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.111
Section 17C.111.010
 

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.111 Residential Zones

Section 17C.111.010 Purpose

The residential zones implement the residential goals and policies and land use plan map designations of the comprehensive plan. They are intended to preserve land for housing and to provide housing opportunities for individual households. The zones are distinguished by the permitted uses, the housing types, and intensity of development allowed. The differences in the zoning categories reflect the diversity of residential areas in the City. The limits on the intensity of uses and the development standards promote the desired form for the residential area. The standards are intended to provide certainty to property owners, developers, and neighbors of what is allowed in the various categories.

  1. Use Standards.

The use standards are intended to create and maintain residential neighborhoods. They allow for some nonhousehold living uses but not to such an extent as to sacrifice the overall residential neighborhood form and function.

  1. Development Standards.

The development standards preserve the characteristics of neighborhoods by providing six different zones with different intensities and development standards. The development standards work together to promote desirable residential areas by addressing aesthetically pleasing environments, safety, privacy and recreational opportunities. The site development standards allow for flexibility of development while ensuring new development complements existing development and maintaining compatibility within the City's various neighborhoods. The development standards are generally written for houses on flat, regularly shaped lots. Other situations are addressed through special standards or exceptions.

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 16