City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 17C
Chapter 17C.315
Sections 17C.315.120...
 

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.315 Bed and Breakfast

Section 17C.315.120 Use-related Regulations
  1. Accessory Use.

A bed and breakfast facility must be accessory to a residential household living use on a site. This means that the individual or family who operate the facility must occupy the house as their primary residence. The house must be on/in one of the following historic registers:

    1. Spokane Register of Historic Places or District.
    1. Washington Heritage Register; or
    1. National Register of Historic Places.
  1. Maximum Size.

Bed and breakfast facilities are limited as follows:

    1. RA, R1, and RTF Zones.

A maximum of two guests per night.

    1. RMF and RHD Zones.

A maximum of eight guests per night.

  1. Employees.

Bed and breakfast facilities may have nonresident employees for the lodging activity such as booking rooms and food preparation, if approved as part of the conditional use review. Hired service for normal maintenance, repair and care of the residence or site such as yard maintenance may also be approved. The number of employees and the frequency of employee auto trips to the facility may be limited or monitored as part of a conditional use approval.

  1. Services to Guests.
    1. Food services may only be provided to overnight guests of a bed and breakfast facility. The proprietor must contact the local health authority to determine if a food service permit is required.
    1. Serving alcohol to overnight guests is allowed. The proprietor may need Washington State liquor control board approval to serve alcohol at a bed and breakfast facility.
  1. Meetings and Social Gatherings.
    1. Commercial Meetings.

Activities including luncheons, banquets, parties, weddings, meetings, charitable fund raising, commercial or advertising activities, or other gatherings for direct or indirect compensation require a conditional use permit.

    1. Historical Landmarks.

A bed and breakfast facility which is designated as a historical landmark and which receives special assessment from the state may be open to the public for four hours one day each year. This does not count as a commercial meeting.

Date Passed: Monday, April 25, 2011

Effective Date: Friday, June 3, 2011

ORD C34717 Section 25

Section 17C.315.120 Use-related Regulations
  1. Accessory Use.

A bed and breakfast facility must be accessory to a residential household living use on a site. This means that the individual or family who operate the facility must occupy the house as their primary residence. The house must be on/in one of the following historic registers:

    1. Spokane Register of Historic Places or District.
    1. Washington Heritage Register; or
    1. National Register of Historic Places.
  1. Maximum Size.

Bed and breakfast facilities are limited as follows:

    1. RA, R1, and RTF Zones.

A maximum of two guests per night.

    1. RMF and RHD Zones.

A maximum of eight guests per night.

  1. Employees.

Bed and breakfast facilities may have nonresident employees for the lodging activity such as booking rooms and food preparation, if approved as part of the conditional use review. Hired service for normal maintenance, repair and care of the residence or site such as yard maintenance may also be approved. The number of employees and the frequency of employee auto trips to the facility may be limited or monitored as part of a conditional use approval.

  1. Services to Guests.
    1. Food services may only be provided to overnight guests of a bed and breakfast facility. The proprietor must contact the local health authority to determine if a food service permit is required.
    1. Serving alcohol to overnight guests is allowed. The proprietor may need Washington State liquor control board approval to serve alcohol at a bed and breakfast facility.
  1. Meetings and Social Gatherings.
    1. Commercial Meetings.

Activities including luncheons, banquets, parties, weddings, meetings, charitable fund raising, commercial or advertising activities, or other gatherings for direct or indirect compensation require a conditional use permit.

    1. Historical Landmarks.

A bed and breakfast facility which is designated as a historical landmark and which receives special assessment from the state may be open to the public for four hours one day each year. This does not count as a commercial meeting.

Date Passed: Monday, April 25, 2011

Effective Date: Friday, June 3, 2011

ORD C34717 Section 25