City of Spearman

A zoning clearance permit is required for new construction. A zoning clearance permit is required before any change in the use of land, a building, or a structure after passage of the zoning ordinance. A floodplain development permit is required where the flood-damage-prevention ordinance applies. A special use permit may also be required for uses handled under Section 612 of the zoning ordinance, but the special use permit is not itself authorization to develop, construct, reconstruct, alter, or move.

Note: No public exempt-work list was found for Spearman in the sources reviewed.

Building code

Spearman's public code library includes a zoning ordinance and a flood-damage-prevention ordinance. Spearman's substandard-building regulations publicly reference the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code definition of an unsafe or dangerous building.

Permit validity

No public expiration rule was found for zoning clearance permits. Special use permits expire if the authorized use is not established within one year from the date granted. The flood ordinance's definition of start of construction references permit-based work starting within 180 days of the permit date.

Owner-builder

The zoning clearance application may be made by the owner or proposed occupant.

Contractor requirements

No public local contractor registration or local contractor licensing program was identified on the official city site or in the sources reviewed.

1. 01
   Determine whether the project needs a Spearman zoning clearance permit. Spearman's zoning ordinance requires a zoning clearance permit for new construction and for changes in land use or building use.
2. 02
   Submit the zoning clearance permit application to the city manager/agent. The attached city form asks for the owner name, property address, description of proposed work, and whether a plot plan is attached.
3. 03
   Include accompanying material. The zoning ordinance requires a plot plan drawn to scale showing lot dimensions, the size and location of the building to be erected, and other information needed to show compliance.
4. 04
   Pay the zoning clearance permit fee before issuance. The ordinance says the City Council establishes the fee, but no public fee amount was found.
5. 05
   If the site is in a special flood hazard area, also submit a floodplain development permit application to the floodplain administrator. The city manager is the floodplain administrator, and the ordinance allows the city to require plans in duplicate, elevation data, floodproofing information, and drainage / watercourse information.
6. 06
   Wait for the zoning clearance decision. The ordinance says the city manager/agent shall issue or deny the zoning clearance permit within 10 business days.

Typical processing time: Zoning clearance permit decision within 10 business days. No separate floodplain review timeline was posted.

Source: City of Spearman. The public ordinance record assigns zoning-clearance and floodplain duties to the City Manager. ↗

Typical sequence: Floodplain review and permit administration are assigned to the city manager as floodplain administrator. No public vertical-construction inspection sequence was posted.