Spokane County, WA Ordinances (2026)

Unincorporated Spokane County regulates noise under SCC Chapter 6.12. Amplified sound and other repetitive noise that disturbs a reasonable person is prohibited, and Washington's WAC 173-60 environmental limits drop 10 dBA at night (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) in residential areas.

Spokane County treats habitual barking as an animal noise nuisance under SCC Title 5 (Animals), enforced by SCRAPS. Howling, whining or barking that unreasonably disturbs people is prohibited at any hour, not just at night.

Under SCC 6.12, amplified sound from a radio, TV, musical instrument or speaker that emanates repeatedly from a residence and disturbs a reasonable person is a noise disturbance. State WAC 173-60 also caps sound crossing into a neighbor's home.

Spokane County applies Washington's WAC 173-60 environmental noise limits. Sound crossing into a residence (Class A EDNA) may not exceed 55 dBA during the day, dropping to 45 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Higher limits apply to commercial (57-60) and industrial (60-70) receiving property.

In unincorporated Spokane County, temporary construction noise is exempt from the noise ordinance only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., or at any hour if the work is more than 1,000 feet from any residence. Outside those hours it can be a violation.

Spokane County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Leaf blowers are treated like any other noise source: they must not create a disturbance under SCC 6.12 and must stay within the WAC 173-60 residential noise limits, which tighten 10 dBA at night.

Motor-vehicle noise in Spokane County is governed by statewide standards in WAC 173-62, not the county noise ordinance (SCC 6.12 exempts vehicles regulated by WAC 173-62). Cars under 10,000 lbs are capped at 72 dBA at 35 mph or less, measured at 50 feet.

Outdoor music, parties and live events in unincorporated Spokane County must not create a noise disturbance under SCC 6.12 and must stay within WAC 173-60 limits. There is no county-issued residential party-noise permit; large events may need county event approval.

Industrial and commercial noise reaching homes in Spokane County is governed by WAC 173-60. An industrial (Class C) source may emit up to 60 dBA at a residence, 65 dBA at commercial property, and 70 dBA at another industrial property, with a 10 dBA night reduction for residential receivers.

Aircraft noise is regulated by the FAA, not by Spokane County. WAC 173-60 expressly exempts aircraft in flight, so the county sets no local aircraft-noise rule. Spokane International Airport (a county-city authority) handles noise programs; complaints go to the airport or FAA.

Unincorporated Spokane County has no standalone short-term-rental ordinance. A whole-home or B&B rental is regulated under the Zoning Code as a 'home industry' (bed-and-breakfast facility), which requires a Conditional Use Permit in residential zones. Hotel/motel including bed-and-breakfast is permitted outright in commercial zones.

A short-term rental in Spokane County collects Washington retail sales tax plus local sales tax on lodging under 30 days, and a special hotel/motel tax under RCW 67.28. The King County convention-center tax does NOT apply to Spokane.

Spokane County has no STR-specific parking count. For a bed-and-breakfast home industry, SCC Title 14 states parking, traffic, and storage requirements 'shall be as approved by the Hearing Examiner' as part of the Conditional Use Permit, alongside the zone's general off-street parking standards.

There is no county STR registry. A host in unincorporated Spokane County registers with the Washington Department of Revenue for a business license and UBI, and reports transient-rental income on the state excise-tax return. Any zoning approval is handled separately by Building and Planning.

Unincorporated Spokane County sets no fixed guest-per-bedroom cap. Occupancy is governed by the building/fire code and by conditions the Hearing Examiner imposes on a bed-and-breakfast Conditional Use Permit. The City of Spokane's 2-per-bedroom-plus-2 rule does not apply to county land.

There is no STR-specific noise rule in the county. A rental's noise is subject to Spokane County's public-disturbance nuisance provisions and Washington's maximum environmental noise limits in WAC 173-60. Home-industry standards even require mechanical equipment to comply with WAC 173-60.

The county does not require a host to be on-site during stays. However, the bed-and-breakfast home industry is a family-operated use: only members of the family residing on the premises, plus no more than two outside employees, may be engaged in it - implying resident operation of the residential-zone use.

Unincorporated Spokane County code does not require a fixed liability-insurance amount to operate a short-term rental. Any insurance condition would come only from a Conditional Use Permit or a hosting platform's own coverage. The widely cited $1,000,000 STR liability figure is a City-of-Spokane requirement, not a county rule.

