Spokane County, WA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Spokane County road engineer
- Bond requirement
- Surety bond may be required (9.40.030)
- Restoration duty
- Permittee restores roadway to original condition
- Unpermitted work penalty
- Misdemeanor under SCC 9.40.090
- Governing resolution
- Res. 65-168 (1965)
Summary
Anyone wanting to install anything or do work within a Spokane County road right-of-way must first get a permit from the county road engineer under SCC 9.40.010, describing the location, nature and timing of the work. The engineer can require a surety bond and impose special conditions, and unpermitted work is a misdemeanor.
Any person desiring to make an installation or do work within the public road rights-of-way under the jurisdiction of Spokane County shall before commencing any such installation or work make application to the county road engineer stating fully the location, nature, type and/or extent of such proposed installation or work and how and when such installation or work is to be accomplished and shall not proceed with such installation or work until an authorizing permit has been issued by the county road engineer...The violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor.
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
40 of the Spokane County Code, dating to Resolution 65-168 of 1965, governs private installations and work within public road rights-of-way under county jurisdiction. 010 requires anyone wanting to install something or perform work in the right-of-way to apply to the county road engineer first, describing the location, nature, type and extent of the proposed work and how and when it will be done; the work can't start until the engineer issues a permit. 020 authorizes the road engineer to check applications, inspect proposed work, and set the rules, regulations and conditions attached to any permit issued.
030 lets the engineer require the permittee to post a surety bond guaranteeing satisfactory completion, payment of county costs, and indemnification of the county against damage to streets, pavement, sidewalks or curbs, and against claims for injury or property damage arising from the work. 060 requires the permittee to restore any disturbed roadway to its original condition, at the permittee's full cost, with the county allowed to choose between letting the permittee hire a private contractor or having county crews do the pavement replacement and bill the permittee. 050 lets the engineer revoke a permit, suspend work, or complete the work at the permittee's expense if the work isn't progressing properly.
Violations & Fines
Doing installation work or other work in a Spokane County road right-of-way without first obtaining a permit from the county road engineer is a misdemeanor under Section 9.40.090. The county road engineer can also revoke an issued permit, suspend ongoing work, or have the work completed by the county at the permittee's expense and against the permittee's bond if the work is being performed improperly or the permittee fails to comply with the engineer's requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a driveway approach or utility line in a Spokane County road right-of-way?
Can Spokane County require a bond for right-of-way work?
What happens if I dig up a county road without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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