Commercial Permit Process

Pre-Development Conference

This is an optional meeting between a project applicant representatives from City Departments and other governmental agencies involved in the plan review process. These meetings help applicants determine project feasibility and provide an overview of requirements to prepare for the application submittal process.

Additional information for development applicants to consider

Remodels and Tenant Improvements

Your project may qualify for a Simple Review Process if it is a Commercial Remodel or Tenant Improvement (TI). If the project involves site work, parking lot changes, exterior modifications (ramps, canopies, additions), or involves a change in use or occupancy group, then an intake meeting and additional requirements will apply. See the New Construction, Addition, and Change-Of-Use section below for more information.

If the work proposed will be performed at a location where food or beverages will be served or stored, the applicant will need to submit an additional set of plans to the Spokane Regional Health District.

New Commercial Construction, Additions, and Changes of Use

Does your project involve site work, parking lot changes, exterior modifications (ramps, canopies, additions) or involve a change in use or occupancy group? An intake meeting may be required and is mandatory for all New Construction, Additions, and Changes-Of-Use (COU.) Schedule an intake meeting by calling 509.625.6300.

If the work proposed will be performed at a location where food or beverages will be served or stored, the applicant will need to submit an additional set of plans to the Spokane Regional Health District.

Plan Review, Processing, and State Building Code fees are required to be paid at the time of project submittal. Information on these fees is available on our Fee Schedules & Calculators page. Fee estimates can be calculated there too.

Plan Review

Following application submittal and payment of the Plan Review, Processing, and State Building Code Fees; project plans and supplemental documents are routed to each department involved in approving the project for permit issuance. The multiple copies of the plans supplied at application submittal allow for a quicker approval as each department can perform its review at the same time without needing to wait for another department to complete its review before receiving the plans.

Plan review approval times vary depending upon staffing levels, permit activity, the time of year, the location of the project, the type of occupancy, and the scope of work being applied for. The plan review statistics provided below indicate current permit activity and average approval times for commercial and multi-family projects:

The status of any permit processed through the Development Services Center can be viewed from our Online Permit system. The following tutorials will get you started.

Critical Materials Forms and Handouts

Commercial permitting related links


Contact Information

DSC & Permit Center

3rd Floor City Hall
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd
Spokane, WA 99201
PermitTeam@spokanecity.org
509.625.6300

Walk-in Hours:

  • M/T/TH/F: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • W: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.