Unincorporated Spokane County has no blanket primary-residence-only STR mandate, but the bed-and-breakfast pathway is defined as a home industry 'in association with a primary residence.' A B&B home industry is thus tethered to an owner-occupied dwelling; whole-home lodging without that tie is the commercial hotel/motel use.

Unincorporated Spokane County sets no maximum number of rented nights per year for a short-term rental. Because the use runs as a permitted or conditional zoning use rather than a capped STR license, there is no annual night limit. The Hearing Examiner may add operating conditions to a bed-and-breakfast CUP.

Every dwelling in unincorporated Spokane County must provide off-street parking. A single-family or duplex home needs two off-street spaces, and those spaces may be stacked in the driveway. A parking plan is required for new construction.

Spokane County sets no numeric cap on RVs, boats or trailers parked at a home, but an inoperable or damaged RV can become a code-enforceable junk-vehicle nuisance. Living in an RV as a dwelling is limited to licensed RV parks.

Spokane County does not run a residential street-parking permit program in unincorporated areas. Vehicles on the public right-of-way follow state law: an abandoned or unauthorized vehicle can be impounded, and a certified junk vehicle on the road may be removed as a nuisance.

A vehicle a tow operator holds for 120 hours is legally abandoned under state law, and a certified junk vehicle can be removed and disposed of. On private property, Spokane County treats junk vehicles as a nuisance under SCC 6.13, carrying a $250-per-day penalty.

The unincorporated county has no blanket overnight on-street parking ban, but a 2018 chronic-nuisance code and a public-camping ordinance limit living or camping in vehicles. County parks allow overnight camping only where designated (Liberty Lake Regional Park).

Spokane County requires off-street loading space for larger commercial and industrial buildings so delivery trucks do not block streets. Loading spaces must be at least 15 by 60 by 15 feet. Residential uses have no loading requirement.

Spokane County does not have a local ordinance letting residents paint curbs; curb markings on county roads are traffic-control devices controlled by the county and state. Unauthorized curb painting on a public road is not permitted.

Spokane County's zoning code does not set a specific residential commercial-vehicle parking ban. Off-street parking must be permanently available and kept for parking only, and outdoor storage of equipment tied to a business is regulated through the nuisance and zoning standards.

Spokane County has no ordinance setting a length or weight cap on vehicles parked at a residence. Oversized or inoperable vehicles are addressed indirectly through the junk-vehicle nuisance code (SCC 6.13) and the zoning off-street parking standards.

Spokane County's zoning code recognizes electric-vehicle infrastructure as a defined land use. Battery charging, rapid charging and battery-exchange stations must meet state electrical standards under chapter 19.28 RCW and rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.

A recreational fire pit is allowed only if it burns approved fuels and stays no larger than 3 feet across by 2 feet tall. All fire pits are banned during seasonal fire-danger and air-quality burn restrictions, which Spokane County has each summer.

Consumer fireworks are banned in unincorporated Spokane County under Spokane County Code Chapter 3.17 — no sale, possession, or discharge is allowed, even on the state's June 28-July 5 window. Incorporated cities set their own rules.

Burning yard and garden debris is NOT allowed for most residents of Spokane County. Burning garbage and burn barrels are banned statewide. Only residents in a few delegated fire districts may burn natural debris, and never during a burn restriction.

Spokane County has no single fixed defensible-space clearance distance for all homes, but Washington DNR can require abatement of extreme fire hazards on forestland, and county fire districts urge Firewise defensible space around homes in wildland areas.

Washington law (RCW 43.44.110) requires a smoke detection device inside every dwelling unit occupied by someone other than the owner. Owners install them; tenants maintain them and replace batteries. Non-compliance carries a fine of up to $200.

Much of forested Spokane County lies under Washington DNR fire protection. Each summer DNR and county fire officials issue seasonal burn restrictions that prohibit outdoor fires on all state, county, city, and private DNR-protected land during hot, dry conditions.

Backyard campfires and cooking fires are allowed only when no burn restriction is in effect, using clean natural fuels, and kept to 3 feet across by 2 feet tall. During Spokane County's seasonal fire-danger restrictions, all backyard fires and campfires are prohibited.

Washington adopts the International Fire Code statewide. In apartments and other multifamily buildings, LP-gas (propane) cooking devices generally may not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, with a limited exception for small 1-pound cylinders.

Backyard smokers are treated as recreational cooking fires by SRCAA. They may burn only clean, natural (untreated) firewood, charcoal, pellets, propane, or natural gas. During air-quality or fire-danger burn restrictions, solid-fuel (wood/charcoal) smokers may be prohibited.

