Spokane Valley, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Single-family height cap
- 35 feet (R-1 through R-4)
- MFR height cap
- 50 feet
- Measured from
- Average finished grade
- Measured to
- Average height of highest roof
- Governing table
- Table 19.70-1, SVMC § 19.70.020
Summary
Spokane Valley limits residential building height to 35 feet in the R-1 through R-4 single-family zones and 50 feet in the multifamily residential (MFR) zone under Table 19.70-1. Height is measured from average finished grade to the average height of the highest roof surface, not to the ridge.
Table 19.70-1 – Residential Standards R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 MFR(1) Minimum
... Maximum ...
Building Height(5) 35' 35' 35' 35' 50'
Notes:
(5) The vertical distance from the average finished grade to the average height of the highest roof surface.
Full Breakdown
70-1 sets a flat 35-foot maximum building height across all four single-family zones, R-1 (Single-Family Residential Estate), R-2 (Suburban), R-3, and R-4 (Urban), and allows an extra 15 feet, to 50 feet, in the Multifamily Residential (MFR) zone. Footnote 5 to the table defines exactly how that height is measured: 'the vertical distance from the average finished grade to the average height of the highest roof surface,' so the measurement runs from grade, not the lowest point of the foundation, to an averaged roofline rather than the ridge.
010. 75 SVMC, which can compress the standard 50-foot MFR height allowance near a lower-density boundary. Builders proposing anything close to the cap should confirm the finished-grade calculation with the building official before framing the roof, since an as-built survey showing an average roof height over the table's limit forces a redesign rather than a variance.
Violations & Fines
A design that exceeds the Table 19.70-1 height cap for its zone is rejected at plan review under SVMC § 24.40.010, which requires every project to conform to Title 24 before a permit issues. A structure built over height without City sign-off is treated as a Title 19/24 code violation under SVMC Chapter 17.100, exposing the owner to a notice and order, civil penalties, and a stop-work order until the roof is brought back into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be built in Spokane Valley?
How is building height measured under Spokane Valley's code?
Is the MFR zone's 50-foot height limit ever reduced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane Valley
Compare Spokane Valley to another location·View the Washington building setbacks & zoning overview
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