County Building Permits
Spokane County, WA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Spokane County, Washington. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Spokane County, Town of Rockford, and Town of Spangle.
- Department
- Spokane County Building & Planning
- Address
- 1026 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260
- Phone
- (509) 477-3675
- Website
- https://www.spokanecounty.org/
Online Permit Portal
Platform: SmartGov Community • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Use Spokane County Interactive Map to confirm your property is in unincorporated County jurisdiction.
- Create account on SmartGov Community portal.
- Submit application online with all required documents.
- Gather required information: Parcel number, legal description, street address (if assigned), site plan, foundation plans, structural details.
- Project Coordinator contacts applicant via email when fees are ready to be paid.
- Pay processing and plan review fees prior to permit application being routed for review (effective July 1, 2025).
- Application routed for review after fees are paid.
- Request inspections online at www.spokanecounty.org/permits or by phone at (509) 477-3675.
Typical processing time: Processing time varies by project complexity; contact County for estimates.
General Requirements
A building permit is required for all construction in unincorporated Spokane County.
Required Documents
- Parcel number of proposed site
- Legal description of proposed site (from property tax statement or County Assessor)
- Street address (assigned at permit application if none exists)
- Site plan
- Foundation plans, floor plans, elevations, cross sections, structural details (minimum 11x17, 1/8-inch scale)
- Truss and beam specifications
- Footing calculations
- Mechanical and ventilation forms
- Washington State Energy Code compliance forms
- Permit validity
- Governed by International Codes.
- Building code
- 2021 International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fire Code, Uniform Plumbing Code with Washington State amendments
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders must comply with Washington State L&I registration and County requirements.
- Contractor requirements
- Washington State L&I registration required.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Spokane County Building & Planning to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Online portal at www.spokanecounty.org/permits (online)
- (509) 477-3675 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Contact County for inspection request procedures.
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday during business hours
- Time windows
- Inspection timing varies.
Typical inspection sequence: Required inspections: Foundation, framing, mechanical, plumbing, electrical (through WA State L&I), final.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fire Code, Uniform Plumbing Code with Washington State amendments
- Verify contractor license: WA L&I Contractor Lookup
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Septic Systems
- Spokane Regional Health District
- Sewer Information
- Floodplain/Curb Cuts/Driveways
- Washington State Electrical Permits (L&I)
- Clean Air
- License lookup guide: Washington Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Washington Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Washington hub: Washington Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Spokane County Building & Planning before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Spokane County, WA?
- A building permit is required for all construction in unincorporated Spokane County.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Spokane County, WA?
- 1. Use Spokane County Interactive Map to confirm your property is in unincorporated County jurisdiction. 2. Create account on SmartGov Community portal. 3. Submit application online with all required documents. 4. Gather required information: Parcel number, legal description, street address (if assigned), site plan, foundation plans, structural details. 5. Project Coordinator contacts applicant via email when fees are ready to be paid. 6. Pay processing and plan review fees prior to permit application being routed for review (effective July 1, 2025). 7. Application routed for review after fees are paid. 8. Request inspections online at www.spokanecounty.org/permits or by phone at (509) 477-3675.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Spokane County, WA?
- Typical processing time is Processing time varies by project complexity; contact County for estimates..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Spokane County, WA?
- The following work is generally exempt: Residential accessory buildings: Single story and less than 200 square feet; Other exemptions per adopted International Codes. Note: Note: Fences over 6 feet in height require building permits in unincorporated Spokane County.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Spokane County, WA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Online portal at www.spokanecounty.org/permits, (509) 477-3675. Contact County for inspection request procedures..
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