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.120
Section 17C.120.210
 

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.120 Commercial Zones

Section 17C.120.210 Floor Area Ratio
  1. Purpose
    Floor area ratios (FARs) regulate the amount of use (the intensity) allowed on a site. FARs provide a means to match the potential amount of uses with the desired character of the area and the provision of public services. FARs also work with the height and setback standards to control the overall bulk of development.
     
  2. FAR Standard
    The floor area ratios are stated in Table 17C.120.210-1 and apply to all nonresidential development. To determine the allowed gross floor area of all structures allowed on a site, the FAR in the Table 17C.120.210-1 below is multiplied by the area of the lot. The following are excluded from FAR calculations:
    1. Floor area dedicated to parking.
    2. Elevators, staircases, escalators and mechanical spaces.
    3. Exterior decks, porches and arcades open to the air.
    4. Floor area dedicated to public amenities.

Table 17C.120.210-1
Development Standards [1]

Standard

 O
(Office)		 OR
(Office Retail)		 NR
(Neighborhood Retail)		 NMU
(Neighborhood Mixed Use)		 CB
(Community Business)		 GC
(General Commercial)
Maximum FAR [2] 0.8 6 0.8 1 [3] 1.5 2.5
Maximum Height [4] 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 40 ft. 55 ft. 70 ft.
Minimum Setback from Street Lot Line [5] 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft.
Minimum Setback from R-zoned Lots [6] 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft.
Setback from Lot Line abutting an O, OR, NR, NMU, CB, GC, Downtown, CC or I-zoned Lot [6] 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft.
Minimum Front Lot Line 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft.
Landscaping Required [7] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Parking Required [8] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Notes:
[1] Plan district or overlay zone standards may supersede these standards.

[2] The FAR limits apply to nonresidential development. There is no FAR limit for residential development.

[3] See SMC 17C.120.280 for requirements for the provision of residential uses along with new commercial development.

[4] See SMC 17C.120.220.

[5] When abutting single-family and two-family residential zoning, the minimum structure setback from the street lot line is the same as the abutting residential zoning district for the first sixty feet from the boundary of the abutting residential zoning district. See SMC 17C.120.230 for additional standards and exceptions. This does not apply when a zone boundary is within the public right-of-way.

[6] Structure setbacks are measured from the lot line.

[7] This part of the table is for general information purposes only; see chapter 17C.200 SMC, Landscaping and Screening, for the specific standards.

[8] This part of the table is for general information purposes only; see chapter 17C.230 SMC, Parking and Loading, for the specific standards.

Date Passed: Monday, July 23, 2012

Effective Date: Thursday, August 30, 2012

ORD C34888 Section 4