9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Spokane County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
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.
RCW 17.10.140(1)
Every owner must perform or cause to be performed those acts as may be necessary to: (a) Eradicate all class A noxious weeds; (b) Control and prevent the spread of all class B noxious weeds designated for control in that region within and from the owner's property.
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.
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.
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.
RCW 17.10.170
If the owner does not take action to control the noxious weeds in accordance with the notice, the county board may control them, or cause their being controlled, at the expense of the owner. The amount of the expense constitutes a lien against the property and may be enforced by proceedings on the lien.
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
1 cities in Spokane County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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