In single-family yards, propane and charcoal BBQ grilling is generally allowed year-round. In multifamily buildings, Washington's adopted fire code bars grills on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of the building — except small 1-pound-cylinder devices or sprinklered buildings.

Keeping five or more dogs or cats over six months old in unincorporated Spokane County triggers a kennel classification. Five to eight dogs (or five to ten cats) is a private kennel; more than eight dogs or ten cats, or any keeping for compensation, is a commercial kennel.

Spokane County has no ordinance banning residents from feeding wildlife such as deer or waterfowl. Washington state rules govern instead: feeding large wild animals like deer, elk, or bears can be restricted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife under WAC Title 220.

Livestock keeping in unincorporated Spokane County's agricultural and forestry zones is capped at three livestock units per gross acre. A horse, cow, or hog equals one unit; a goat or sheep equals one-half. Barns, pens, and manure must stay 50 feet from neighboring homes (200 feet for swine).

Unincorporated Spokane County prohibits dogs running at large. Off the owner's property a dog must be on a leash, tether, or chain no longer than 8 feet, except in a designated off-leash area. SCRAPS enforces countywide.

In unincorporated Spokane County's agricultural and forestry zones, small animals or fowl are allowed at one per 2,000 square feet of lot area, and large livestock at three livestock units per gross acre. Coops, pens, and manure must sit 50+ feet from neighboring homes.

Beekeeping is allowed as a primary or accessory use on agricultural and forestry lots in unincorporated Spokane County. Hives must sit 25 feet from any right-of-way and 5 feet from side or rear lines, and 50 feet from an adjacent residence. Beekeepers must register hives with Washington State.

Spokane County has no breed-specific ban, and Washington state prohibits municipalities from banning dogs solely by breed. A dog is regulated as dangerous or potentially dangerous based on its behavior, not its breed, under SCC Chapter 5.04.

Unincorporated Spokane County requires an annual license to harbor or own an 'inherently dangerous mammal' (wild cats, bears, wild canids) or dangerous reptile, and only adults 18+ may keep them. Keeping such an animal without a license is a misdemeanor.

Spokane County regulates cats under SCC 5.04.067. Owners must keep cats from roaming while unaltered at six months or older, from trespassing on private property, from menacing people or animals off the owner's property, and from entering food establishments. Cats over six months should be licensed.

Spokane County has no separate 'hoarding' ordinance, but excessive-animal situations are controlled two ways: keeping more than four dogs or cats triggers kennel licensing (SCC 5.04.020), and animal cruelty or neglect is a crime under Washington state law RCW 16.52, enforced by SCRAPS.

In unincorporated Spokane County, residential fences may reach 6 feet; nonresidential fences 8 feet. In a residential front or flanking-street yard, a sight-obscuring fence is capped at 3 feet and a non-sight-obscuring fence at 4 feet.

Spokane County's zoning code sets fence height and clear-view rules but does not resolve who pays for or owns a shared boundary fence. Cost-sharing and boundary-line disputes are governed by Washington state law and private agreement, not the county code.

In unincorporated Spokane County, fences over 7 feet in height require a building permit. Fences at or under 7 feet do not need a building permit, but must still meet the zoning height limits in SCC 14.812.100.

Under the Washington State Building Code adopted by Spokane County, a retaining wall is exempt from a building permit only if it is not over 4 feet high measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, and does not support a surcharge or impound hazardous

Spokane County prohibits barbed wire fences in the Rural Activity Center, Low/Medium/High Density Residential, and Mixed Use zones (with limited utility/institutional exceptions). Electric fences are allowed only outside the urban growth area, for confining animals.

Spokane County requires fences to comply with the clear view triangle so intersections stay visible. No sight obstruction, including fencing, is permitted within a clear view triangle established by the county Division of Engineering.

Spokane County's zoning code does not mandate a specific fence material for standard residential fences, but it distinguishes sight-obscuring from non-sight-obscuring fences and allows hedges or shrubbery in lieu of a fence. Electric and barbed wire fencing are separately restricted.

Maximum building height in Spokane County's Low Density and Low Density Plus Residential zones is 35 feet; Medium Density is 40 feet; High Density is 50 feet (65 feet for colleges/universities). Height is measured from average finished grade to the highest point of the roof.

In Spokane County's urban residential zones, the front/flanking-street and side setback for a residence is 15 feet (20 feet for a garage). The rear setback is 5 feet plus 1 foot for each foot of building height over 25 feet, up to 15 feet.

