Water damage restoration · Lakewood, Colorado
Water damage restoration in Lakewood, CO
Burst pipe, failed water heater, or storm water? Lakewood-area ZIPs: 200 flood claims since 1978[1]; 56% of homes built before 1980[2]. Request help from local restoration crews. Lakewood, in Jefferson County — ZIPs 80228, 80227, 80226, 80215, 80214, 80232, counts 156,927 residents (2025 estimate)[3].
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The Lakewood water damage picture in brief
- Population (2025 est.)
- 156,927[3]+0.6% since 2020
- County
- Jefferson[3]
- Land area
- 43.5 sq mi[4]
- Flood-insurance (NFIP) claims, local ZIPs
- 200 since 1978[1]$723,355 paid across 110 claims · ZIP 80228, 80227, 80226, 80215, 80214, 80232
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 10[5]2016–2025 · latest Jun 25, 2025
- Federal disaster declarations incl. flooding, Jefferson Co.
- 3[6]of 13 total declarations
- Homes built before 1980
- 56%[2]the 3rd-highest share of the 15 Denver-area suburbs we cover
- Households renting
- 42%[2]2020–2024
Reading the Lakewood data for water damage
Lakewood is one of the most established suburbs tracked here — 156,927 people (2025 estimate), up just 0.6% since 2020[3]. The city spans 43.5 square miles at 3,608 residents per square mile (the 6th densest) and sits entirely in Jefferson County, served by ZIP codes 80228, 80227, 80226, 80215, 80214, 80232[4].
Lakewood mixes 11% of homes built since 2010 and 56% before 1980[2]: new supply lines and water heaters in one house, aging pipe and original valves in the next — so where a leak starts depends a lot on the address.
6 ZIP codes cover Lakewood — 80228 (24% of the city's land), 80227 (19% of the city's land), 80226 (19% of the city's land), 80215 (12% of the city's land), 80214 (8% of the city's land), 80232 (8% of the city's land)[7].
The tracked suburbs closest by are Golden (5.8 mi NW), Englewood (7.5 mi SE) and Littleton (9.1 mi SE)[4].
200 flood-insurance claims have come from Lakewood-area ZIP codes (80228, 80227, 80226, 80215, 80214, 80232) since 1978, and $723,355 has been paid on them (about $6,576 per paid claim)[1]. 1984 was the worst year, with 18 claims. That is the most of the 15 Denver-area suburbs we cover; for comparison, Golden (46), Englewood (26), and Littleton (35). Outside water is a real part of the picture here. Of the 186 claims rated in a flood zone, 97 were in FEMA's high-risk areas (zones A or V) and 89 outside them (zones B, C or X)[1][8] — flooding here is not only a high-risk-zone problem.
By month of loss, Lakewood-area flood claims cluster in May (46), June (57), and July (35) — 138 of 200 dated claims[1].
Within 10 miles of central Lakewood, weather observers filed 10 flood, flash-flood or heavy-rain reports in 2016–2025 (8 flash floods)[5]. Countywide: 3 flood declarations since 2000, latest Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (DR-4731, 2023)[6]. Nearby: Golden (3), Englewood (11), and Littleton (4).
56% of Lakewood's 73,547 housing units predate 1980[2] — the 3rd-highest share of the 15 Denver-area suburbs we cover (Golden (43%), Englewood (68%), and Littleton (46%)). Aging supply lines and valves are the usual hidden-leak suspects in houses that old.
42% of Lakewood households rent[2]: tenants should report leaks to the landlord in writing, with photos.
Among the 15 suburbs tracked here, Lakewood stands out for the most NFIP flood claims (200)[1], the 3rd-highest pre-1980 housing share (56%)[2], the 3rd-oldest housing (by median year built) (1977)[2], and the 3rd-highest renter share (42%)[2].
How a leak spreads inside a wall
Leaked water spreads outward and wicks up drywall the longer it runs.
Lakewood storm calendar
Within 10 miles of Lakewood, 2016–2025: 8 flash-flood reports, 1 flood report, and 1 heavy-rain report[5]. Peak: 100% in June and July. Busiest year 2019 (3); 5 of 10 years had none. Busiest month July 2019 (3). Latest: flood report, Jun 25, 2025, 8.0 mi out.
| Month | Flash flood | Flood | Heavy rain | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul | 5 | – | – | 5 |
water damage help in Lakewood: what to do next
Requests go to Water damage restoration contractors serving the Lakewood area — ZIP codes 80228, 80227, 80226, 80215, 80214, 80232.
Before reaching out: what a restoration crew does first
Shared walls and ceilings: Lakewood homes by building type
53%[2] of Lakewood's homes share walls, floors or ceilings with a neighbour (multi-unit buildings alone: 42%, the 2nd-highest multi-unit share of the 15 Denver-area suburbs we cover). Water crosses those lines: in an attached or stacked unit, tell the neighbour and the association or landlord right away, and check whose policy covers which part of the damage.
