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We are trying to get as many of you, whether you are a resident, a business or a community member, involved in the discussion about the city's Zoning Updates, so we've added the Forum discussion for you to respond to a specific question and a quick poll on a quick topic. Join the Forum discussion and take the quick poll!

This Q&A in the important document section provides an outline of the Zoning Updates by answers to some of the most fundamental questions:

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

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will involve numerous changes to update language, make cross-references clear and ensure that previously inaccurate or outdated information, definitions or terms are removed.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