FAQs • Spokane County, WA • CivicEngage

What requirements apply within Critical Areas?: The Critical Areas Ordinance contains numerous requirements to help protect designated critical areas. The most prevalent include setback-and use- restrictions. Briefly, for wetlands, "buffer" setbacks can range from 25-200 feet, depending on the classification of the wetland; Fish and wildlife habitat requirements regulate uses within 1/4 mile of "point" locations (dens and nests) of priority species and require "buffers" ranging from 25-250 feet of riparian areas adjacent to flowing rivers and some creeks; Geo-hazard areas requirements regulate development on slopes of 30% or greater and Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas limit allowable uses within designated areas to help protect groundwater quality. Please contact the department for further information to determine if these Critical Areas could impact your project.

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Building & Planning

1. How do I apply for a building permit?

Spokane County accepts online permit applications within the unincorporated County, City of Millwood, Town of Rockford, and Town of Spangle for the permit types listed below. Before applying for a permit, please verify that your location is within our service area.

https://www.spokanecounty.org/3201/Apply-for-a-Permit

E-Services

2. What construction codes are in effect in the unincorporated areas of the County?

- 2018 International Building Code

- 2018 International Residential Code

- 2018 International Mechanical Code

- 2018 International Fuel Gas Code

- 2018 International Pool and Spa Code

- 2018 International Fire Code

- 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code

- 2018 International Existing Building Code

- Washington State Energy Code

These codes may be modified, in some instances, by the provisions of the State Building Code Council and Spokane County Code, Chapter 3.

3. What design criteria do I use for designing a building?

Please open the link below:

Building Design Criteria

4. How long is my permit good for?

Building permits shall automatically expire and become invalid by limitation of time 3 years from the date of permit issuance. The Director is authorized within his/her discretion to grant 1 extension of time, for a period not to exceed 180 days. A request for an extension shall be made by the permit holder in writing and shall be submitted to and received by the Spokane County Building and Planning Department prior to the expiration date of the permit and shall demonstrate just cause for the requested extension. The building department will not notify you that the permit will or is expired, that is your responsibility.

Other permits not issued in conjunction with the construction or completion of a building or structure shall automatically expire and become invalid by limitation of time 18 months from the date of permit issuance. Exception: The above limitations on the validity of permits shall not apply to operational permits issued under the International Fire Code.

5. What is the basic minimum snow load for Spokane County?

The basic minimum roof snow load for Spokane County is 30 pounds per foot. However, areas within Spokane County have snow loads as high as 150 pounds per foot. The Scout mapping system available on the County website has snow load maps available on one of the layers to the public. This number provided is the ground snow load, which must be multiplied by .7 to obtain the roof snow load.

http://cp.spokanecounty.org/scout/SCOUTDashboard/

property addressing.

6. Do I need a permit for a fence?: Fences over 7 feet in height require building permits.

7. Do I need a fence around my swimming pool?: Residential swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs containing water over 24 inches deep, and installed on the premises of a detached one- or two- family dwelling, or a one-family townhouse not more than 3 stories in height, for the sole use of residents and invited guests, are required to be provided with a fence or barrier that complies with the requirements of the 2015 International Spa and Pool Code. Spas and hot tubs with a lockable safety cover that complies with ASTM F 1346 and swimming pools with a powered safety cover that complies with ASTM F 1346 are exempted from the barrier requirements.
Website

8. Is there radon in Spokane County?: Yes. Spokane County is one of six counties in Washington State requiring radon mitigation measures in newly-constructed residences and residential additions. Radon is a natural radioactive gas in the ground. It comes from the decay or breakdown of uranium, a radioactive element in rocks and soil. Radon has no odor, color, or taste.

9. Do I have to mitigate my home for radon?: If you are constructing a new home or an addition to an existing one, then you are required to mitigate for radon. At this time there is no requirement to mitigate the existing portion of the home.

10. How do I apply for a manufactured home permit?: For information on how to obtain a permit to install a manufactured (or mobile) home, please see brochure number BP-3 Manufacture Home Permits (PDF).

11. What is an egress window and when is it required?: An egress window is an operable window, which provides a means for emergency escape emergency response access in residential occupancies. Basements in dwelling units and each sleeping room below the fourth story need to have at least one (1) operable window or door which meets the requirements for emergency escape or rescue, and opens directly to the exterior of the building. For more information and size requirements, see brochure number BP-59 Basic Requirements for Emergency Escape (PDF).

12. What hours can construction noise take place?

The following noise disturbances are exempt from the provisions of County Code Section 6.12.010 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. or when conducted beyond one thousand feet of any residence where human beings reside and sleep at any hour.

-Sounds originating from temporary construction sites because of construction activity;

-Sounds originating from forest harvesting and sylvicultural activity;

-Sounds originating from the quarrying, blasting and mining minerals, including, but not limited to, sand, gravel, rock, and clay, as well as the primary reduction and processing of minerals or materials for concrete batching, asphalt mixing, and rock crushers.

Read County Code Section 6.12 for further information.

13. How do I get an address assigned to my property?

To obtain an address for your property, send us your nine-digit parcel number (found on your property tax statement), along with a site plan indicating the location and dimension of all property lines and all existing and proposed structures on the property. Also, indicate the location of the driveway intersection with the county road. Be sure to send us your mailing address and phone number or email so we can send you the new address or call you if we have any questions. Our address is: Spokane County Department of Building and Planning; Attn: Addressing; 1026 West Broadway Avenue; Spokane, WA 99260-0050. View more information:

https://www.spokanecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/659/BP-39-Addressing-PDF

County Ordinance requires property addresses to be conspicuously displayed on a residence or place of business, or adjacent to the driveway or access road serving the building so that it readily identifies the specific property.