In Spokane County, maximum building coverage is 55% of lot area in the Low Density and Low Density Plus Residential zones, 65% in Medium Density Residential, and 70% in High Density Residential, under SCC 14.606.300, Table 606-3.

Unincorporated Spokane County has no general urban tree-removal permit for private yards. A permit-style review is triggered when the tree is inside a mapped critical area or buffer under the Critical Areas Ordinance (SCC Title 11), or when it is a required landscape tree that must be replaced if removed.

Residential pools in unincorporated Spokane County must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with a self-closing, self-latching gate under state-adopted IRC Appendix G. Public/WRF pool barriers must meet the taller WAC 246-260-031 heights.

In unincorporated Spokane County an above-ground pool holding water deeper than 24 inches is treated like any pool: it needs a building permit and a compliant safety barrier under state-adopted IRC Appendix G. The pool wall can serve as the barrier if it meets the height and access rules.

Backyard residential pools need a Spokane County building permit; the barrier is inspected. Public and shared (WRF) pools additionally require a Washington DOH construction permit before building and an operating permit before use.

Beyond the barrier, Spokane-area pools follow state water-recreation safety rules. Public/WRF pools must have compliant barriers, gate latches, and safety equipment under WAC 246-260; residential pools follow IRC Appendix G barrier and entrapment protections.

A private residential hot tub or spa with a lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is generally exempt from the pool barrier under the state-adopted IRC. Public or shared spa pools are regulated as water recreation facilities under WAC 246-260.

Spokane County does not require a permit to trim trees on your own private land. Owners must, however, keep vegetation from blocking road sight distance, and required landscaping trees must stay healthy. Public Works trims right-of-way trees affecting visibility.

State law (RCW 17.10) requires every Spokane County property owner to eradicate Class A noxious weeds and control designated Class B and C weeds on their land. The Spokane County Noxious Weed Control Board, established in 1970, enforces it through notice and, if ignored, county-performed control at the owner's cost.

Spokane County sets no countywide turf-grass height limit for private yards. The enforceable duty targets noxious weeds under state law (RCW 17.10) and code-required landscaping, which must be kept healthy. Overgrown lots can still be pursued as a nuisance.

You generally do not need a Spokane County permit to remove a tree on your own residential lot. The exception is land inside a mapped critical area or buffer (wetlands, fish/wildlife habitat, steep slopes), where clearing vegetation requires review under the Critical Areas Ordinance.

Collecting rooftop rainwater is legal in Spokane County without a water-right permit. Under Washington Department of Ecology's 2009 policy, on-site storage and beneficial use of rooftop-collected rainwater is exempt from the RCW 90.03 permit process, as long as the water is used on the collection property.

Spokane County has no ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on residential property. Synthetic lawns are allowed. In regulated developments, landscaping must still meet the healthy-vegetation and design intent of SCC 14.806, which favors living, water-conserving plantings.

Spokane County itself publishes no countywide lawn-watering schedule. Outdoor watering rules are set by each water purveyor: the City of Spokane and local water districts (for example Vera Water & Power, Spokane County Water District 3). Check with your provider, since rules and drought triggers vary by district.

Spokane County's Zoning Code actively favors native vegetation. Chapter 14.806 states that whenever possible native vegetation should be used and existing vegetation retained, and it encourages xeriscaping for water conservation. There is no ordinance restricting a homeowner from planting native species.

Home composting is allowed in Spokane County and is not separately permitted. Compost must be managed so it does not become a nuisance, attract vermin, or create odors. Spokane County Regional Solid Waste also runs regional composting and clean-green programs for yard debris.

Spokane County's nuisance code sets no fixed lawn-height limit for unincorporated properties. Overgrowth is handled mainly through the state noxious-weed law (RCW 17.10) via the county weed board, plus the nuisance rules on accumulated dead or decaying plant material.

Letting solid waste (household garbage, junk, debris, appliances, scrap) pile up on your unincorporated Spokane County property is a declared nuisance under SCC 6.13.040 unless it is securely stored in proper receptacles until collected.

In unincorporated Spokane County, letting your property fall into a blighting condition is a nuisance. SCC Chapter 6.13 makes anyone in charge maintain their property free of nuisances that depress land values or endanger community health and safety.

Abandoned property is itself a declared nuisance in unincorporated Spokane County. SCC 6.13.040(2)(K) lists 'any abandoned property' as a nuisance, and owners keep a running duty to maintain vacant land free of hazards and junk.

