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.111.220
 

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.111 Residential Zones

Section 17C.111.220 Building Coverage and Impervious Coverage
  1. Purpose.

The building coverage standards, together with height and setback standards control the overall bulk of structures. They are intended to assure that taller buildings will not have such a large footprint that their total bulk will overwhelm adjacent houses. The standards also help define the form of the different zones by limiting the amount of building area allowed on a site. Additionally, the impervious coverage standards ensure that there is adequate space on a site for stormwater infiltration.

  1. Building Coverage and Impervious Coverage Standards.

The maximum combined building coverage allowed on a site for all covered structures is stated in Table 17C.111.205-1.

    1. “Impervious surface” is defined in SMC 17A.020.090.
    1. For development applications that submit an engineer’s stormwater drainage plan pursuant to SMC 17D.060.140, total impervious coverage on a lot is not limited by this chapter, and the building coverage standards control.
    1. For development applications that do not submit an engineer’s stormwater drainage plan, the maximum impervious coverage standards in Table 17C.111.205-1 must be met. The impervious coverage standards vary depending on whether or not the subject site is located in an Area of Drainage Concern pursuant to SMC 17D.060.135.

 

Date Passed: Monday, January 27, 2025

Effective Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

ORD C36629 Section 4