Building Safety in Spokane County, WA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Spokane County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Childcare Center Rules
Unincorporated Spokane County treats a child day-care center serving more than thirty children as a conditional use in the Large Tract Agricultural, Small Tract Agricultural and Forest Lands zones, requiring hearing-examiner approval, a solid six-foot enclosure around any outdoor play area, and compliance with Washington State childcare licensing. Centers serving thirty or fewer children skip the conditional use permit but must sit on a paved road or bus route.
Child Day-Care Center Rules in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.616.240(3)
3.Child day-care center, more than thirty children (LTA, STA, F zones).a.Any outdoor play area shall be completely enclosed with a solid wall or fence to a minimum height of six feet.b.The facility shall meet Washington State childcare licensing requirements.c.The use shall be subject to restrictions and conditions, as may be imposed by the hearing examiner under chapter 14.404.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Spokane County enforces Washington's statewide carbon monoxide alarm mandate as part of the state building code it adopts wholesale under SCC 3.01.030. RCW 19.27.530 required new residential construction to carry CO alarms by 2011 and all other residential occupancies by 2013, exempting only owner-occupied homes lived in before July 26, 2009.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms Required in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsRCW 19.27.530(1),(2); adopted via SCC 3.01.030
(1) By July 1, 2010, the building code council shall adopt rules requiring that all buildings classified as residential occupancies, as defined in the state building code in chapter 51-54 WAC, but excluding owner-occupied single-family residences legally occupied before July 26, 2009, be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. (2)(a) ...by January 1, 2011, all newly constructed buildings classifi...
Building Permits
Spokane County Code 3.02.020 makes it unlawful to erect, alter, repair, move, or demolish any building, structure, mechanical, or plumbing system in the unincorporated county without a separate permit from the building official first. Applications must meet IBC Section 105.3, pay processing, land-use, and plan-review fees, and permits expire three years after issuance.
Building Permit Requirements in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 3.02.020(a)-(c)
(a)General. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, install, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, replace, use or occupy any building, structure, mechanical system or plumbing system regulated by this title, unless exempted by the codes adopted by this title, or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate permit...
Electrical Permits
Spokane County's own building code carves electrical work out of its permitting authority. SCC 3.03.030 deletes the IBC's electrical section, and SCC 3.04.020(b) deletes the IRC's electrical permit exemptions, because Washington's Department of Labor and Industries, not the county, issues electrical permits and inspects wiring for unincorporated Spokane County under RCW 19.28.
Electrical Permits in Spokane County Come from L&I
Some RestrictionsSCC 3.03.030; SCC 3.04.020(b); Spokane County Building & Planning FAQ
IBC sections 101.4.1—Electrical, 101.4.4—Plumbing, 101.4.5—Property Maintenance, and 101.4.7—Energy are deleted. ... R105.2, work exempt from permit, is replaced by IBC section 105.2, as amended by Section 3.03.030(a) of this title. Those provisions of R105.2 pertaining to electrical and plumbing permits are deleted. || Electrical permits for the unincorporated areas of Spokane County can be ob...
Plumbing Permits
Unincorporated Spokane County adopts the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and requires a separate plumbing permit for any plumbing installation tied to a permitted building project. The county Building and Planning Department will not issue that plumbing permit until the building permit itself has been issued, and the director can set added procedures to speed processing.
Plumbing Permits in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 3.07.030
Permits. Permits for plumbing installations in projects requiring building permits shall not be issued prior to the building permit. The director may develop procedures other than those specified in the UPC to facilitate the issuance of plumbing permits.
Building Inspections
Spokane County Code 3.02.050 governs every building inspection in the unincorporated county: passing one never excuses a code violation, and the inspector's sign-off creates no duty to verify lot lines or setbacks. The director may still require a licensed survey before approving construction near a property line.
Building Inspection Rules in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 3.02.050(a)-(b)
(a)Approval. Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this title, requirements thereof or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction or enforced by the department. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate the provisions of this title, requirements thereof or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction or enforced by th...
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