Spokane requires grading permits under SMC 17F.070 for earthwork exceeding 50 cubic yards or 500 sq ft of disturbance. Steep slopes (over 30%) trigger SMC 17E.030 critical-area review. Drainage must comply with the Spokane Regional Stormwater Manual.
Under Spokane Municipal Code 17F.070 (adopting the International Building Code Appendix J), a grading permit is required when earthwork moves more than 50 cubic yards of material, disturbs more than 500 square feet, or alters drainage patterns affecting neighboring properties. Slopes over 30% (steep slope hazard areas) and erosion-prone soils are regulated as critical areas under SMC 17E.030, requiring geotechnical evaluation. Drainage must comply with the Spokane Regional Stormwater Manual: runoff cannot be concentrated onto neighboring properties, and infiltration is the preferred disposal method due to the sole-source aquifer. Basalt bedrock in parts of Spokane complicates infiltration design. Grading within critical-area buffers requires SEPA review.
Unpermitted grading: stop-work order, restoration, fines up to $1,000/day. Geotechnical failures causing off-site damage: civil liability.
Spokane, WA
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