the first infraction would be $100, building‑code violations could start at $200, and penalties would increase for repeat violations; criminal prosecution remained an option for persistent, egregious breaches.
Council members also raised noise, canopy and waste disposal concerns. The city attorney and Cervantes said detailed technical requirements for canopies, fire safety and decibel limits would remain governed by building and fire codes or handled as permit conditions rather than written into the ordinance itself. Cervantes added the city would perform public outreach if the ordinance is adopted so current event organizers know of any new requirements.
Mayor Cassandra Chase and the full council voted to introduce Ordinance 2026‑2 with a CEQA categorical exemption and to waive further reading. The ordinance will return for a subsequent hearing and further council action.
The public hearing produced no speakers signed up on this item.
