Environmental Rules in Spokane County, WA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Spokane County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Spokane County charges every developed parcel in unincorporated areas an annual stormwater service fee based on impervious surface area. Residential lots pay a flat equivalent residential unit (ERU) rate, currently $48.00 and rising to $84.00 by 2029, billed through the county treasurer.
Stormwater Utility Fees in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 9.70.050(a),(b)(1)
(a)Service charges imposed by this chapter shall be based on the relative contribution of increased stormwater runoff from a given parcel to the stormwater management system... (b)(1)Residential parcels as defined in this chapter shall receive a flat rate service charge based on the average area of impervious characteristics of residential parcels in Spokane County. This shall equal the rate fo...
Erosion Control
Spokane County requires a stormwater pollution prevention plan and erosion and sediment control best management practices for major land-disturbing activities under SCC 9.14.185, covering projects disturbing an acre or more or adding 5,000 square feet of impervious surface. The county engineer administers and enforces the standard, which applies even when no county permit is required.
Erosion and Sediment Control in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 9.14.185(1)-(3)
The purpose of the requirements of this chapter is to control soil erosion and sedimentation through the use of temporary and permanent structural as well as non-structural erosion and sediment control (ESC) practices..."Major land-disturbing activity" means a land-disturbing activity greater than or equal to one acre of disturbed area or the creation or addition of impervious surface area grea...
Flood Zones
Any development, structure, manufactured home, fill or work placed within a mapped area of special flood hazard in unincorporated Spokane County needs a floodplain development permit first, under SCC 3.20.300. The county engineer/public works director administers the program under Chapter 3.20, adopted to meet FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program and RCW 86.16.
Floodplain Development Permit in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 3.20.300
3.20.300 - Floodplain development permit required. A floodplain development permit shall be obtained before any development, structure, manufactured home, works or fill is undertaken, constructed, located, extended, connected or altered on any property all or a portion of which is located in any area of special flood hazard established in Section 3.20.210.
Boat Dock Permits
Unincorporated Spokane County lists floating docks, boat mooring, and buoys as uses permitted without county review under the critical areas ordinance, SCC 11.20.030, Table 11.20.030A, even inside wetland, fish and wildlife habitat, and geologically hazardous area buffers. That exemption covers only the critical areas chapter: a shoreline permit, floodplain review, or state hydraulic project approval can still apply.
Floating Docks and Boat Moorage in Spokane County
Light RestrictionsSCC 11.20.030, Table 11.20.030A
1.A "nuisance" consists of performing an unlawful act, or omitting to perform a duty, or permitting an act or condition to occur or exist which unreasonably interferes with, annoys, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, or safety of others, or creates, maintains, or permits the existence or continuance of any of the specific nuisances identified in this section... Uses and activiti...
Defensible Space
Spokane County requires wildfire defensible space only within rural cluster developments (RCDs), the county's clustered-lot subdivision option in the Rural Traditional, Rural Conservation, Urban Reserve and Rural-5 zones. Under SCC 14.820.120(8), the fire district or the county building and planning department can require an RCD to establish and complete a defensible space, including removing wildfire fuels, before any certificate of occupancy is issued for a structure in the cluster.
Wildfire Defensible Space in Spokane County Rural Clusters
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.820.120(8)
8.Consistent with the wildfire protection plan, the fire district and/or the department may require the establishment of a wildfire defensible space within the rural residential cluster(s). The defensible space and the modification/removal of wildfire fuels within the defensible space must be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for each structure.
Flood Elevation Requirements
Spokane County requires new and substantially improved buildings in a mapped flood hazard area to sit at least one foot above the base flood elevation, the Flood Protection Elevation defined in SCC 3.20.100. Residential structures must clear that freeboard at the lowest floor under SCC 3.20.610(a), while manufactured homes and nonresidential buildings face the same one-foot minimum.
Flood Protection Elevation Freeboard in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 3.20.100; 3.20.610(a)
"Flood Protection Elevation" means one foot above the base flood elevation. ... 3.20.610(a) New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure within areas of special flood hazard shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated a minimum of one foot above the base flood elevation. New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure outside ...
All Spokane County ordinances
See every category we cover for Spokane County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Spokane County Ordinance Hub →