Spokane County has no dedicated ordinance licensing or limiting residential garage sales in unincorporated areas. Occasional yard sales are treated as incidental household activity; recurring commercial sales can raise home-occupation zoning questions under SCC Title 14.

Spokane County zoning allows two tiers of home-based business in residential zones: a low-impact "home profession" (often permitted outright) and a larger "home industry" (usually a conditional use permit). Both must keep the residential character of the property.

A home profession in unincorporated Spokane County requires a home-profession permit from the county Division of Building and Planning. A larger home industry requires a conditional use permit approved by the Hearing Examiner after a public hearing.

Spokane County limits home-business signs strictly. A home profession may have one unlighted sign no larger than 5 square feet, placed flat against the residence. A home industry may have one unlighted attached or detached sign up to 16 square feet.

Selling home-baked or other non-hazardous foods from a Spokane-area home requires a Washington State Department of Agriculture cottage food permit. Products must be made in your home kitchen and sold directly to consumers, with annual gross sales capped at $35,000.

Running a child care in your Spokane-area home requires a Washington DCYF family home license. A licensed family home provider may care for up to 12 children at a time. Providing care without a license triggers a stop order and daily penalties.

Certificated haulers provide the containers, and materials are collected 'on the improved public road nearest to the residence' when properly set out on the designated collection day (SCC 8.58.040). Haulers must keep loads contained to prevent littering.

In urban unincorporated Spokane County, certified haulers must collect co-mingled recyclables from every eligible single-family residence at least every other week, on the same day as garbage, and provide the recycling containers (SCC 8.58.040).

Spokane County runs a mandatory regional solid-waste system. Solid waste generated in unincorporated areas must go to a system disposal site, and it is unlawful to fail to deliver, or ensure lawful delivery of, that waste (SCC 8.56.160).

Bulky and 'problem' wastes go to county transfer stations under set rules. SCC 8.56.220 limits loose tires to five per load, bars unaccepted materials, and the county charges by weight, with extra fees for uncovered loads.

Dumping litter or solid waste on any public or private land in unincorporated Spokane County is prohibited by SCC 8.26.020 and Washington's litter law RCW 70A.200.060. Penalties scale from a civil infraction up to a gross misdemeanor by volume.

In unincorporated Spokane County, a one-story detached storage shed under 200 sq ft needs no building permit, but must still meet zoning setbacks. Total accessory-structure floor area is capped by lot size under Zoning Code Chapter 14.606.

Spokane County allows one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per single-family lot. Detached ADUs are capped at 800 sq ft on the ground floor and 2 bedrooms, on lots of at least 10,000 sq ft. Attached ADUs are capped at 900 sq ft.

Converting a garage or attached space into living quarters is treated as creating an accessory dwelling unit or added living area under Zoning Code Chapter 14.606. It needs a building permit and, if a separate unit, must meet ADU standards and keep required off-street parking.

Spokane County has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A permanent tiny house on a foundation is regulated as a single-family dwelling or accessory dwelling unit under Zoning Code Chapter 14.606; a tiny house on wheels is treated as a recreational vehicle and can't be used as a permanent residence in most

Carports are accessory structures under Spokane County Zoning Code Chapter 14.606 and must meet residential setbacks (typically 5 ft side and rear) and lot-coverage limits. Garage and carport front/flanking-street setbacks are measured the same for attached and detached structures.

Spokane County Zoning Code has no separate garage-sale sign category. Small temporary signs are exempt from a sign permit, but they may not be placed in the public right-of-way, must not block sight distance, and can't resemble traffic-control devices.

Political (campaign) signs do not require a sign permit in unincorporated Spokane County under Zoning Code Chapter 14.804. They must not sit in the public right-of-way, block sight distance, or violate the clear-view triangle rules, and cannot resemble traffic-control devices.

Spokane County Zoning Code Chapter 14.826 requires that any outdoor lighting be positioned and shielded so it does not shine directly onto a neighboring residence. Parking-lot lighting must be down-shielded to avoid glare onto adjacent properties and rights-of-way.

Under Spokane County Zoning Code 14.826.100, outdoor lights must be shielded so they do not shine directly onto a neighbor's home. Parking-lot fixtures must also be down-shielded to prevent glare spilling onto adjacent properties or rights-of-way.

Spokane County Parks are governed by the County Park Regulations in Spokane County Code Chapter 6.14, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2015. Parks close after posted hours, and being in a closed park or violating the posted rules is an infraction enforced by park staff and the