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Lakewood building official cautions against rushing ADU self-certification despite state option
Summary
Lakewood's building official told the Planning Commission that a state law permitting architect self-certification for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) raises workload, coordination and oversight issues; staff recommended delaying implementation until procedures, thresholds, and interagency coordination (water, sewer, fire) are addressed.
Rafik Hindi, Lakewood’s building official, told the Planning Commission the state law allowing architects to submit permit-ready, self-certified ADU plans (House bill referenced by staff) gives cities an option but does not eliminate reviews that touch planning, zoning, engineering and outside utilities.
Hindi said the department is not recommending immediate implementation because doing so would require a distinct administrative process and dedicated staffing to handle permit-ready ADU applications, and because other reviews — such as zoning, critical-area and outside-agency approvals for water and sewer — remain necessary. "We don't have enough staff" to run a separate intake process, he said, noting the city has processed 18 ADUs since 2025 and that typical turnaround times in Lakewood have been faster than some regional jurisdictions.
Commissioners, including Commissioner Merritt, pressed on oversight and liability: Merritt asked how the city will ensure public-safety thresholds and what indemnification exists if architect-certified plans later prove deficient. Hindi and commissioners discussed guardrails and tiered thresholds used in other jurisdictions; staff said some jurisdictions use a three-tier system to determine which permit-ready plans qualify for limited review.
Why it matters: The state provision is intended to speed ADU permitting in jurisdictions where reviews otherwise take months, but Lakewood staff warned the city’s reliance on outside agencies (water, sewer, fire) complicates any streamlined intake and could shift risk to the city without clear implementation guardrails.
Next steps: Staff will provide examples of tiered thresholds and further detail in the packet. The commission may recommend an implementation approach or defer to council; the item remains on the commission’s schedule for deliberation as part of the comprehensive plan docket.
