A novel stepped-patch loaded coplanar waveguide(SPLCPW) structure is proposed and applied to the design of a low-pass filter(LPF). The stepped-patch loaded on the opposite side of the CPW plane is shown to provide a shunt-connected series L-C resonance, which is dual to that of a conventional CPW defected ground structure(DGS). As a simple example of the proposed SPLCPW circuit, a 3-pole SPLCPW LPF is designed and good results are obtained.