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.111.205
 

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.111 Residential Zones

Section 17C.111.205 Development Standards Tables

Development standards that apply within the residential zones are provided in Tables 17C.111.205-1 through 17C.111.205-3.

TABLE 17C.111.205-1

LOT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS [1]

 

RA

R1

R2

RMF

RHD

DENSITY STANDARDS

Maximum density on sites 2 acres or less [2][3]

No maximum

No maximum

No maximum

No maximum

No maximum

Maximum density on sites larger than 2 acres [2]

10 units/acre

10 units/acre

20 units/acre

No maximum

No maximum

Minimum density [2]

4 units/acre

4 units/acre

10 units/acre

15 units/acre

15 units/acre

LOT DIMENSIONS FOR SUBDIVISIONS AND SHORT SUBDIVISIONS

Minimum lot area

7,200 sq. ft.

1,200 sq. ft.

1,200 sq. ft.

1,200 sq. ft.

1,200 sq. ft.

Minimum lot width with no driveway approach [4]

40 ft.

15 ft.

15 ft.

15 ft.

15 ft.

Minimum lot width with driveway approach [4]

40 ft.

36 ft.

36 ft.

25 ft.

25 ft.

Minimum lot width within Airfield Overlay Zone

40 ft.

40 ft.

36 ft.

25 ft.

25 ft.

Minimum lot depth

80 ft.

80 ft.

40 ft.

N/A

N/A

Minimum lot frontage

40 ft.

Same as minimum lot width

Same as minimum lot width

Same as minimum lot width

Same as minimum lot width

MINIMUM LOT DIMENSIONS FOR UNIT LOT SUBDIVISIONS

Minimum parent lot area

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

Maximum parent lot area

2 acres

2 acres

2 acres

2 acres

2 acres

Minimum child lot area

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

Minimum child lot depth

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

No minimum

LOT COVERAGE

Maximum total building coverage [5][6][7]

50%

65%

80%

100%

100%

Maximum lot impervious coverage without engineer’s stormwater drainage plan - not in ADC [5][8]

50%

60%

60%

N/A

N/A

Maximum lot impervious coverage without engineer’s stormwater drainage plan - inside ADC [5][8]

40%

40%

40%

N/A

N/A

Notes:

[1] Plan district, overlay zone, or other development standards contained in Title 17C SMC may supersede these standards.

[2] See SMC 17C.111.210 for applicability of minimum and maximum density standards in the residential zones.

[3] Development within Airfield Overlay Zones is further regulated as described in SMC 17C.180.090, Limited Use Standards.

[4] Lots with vehicle access only from an alley are not considered to have a “driveway approach” for the purposes of this standard.

[5] Lot and building coverage calculation includes all primary and accessory structures.

[6] Building coverage for attached housing is calculated based on the overall development site, rather than individual lots.

[7] Developments meeting certain criteria relating to transit, Centers & Corridors, or housing affordability are given a bonus for building coverage. See SMC 17C.111.225 for detailed eligibility criteria.

[8] Projects may exceed impervious coverage requirements by including an engineer’s drainage plan in submittals, subject to review by the City Engineer as described in SMC 17D.060.135. “ADC” means Area of Drainage Concern.

 

TABLE 17C.111.205-2

BUILDING AND SITING STANDARDS [1]

 

RA

R1

R2

RMF

RHD

PRIMARY BUILDINGS

Floor area ratio

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Maximum building footprint per primary building - lot area 7,000 sq. ft. or less

N/A

2,450 sq. ft.

2,450 sq. ft.

N/A

N/A

Maximum building footprint per primary building - lot area more than 7,000 sq. ft.

N/A

35%

35%

N/A

N/A

Maximum building height [2]

35 ft.

40 ft.

40 ft.

40 ft.

40 ft.

Minimum Setbacks

 

 

 

 

 

Front

15 ft.

10 ft.

10 ft.

10 ft.

10 ft.

Interior side lot line - lot width 40 ft or less [3]

3 ft.

