Spokane County, WA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

16 is to set forth certain provisions to mitigate the hazards associated with wildfires in the unincorporated areas of the county, applying the standard countywide rather than to a mapped hazard zone. 020 then sets four concrete construction standards. Roofs must carry a minimum of Class C rated covering, and the section specifically overrides private land-use controls: subdivision covenants, conditions, and restrictions shall not require the use of roof covering materials that do not meet Class C requirements, so an HOA cannot force homeowners onto a less fire-resistant roof than the county allows.

Decks and balconies, cantilevered or standard, need a minimum nominal two inch wood decking or the underside protected with materials approved for one-hour fire-resistive construction, or noncombustible construction as defined by the IBC or IRC. Every attic or roof vent must be screened with a corrosion-resistant, noncombustible wire mesh with the mesh not to exceed nominal one-quarter inch, keeping embers out of attic spaces during a wildfire. Chimneys, flues, and vents serving wood-burning appliances or fireplaces need a UL-rated spark arrester, or twelve-gauge welded or woven wire mesh or other noncombustible material with openings not exceeding one-half inch, to stop sparks from igniting nearby vegetation or roofing.

030 lets the building official modify any of these standards on a site-specific basis, but only if the fire protection authority with jurisdiction over the property first approves the modification in writing; the building official cannot waive a wildfire construction standard alone.