Jurisdiction
ADUs in the City of Spokane
These rules apply to lots inside Spokane city limits. The City of Spokane is a Growth Management Act city in an Urban Growth Area, so Washington HB 1337 applies. Several older city figures may be superseded, so each specific below is flagged for verification against the current city source.
How to use this page
Every regulatory specific on this page is shown as a verification placeholder until it is confirmed against the City of Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services materials. We do this deliberately: ADU rules carry real cost and legal consequences, and an older 2016 city overview is likely stale after HB 1337. Do not rely on a figure here until the operator has replaced its placeholder with a cited value.
City of Spokane ADU rules at a glance
| Rule | Current City of Spokane standard |
|---|---|
| Allowed ADU types | [VERIFY: operator to confirm which ADU types are permitted (detached, attached, junior ADU) from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
| Maximum ADUs per lot | [VERIFY: operator to confirm the maximum number of ADUs per lot after HB 1337 (a 2016 city overview referenced one per lot, likely superseded) from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
| Maximum ADU size | [VERIFY: operator to confirm the maximum ADU size and any percent-of-primary-dwelling cap from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
| Maximum height | [VERIFY: operator to confirm the maximum ADU height from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
| Setbacks | [VERIFY: operator to confirm front, side, and rear setbacks for an ADU from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
| Off-street parking | [VERIFY: operator to confirm whether off-street parking is required and any near-transit exemption under HB 1337 from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
| Owner-occupancy | [VERIFY: operator to confirm whether owner-occupancy is required, given HB 1337 limits on such requirements from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
| Permit fees and any system development charges | [VERIFY: operator to confirm current ADU permit fees and any applicable system development charges from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)] |
The HB 1337 stale-data flag
Washington HB 1337 (2023) directed Growth Management Act jurisdictions to update local ADU rules, with a compliance timeline in 2025. Older City of Spokane documents written before that update may no longer reflect current limits on ADU count, owner-occupancy, or near-transit parking. Where an older city figure conflicts with HB 1337, treat the older figure as suspect until confirmed. Our HB 1337 guide explains the law in plain language.
The permit process in the City of Spokane
ADU permitting in the city runs through the City of Spokane Development Services Center, which reviews zoning and building requirements and issues the permits. The exact submittal requirements, review steps, and fees should be confirmed with the city. Our homeowner permit guide walks through what to expect without copying the application form.
City of Spokane Development Services Center address: [VERIFY: operator to confirm the current Development Services Center address (a city document lists 808 West Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA 99201-3336) from https://my.spokanecity.org (Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services)]
City of Spokane ADU questions
- Do I need a permit to build an ADU in the City of Spokane?
- Yes. An ADU is a building project and requires permits from the City of Spokane. The builder you are matched with manages the permit process with the city. See our Spokane ADU permits guide for the steps.
- How many ADUs can I have on one lot in the City of Spokane?
- Washington HB 1337 (2023) changed how many ADUs jurisdictions must allow, and an older 2016 city overview that referenced a single-ADU limit may be out of date. Confirm the current count for your lot with the City of Spokane before relying on any figure.
- Is owner occupancy required for a Spokane ADU after HB 1337?
- HB 1337 limits owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs in covered jurisdictions, so older owner-occupancy language may no longer apply. Confirm the current City of Spokane rule before you plan around it.
References and primary sources
Regulatory and fee specifics on this page should be confirmed against the current primary sources below. Items marked VERIFY are pending operator confirmation before promotion.
- City of Spokane (my.spokanecity.org) Spokane Municipal Code and Development Services ADU materials.
- City of Spokane documents (static.spokanecity.org) Permit and overview documents. Confirm any 2016 figures are superseded.
- Washington HB 1337 and RCW 36.70A State ADU law and the Growth Management Act.
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