Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.111 Residential Zones

Section 17C.111.420 Outdoor Spaces

1. Purpose.

To create pedestrian friendly, usable areas through the use of plazas, courtyards and other outdoors spaces for the enjoyment and health of the residents.

2. Outdoor Spaces Implementation.

1. 1. Each multifamily development shall set provide a minimum of forty-eight square feet of outdoor open space area for each living unit in the complex, including those units occupied by the owner or building management personnel. Private outdoor spaces can count towards this outdoor common space provision. (R)

1. 2. Ground Level Units.

The outdoor area for ground level units is a type of private outdoor space and must be directly accessible from the unit. The area must be surfaced with lawn, pavers, decking or sport court paving which allows the area to be used for recreational purposes. User amenities, such as tables, benches, trees, planter boxes, garden plots, drinking fountains, spas or pools, may be placed in the outdoor area. It may be covered, such as a covered patio, but it may not be fully enclosed. (R)

1. 3. Upper Level Units.

Upper level units are a type of private outdoor space. For upper level units, the required outdoor area may be provided individually, such as by balconies, or combined into a larger area. If combined into a larger area, it must comply with the following requirements.(R)

1. 1. 1. The total amount of required outdoor area for upper level units is the cumulative amount of the required area per dwelling unit for individual areas, minus any upper level units that provide individual outdoor areas (if provided). However, a combined required outdoor area must comply with the minimum area and dimension requirements for combined outdoor areas.

1. 1. 2. The combined outdoor area may be developed for active or passive recreational use. Examples include play areas, plazas, rooftop patios, picnic areas, fitness centers, pools, tennis courts and open recreational facilities. The area must be surfaced with lawn, pavers, decking or sport court paving, which allows the area to be used for recreational purposes. User amenities, such as tables, benches, trees, planter boxes, garden plots, drinking fountains, spas or pools may be placed in the outdoor area. It may be covered, such as a covered patio, but it may not be fully enclosed.

1. 4. Common outdoor spaces shall provide at least three of the following amenities to accommodate a variety of ages and activities. Amenities include: (P)

1. 1. 1. Site furnishings (benches, tables, bike racks).

1. 1. 2. Picnic areas.

1. 1. 3. Patios, plazas or courtyards.

1. 1. 4. Tot lots.

1. 1. 5. Gardens.

1. 1. 6. Open lawn.

1. 1. 7. Play fields.

1. 1. 8. Sports courts, such as tennis or basketball courts (no more than fifty percent of required outdoor common space), equipped interior fitness areas, or pools.

1. 5. Common outdoor spaces shall be easily visible and accessible to multifamily residents. (P)

1. 6. Berms, low walls, fences, hedges and/or landscaping shall be used to define private outdoor spaces such as yards, decks, terraces and patios from each other and from the street right-of-way. (P)

1. 7. Walls, hedges and fences shall be used to define and ensure a sense of privacy in outdoor private spaces. The material or plantings should be a maximum of four feet (high and visually permeable, such as open rails, ironwork or trellis treatment to encourage interaction between neighbors.) (P)

1. 8. Lighting shall be provided within outdoor spaces to provide visual interest, as well as an additional security function. Lighting should not cause off-site glare. (R)

1. 9. If outdoor spaces are located adjacent to a street right-of-way, landscaping should be used to provide a buffer between outdoor spaces and the street right-of-way. (C)

1. 10. Common outdoor spaces with active uses used to meet these guidelines shall not be located within required buffer areas, if prohibited by critical area or shoreline regulations. (R)

1. 11. Outdoor spaces should not be located adjacent to dumpster enclosures, loading/service areas or other incompatible uses. (C)

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 16

Section 17C.111.420 Outdoor Spaces

1. Purpose.

To create pedestrian friendly, usable areas through the use of plazas, courtyards and other outdoors spaces for the enjoyment and health of the residents.

2. Outdoor Spaces Implementation.

1. 1. Each multifamily development shall set provide a minimum of forty-eight square feet of outdoor open space area for each living unit in the complex, including those units occupied by the owner or building management personnel. Private outdoor spaces can count towards this outdoor common space provision. (R)

1. 2. Ground Level Units.

The outdoor area for ground level units is a type of private outdoor space and must be directly accessible from the unit. The area must be surfaced with lawn, pavers, decking or sport court paving which allows the area to be used for recreational purposes. User amenities, such as tables, benches, trees, planter boxes, garden plots, drinking fountains, spas or pools, may be placed in the outdoor area. It may be covered, such as a covered patio, but it may not be fully enclosed. (R)

1. 3. Upper Level Units.

Upper level units are a type of private outdoor space. For upper level units, the required outdoor area may be provided individually, such as by balconies, or combined into a larger area. If combined into a larger area, it must comply with the following requirements.(R)

1. 1. 1. The total amount of required outdoor area for upper level units is the cumulative amount of the required area per dwelling unit for individual areas, minus any upper level units that provide individual outdoor areas (if provided). However, a combined required outdoor area must comply with the minimum area and dimension requirements for combined outdoor areas.

1. 1. 2. The combined outdoor area may be developed for active or passive recreational use. Examples include play areas, plazas, rooftop patios, picnic areas, fitness centers, pools, tennis courts and open recreational facilities. The area must be surfaced with lawn, pavers, decking or sport court paving, which allows the area to be used for recreational purposes. User amenities, such as tables, benches, trees, planter boxes, garden plots, drinking fountains, spas or pools may be placed in the outdoor area. It may be covered, such as a covered patio, but it may not be fully enclosed.

1. 4. Common outdoor spaces shall provide at least three of the following amenities to accommodate a variety of ages and activities. Amenities include: (P)

1. 1. 1. Site furnishings (benches, tables, bike racks).

1. 1. 2. Picnic areas.

1. 1. 3. Patios, plazas or courtyards.

1. 1. 4. Tot lots.

1. 1. 5. Gardens.

1. 1. 6. Open lawn.

1. 1. 7. Play fields.

1. 1. 8. Sports courts, such as tennis or basketball courts (no more than fifty percent of required outdoor common space), equipped interior fitness areas, or pools.

1. 5. Common outdoor spaces shall be easily visible and accessible to multifamily residents. (P)

1. 6. Berms, low walls, fences, hedges and/or landscaping shall be used to define private outdoor spaces such as yards, decks, terraces and patios from each other and from the street right-of-way. (P)

1. 7. Walls, hedges and fences shall be used to define and ensure a sense of privacy in outdoor private spaces. The material or plantings should be a maximum of four feet (high and visually permeable, such as open rails, ironwork or trellis treatment to encourage interaction between neighbors.) (P)

1. 8. Lighting shall be provided within outdoor spaces to provide visual interest, as well as an additional security function. Lighting should not cause off-site glare. (R)

1. 9. If outdoor spaces are located adjacent to a street right-of-way, landscaping should be used to provide a buffer between outdoor spaces and the street right-of-way. (C)

1. 10. Common outdoor spaces with active uses used to meet these guidelines shall not be located within required buffer areas, if prohibited by critical area or shoreline regulations. (R)

1. 11. Outdoor spaces should not be located adjacent to dumpster enclosures, loading/service areas or other incompatible uses. (C)

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 16