3 ft.

3 ft.

3 ft.

3 ft.

Interior side lot line - lot width more than 40 ft [4] [5]

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

Street side lot line – all lot widths

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

Attached garage or carport entrance from street

20 ft.

20 ft.

20 ft.

20 ft.

20 ft.

Rear

25 ft.

15 ft.

15 ft.

10 ft.

10 ft.

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

Maximum building footprint for accessory dwelling unit - lot area 5,500 sq. ft. or less

1,100 sq. ft.

1,100 sq. ft.

1,100 sq. ft.

1,100 sq. ft.

1,100 sq. ft.

Maximum building footprint for accessory dwelling unit - lots larger than 5,500 sq. ft.

15%

15%

15%

15%

15%

Maximum building height

25 ft.

25 ft.

25 ft.

25 ft.

25 ft.

Minimum side lot line setbacks [5] [6]

Same as Primary Structure

Minimum rear setback with alley [4] [5] [6]

0 ft.

0 ft.

0 ft.

0 ft.

0 ft.

Minimum rear setback no alley

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

OTHER ACCESSORY STRUCTURES

Maximum lot coverage for accessory structures – lots 5,500 sq. ft. or less

20%

20%

20%

See Primary Structure

See Primary Structure

Maximum lot coverage for accessory structures – lots larger than 5,500 sq. ft.

20%

15%

15%

See Primary Structure

See Primary Structure

Maximum building height

30 ft.

20 ft.

20 ft.

35 ft.

35 ft.

Minimum side lot line setbacks [4] [5] [6]

Same as Primary Structure

Minimum rear setback with alley

0 ft.

0 ft.

0 ft.

0 ft.

0 ft.

Minimum rear setback no alley

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

5 ft.

OPEN SPACE

Minimum outdoor area per unit [7]

250 sq. ft.

250 sq. ft.

250 sq. ft.

200 sq. ft.

48 sq. ft.

Minimum common outdoor area per unit as a substitute for private area - first six units

200 sq. ft.

200 sq. ft.

200 sq. ft.

150 sq. ft.

48 sq. ft.

Minimum common outdoor area per unit as a substitute for private area - all units after six

150 sq. ft.

150 sq. ft.

150 sq. ft.

100 sq. ft.

48 sq. ft.

Notes:

[1] Plan district, overlay zone, or other development standards contained in Title 17C SMC may supersede these standards.

[2] Base zone height may be modified according to SMC 17C.111.230, Height.

[3] Certain elements such as covered porches may extend into the front setback. See SMC 17C.111.235, Setbacks.

[4] There is an additional angled setback from the interior side lot line. Refer to SMC 17C.111.230(C) and 17C.111.235(E) for more detail.

[5] Setbacks for a detached accessory structure and a covered accessory structure may be reduced to zero feet with a signed waiver from the neighboring property owner as specified in SMC 17C.111.240(C).

[6] Accessory structures may be subject to an additional side setback adjacent to streets as specified in 17C.111.240(C)(5).

[7] Common outdoor area may be substituted for private outdoor area according to SMC 17C.111.310.

 

TABLE 17C.111.205-3
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR PROPERTIES QUALIFYING FOR DEVELOPMENT BONUS [1] [2]

 

RA

R1

R2

RMF

RHD

LOT COVERAGE

Maximum total building coverage

N/A

80%

90%

100%

100%

PRIMARY BUILDINGS

Floor area ratio

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Maximum building footprint per primary building - lot area 7,000 sq. ft. or less

N/A

2,450 sq. ft.

2,450 sq. ft.

N/A

N/A

Maximum building footprint per primary building - lot area more than 7,000 sq. ft.

N/A

35%

35%

N/A

N/A

Notes:

[1] Standards not addressed in this table are consistent with the general standards in Tables 17C.111.205-1 and 17C.111.205-2.

[2] Criteria to qualify for Development Bonuses is outlined in SMC 17C.111.225.

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 16