Numbers shall be a minimum of four inches in height with a stroke width of a half inch (1/2") and be displayed against a contrasting background. Addresses for buildings more than 100 feet from the public way need to be placed on a sign or post between 3 and 6 feet above the ground and within 25 feet of the right-of-way.

14. Where do I get my electrical permit?

Electrical permits for the unincorporated areas of Spokane County can be obtained from the:

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries

901 N. Monroe Street, Suite 100, Spokane, WA 99201

Phone: 509-324-2640

Toll-free: 1-800-509-8847

TDD: 509-324-2653

15. How high can a fence be?: The height of fences that obstruct sight is limited to 36 inches within residential front and flanking street yards. Cyclone and other fences that do not obstruct sight may be 48 inches in these areas. Fencing is not allowed within the area know as the "clear view triangle" on residential corner lots -contact the public works department for further information on the dimensions of this "triangle".

16. How often can you amend the Comprehensive Plan?: Comprehensive Plan map and text amendments are currently processed on an annual basis - proposed amendments for a given year need to be submitted by March 31 of that year.

17. What are my setbacks?: Most buildings need to be set back from front, rear, and side property lines depending on zoning and construction types. Remember, setbacks are measured from property lines, not curb lines. Zoning setbacks vary by zoning classification, so be sure to check with the Department to verify your property's setback requirements. For single-family residential structures and their accessory buildings, historically to avoid unique construction requirements is to set back the building at least 5 feet from any property lines.

18. What are Critical Areas?: There are four types of 'critical areas' designated by County Ordinance: wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, geo-hazard areas, and critical aquifer recharge areas. The County's Critical Areas Ordinance is intended to help protect and preserve these limited natural resources. The County's Critical Areas Ordinance is intended to help protect and preserve these limited natural resources.
BP-3 Manufactured Home Permits (PDF).

19. What requirements apply within critical Areas?

The Critical Areas Ordinance contains numerous requirements to help protect designated critical areas. The most prevalent include setback-and use- restrictions. Briefly, for wetlands, "buffer" setbacks can range from 25-200 feet, depending on the classification of the wetland; Fish and wildlife habitat requirements regulate uses within 1/4 mile of "point" locations (dens and nests) of priority species and require "buffers" ranging from 25-250 feet of riparian areas adjacent to flowing rivers and some creeks; Geo-hazard areas requirements regulate development on slopes of 30% or greater and Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas limit allowable uses within designated areas to help protect groundwater quality. Please contact the department for further information to determine if these Critical Areas could impact your project.

Read County Code Section 6.12.010.

20. Where can I find information about minimum lot sizes in Spokane County?: Minimum lot sizes in Spokane County are dependent on the zoning of property and can range form 40 acres per dwelling unit to more than 15 dwelling units per acre depending upon the respective zoning designation. Generally speaking, minimum lot sizes outside the Urban Growth Area Boundary are 5 acres or larger and areas inside the Urban Growth Area Boundary can be as small as 5,000 square feet. Variables to minimum lot size may be achieved through cluster developments, but in no case does a cluster development result in more lots or density that specified by the respective zoning designation. Minimum lot sizes and the development standards are found in the Spokane County Zoning Cod (PDF).
Basic Requirements for Emergency Escape (PDF)

21. What are Critical Areas?: There are four types of 'critical areas' designated by County Ordinance: wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, geo-hazard areas, and critical aquifer recharge areas. The County's Critical Areas Ordinance is intended to help protect and preserve these limited natural resources. The County's Critical Areas Ordinance is intended to help protect and preserve these limited natural resources.
Critical Areas Ordinance (PDF)

22. What requirements apply within Critical Areas?: The Critical Areas Ordinance contains numerous requirements to help protect designated critical areas. The most prevalent include setback-and use- restrictions. Briefly, for wetlands, "buffer" setbacks can range from 25-200 feet, depending on the classification of the wetland; Fish and wildlife habitat requirements regulate uses within 1/4 mile of "point" locations (dens and nests) of priority species and require "buffers" ranging from 25-250 feet of riparian areas adjacent to flowing rivers and some creeks; Geo-hazard areas requirements regulate development on slopes of 30% or greater and Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas limit allowable uses within designated areas to help protect groundwater quality. Please contact the department for further information to determine if these Critical Areas could impact your project.

23. Where can I find information about minimum lot sizes in Spokane County?: Minimum lot sizes in Spokane County are dependent on the zoning of property and can range from 40 acres per dwelling unit to more than 15 dwelling units per acre depending upon the respective zoning designation. Generally speaking, minimum lot sizes outside the Urban Growth Area Boundary are 5 acres or larger and areas inside the Urban Growth Area Boundary can be as small as 5,000 square feet. Variables to minimum lot size may be achieved through cluster developments, but in no case does a cluster development result in more lots or density that that specified by the respective zoning designation. Minimum lot sizes and the development standards are found in the Spokane County Zoning Code (PDF).

24. What is Construction Stormwater Permit Coverage?: If your construction project cumulatively disturbs one or more acres of land through clearing, grading, excavating, or stockpiling of fill material, you may need construction Stormwater Permit Coverage from the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE). This applies even if the project is being constructed in phases of less than one acre. Spokane County cannot determine whether Permit Coverage is necessary. It is your responsibility to apply for coverage. For more detailed information, call 360-407-6437 or visit their website.
visit their website.

25. How do I obtain a Food Establishment permit?

Visit the Spokane Regional Health District for Food Permits:

https://srhd.org/cards-permits-inspections

Food Establishment Permit page.