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Spokane County, WA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Spokane County, WA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Governing chapter: SCC 3.20, Flood Damage Protection
Permit required for: any development in flood hazard area
Administered by: county engineer/public works director
Penalty: up to $1,000 fine, 90 days jail
Appeal deadline: 14 days to hearing examiner
FIRM basis: Flood Insurance Study dated July 6, 2010

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Spokane County, WA.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Spokane County, WA on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

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.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

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.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).

Full Breakdown

16 RCW. 210, based on the Flood Insurance Study dated July 6, 2010, and later revisions. 300 sets the actual trigger: a floodplain development permit is required before any development, structure, manufactured home, works or fill is undertaken, constructed, located, extended, connected or altered anywhere in that mapped area. 620. 350. 710. 420, and the examiner's decision can be challenged in superior court within twenty-one days.

Violations & Fines

Building, filling or developing in a special flood hazard area without the required permit, or breaking a permit condition, is a misdemeanor under SCC 3.20.720, punishable by up to ninety days in county jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The county engineer/public works director can also issue a written stop-work order under 3.20.730 ordering the responsible parties to halt work immediately until authorized to proceed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit just to build a shed on flood-prone land?

Yes. SCC 3.20.300 requires a floodplain development permit before any development, structure, or fill is undertaken, constructed, located, extended, connected or altered on any property that is even partly inside a mapped special flood hazard area, sheds included.

Who reviews the application?

The Spokane County engineer/public works director, designated as coordinator under SCC 3.20.330, reviews plans, elevation certificates and engineering certifications, and can attach conditions or waive some standards where the project is reasonably safe from flooding under 3.20.340(a)(3).

What if I disagree with a permit condition?

File a written appeal with an appeal fee within fourteen days of the decision under SCC 3.20.420(a); the hearing examiner holds a public hearing and can affirm, reverse or modify the determination, with further appeal to superior court available within twenty-one days.

Sources & Official References

[1]Spokane County Code Ch. 3.20, Flood Damage Protection

Other rules in Spokane County

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All Spokane County rules

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