Home Business in Spokane County, WA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Spokane County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
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.
Home Business Zoning in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.300.100 (Definitions)
Home Profession: A profession or craft... carried on within a residence by the occupants, which activity is clearly incidental to the use of said residence as a dwelling and does not change the residential character of the dwelling or neighborhood, and is conducted in such a manner as to not give any outward appearance of a business.
Signage Rules
A Spokane County "home industry" may put up exactly one sign identifying the business, and that sign must be unlighted and no larger than 16 square feet. SCC 14.616.230(9)(d) sets the limit; the operation must also stay family-run and keep unrelated retail off the premises.
Home Industry Sign Capped at 16 Square Feet
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.616.230(9)(d),(a),(c),(f),(j)
9.Home industry (LTA, STA, F zones).a.The property shall retain its residential appearance and character....c.Only members of the family residing on the premises, and no more than two employees outside of the family, may be engaged in the home industry.d.One attached or detached sign identifying the home industry shall be allowed. The sign shall be unlighted and shall not exceed sixteen square ...
Customer Traffic Restrictions
A "home industry" (a broad-scope home business or bed-and-breakfast operating in agricultural or forest zones) does not get fixed customer-parking numbers. SCC 14.616.230(9)(h) instead lets the hearing examiner set parking, traffic and storage conditions case by case when it approves the required conditional use permit.
Home Industry Parking and Traffic Rules
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.616.230(9)(h),(c),(i),(j)
9.Home industry (LTA, STA, F zones).a.The property shall retain its residential appearance and character.b.The use shall be carried on in a primary residence or may be allowed in accessory detached structures which are not, in total, larger than two times the gross floor area of the primary residence.c.Only members of the family residing on the premises, and no more than two employees outside o...
Cottage Food Operations
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.
Cottage Food Rules (WSDA)
Some RestrictionsRCW 69.22.030; RCW 69.22.050(1)(a)
All cottage food operations must be permitted every two years by the department on forms developed by the department. [The] annual gross sales of cottage food products may not exceed $35,000.
Home Daycare
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.
Home Daycare Rules (WA DCYF)
Some RestrictionsRCW 43.216.010(1)(c)
"Family day care provider" and "family home provider" mean a child care provider who regularly provides early childhood education and early learning services for not more than 12 children at any given time in the provider's home in the family living quarters.
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