After detached houses, the biggest group is attached house (townhouse, rowhouse): 7,621 of 73,547 housing units[2].
| Building type | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | 33,906 | 46.1% | ±940 |
| Attached house (townhouse, rowhouse) | 7,621 | 10.4% | ±597 |
| Duplex (2 units) | 1,550 | 2.1% | ±415 |
| 3–4 units | 3,270 | 4.4% | ±471 |
| 5–9 units | 6,067 | 8.2% | ±658 |
| 10–19 units | 7,105 | 9.7% | ±687 |
| 20–49 units | 6,596 | 9.0% | ±607 |
| 50 or more units | 6,472 | 8.8% | ±632 |
| Mobile home | 814 | 1.1% | ±270 |
| Boat, RV, van, etc. | 146 | 0.2% | ±165 |
Margins of error are the Census Bureau’s 90% intervals; small categories in small cities are rough.
Lakewood by the numbers
| Measure | Lakewood | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFIP flood claims (area ZIPs) | 200 | 35 | 165 more |
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 10 | 6 | 4 more |
| Built before 1980 | 56% | 37% | 19 pts higher |
| Renter-occupied | 42% | 37% | 5 pts higher |
| Owner-occupied | 58% | 63% | 5 pts lower |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1987 | 10 years older |
| Median home value | $574,400 | $574,400 | same as median |
Sorted by largest difference. Each median is the middle value across the covered Denver-area suburbs, from the same sources.
| City | NFIP claims | Flood reports ≤10 mi | Built before 1980 | Renting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood | 200 | 10 | 56% | 42% |
| Golden 5.8 mi | 46 | 3 | 43% | 43% |
| Englewood 7.5 mi | 26 | 11 | 68% | 51% |
| Littleton 9.1 mi | 35 | 4 | 46% | 39% |
| Arvada 9.5 mi | 103 | 12 | 53% | 25% |
| Westminster 12.9 mi | 45 | 14 | 34% | 38% |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year | Outside high-risk zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80228 | 9 | $19,836 | 2015 (2) | 9 of 9 |
| 80227 | 10 | $7,972 | 2011 (2) | 6 of 10 |
| 80226 | 36 | $95,593 | 1998 (12) | 15 of 36 |
| 80215 | 42 | $200,663 | 1984 (7) | 20 of 40 |
| 80214 | 97 | $388,035 | 1984 (10) | 36 of 85 |
| 80232 | 6 | $11,256 | 1978 (1) | 3 of 6 |
ZIPs extend past city limits. Outside high-risk zones: claims rated in zone B, C or X, of the claims that carry a zone.
| Year | Claims |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| Month | Claims |
|---|---|
| March | 6 |
| April | 7 |
| May | 46 |
| June | 57 |
| July | 35 |
| August | 33 |
| September | 8 |
| October | 8 |
| Date | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2025 | Flood | 8.0 mi |
| Jun 4, 2025 | Heavy Rain | 7.9 mi |
| Jul 20, 2024 | Flash Flood | 8.8 mi |
| Jun 29, 2023 | Flash Flood | 6.3 mi |
| Jun 29, 2023 | Flash Flood | 6.3 mi |
| Jun 29, 2023 | Flash Flood | 7.7 mi |
| Jul 20, 2019 | Flash Flood | 7.8 mi |
| Jul 20, 2019 | Flash Flood | 2.5 mi |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Lakewood's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 80228 | 24% | 92% |
| 80227 | 19% | 77% |
| 80226 | 19% | 99% |
| 80215 | 12% | 93% |
| 80214 | 8% | 75% |
| 80232 | 8% | 86% |
Common Lakewood water damage questions
Do I need flood insurance in Lakewood?
Homeowners policies exclude outside floodwater[9], and Lakewood-area ZIPs have 23 NFIP claims in just the last ten years[1].
Which Lakewood ZIP codes do these crews cover?
80228, 80227, 80226, 80215, 80214, and 80232[7], in Jefferson County. Nearby pages: Golden (5.8 mi), Englewood (7.5 mi), and Littleton (9.1 mi)[4].
Which Lakewood ZIP code has the most flood claims?
80214, with 97 NFIP claims and $388,035 paid[1].
When was the last flood report near Lakewood?
Jun 25, 2025: a flood report 8.0 miles from the city center[5].
A lot of Lakewood homes predate 1980 — what does that mean for plumbing fixtures and water heater work?
56% of Lakewood's housing units were built before 1980, 16.1% before 1960[2] — the 3rd-highest share of the 15 Denver-area suburbs we cover. Older supply lines and original shut-off valves are common failure points — know where your main shut-off is before you need it.
I rent in Lakewood. Who arranges the repair?
42% of occupied Lakewood homes are rented[2], the 3rd-highest share of the 15 Denver-area suburbs we cover. Tell your landlord or property manager in writing first; your lease says who arranges repairs.
Sources
- OpenFEMA NFIP claims
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (keyless bulk)
- Census population estimates, Vintage 2025
- Census Gazetteer 2025
- NOAA Storm Events Database
- OpenFEMA disaster declarations
- Census 2020 ZCTA–place file
- FEMA, Flood Zones (link unverified)
- FEMA FloodSmart (link unverified)
Data pulled Sep 28, 2026. Full citations and method.