Objective To evaluate laparoscopic local resection for the treatment of gastric tumors. Methods The clinical data of 78 patients who received laparoscopic local resection at the PLA General Hospital from February 2006 to January 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the tumor site and free range, total laparoscopic gastrectomy was applied to 45 patients, laparoscopic local resection was applied to 22 patients, laparoscopic and endoscopic tumor resection was applied to 11 patients. The efficacies of the surgical approaches were investigated. Results Laparoscopic local resection was successfully performed on the 78 patients without conversion to open surgery. The mean operation time and operative blood loss were 75 minutes (range, 45-120 minutes) and 60 ml (range, 35-90 ml), respectively. The mean diameter of the tumor was (2.5±1.3)cm (range, 0.7-4.8 cm). No mortality or morbidity occurred postoperatively. The bowel function recovery time and the duration of hospital stay were 35 hours (range, 25-42 hours) and 7.5 days (range, 6-9 days), respectively. The results of postoperative pathological examination verified that 63 patients were with gastric stromal tumor, 11 patients were with benign gastric diseases, including 5 with gastric heterotopic pancreas, 2 with inflammatory pseudotumor, 2 with hyperplastic polyp, 1 with schwannomas and one with angioma. Four patients were with carcinoid, 3 carcinoids were located in mucous layer and 1 invaded into muscular layer. The median time of follow-up was 26 months, and no anastomotic stenosis or port-site metastasis was observed. Of the 63 patients with gastric stromal tumor, 2 were treated with imatinib mesylate, 1 had tumor recurrence and received reoperation. Conclusion Laparoscopic local resection is safe and feasible for the treatment of benign gastric neoplasms, stromal tumor and early gastric tumors.