Jason Ruffing, Enforcement Supervisor, No Phone Number Available
Monday, August 4, 2025 at 11:03 a.m.
The Code Enforcement Team in the City of Spokane consists of inspectors and laborers, charged with conducting inspections and abatement work to ensure compliance with various premises use and maintenance standards adopted in the Spokane Municipal Code. Our inspections team consists of nine dedicated Enforcement Specialists, Neighborhood and Housing Specialists, and Enforcement Supervisors. Recent staffing and operational changes required updates to the team’s inspection districts, as well as brainstorming ways to focus these various staff members to be most effective in responding to the high volume of property-related citizen complaints.
As of July 2025, inspection districts have been updated for case assignments moving forward. In addition to updating districts, the two groups will also focus case management by property type and land use. Neighborhood and Housing Specialists will manage the caseload related to residential properties and residential uses, including inspections related to the long-term rental registration program. Enforcement Specialists will manage all non-residential cases, including compliance efforts related to vacant lots, commercial and industrial properties and uses, and issues related to the public right of way.
Code Enforcement Inspector Map (PDF 554 KB)
Substandard Housing Inspector Map (PDF 552 KB)
These more focused efforts will minimize duplication of efforts, as well as create capacity for more proactive code compliance work.
Common violations that our teams encounter at residential properties include unmaintained and overgrown grass and weeds, solid waste and exterior storage, junk and inoperable vehicles, substandard and unmaintained buildings, and zoning concerns, such as home occupations, recreational camping, and off-street parking regulations as they relate to private property.
Common non-residential violations that our teams encounter at commercial and industrial properties, vacant lots and rights of way include graffiti and solid waste on property, vegetation obstructions in the right of way, illegal dumping, and non-compliance with site development standards.
Updated inspection districts and focused compliance efforts are now effective. Please continue to call 311 or 509.755.CITY (2489), from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and they can assist with submitting a complaint or reporting an issue for our teams to investigate.
