Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.111 Residential Zones

Section 17C.111.335 Parking Facilities

1. Purpose.

To integrate parking facilities with the building and surrounding residential context, promote pedestrian-oriented environments along streets, reduce impervious surfaces, and preserve on-street parking and street tree opportunities.

2. Definitions.

1. 1. Primary Street-Facing Facade.

1. 1. 1. The Primary Street-Facing Facade is the portion of the Front Facade that:

1. 1. 1. 1. is closest to the front lot line; and

1. 1. 1. 2. encloses living space; and

1. 1. 1. 3. is situated at ground level.

1. 1. 2. Projections such as bay windows or cantilevered bump-outs shall not be counted as the Primary Street-Facing Facade.

3. Parking Facilities Implementation.

1. 1. Garage Opening Width.

1. 1. 1. Width Limited.

Unless otherwise exempted within this subsection, the combined width of all garage door openings on the Front Facade shall not exceed fifty percent of the width of the Front Facade. For attached housing, this standard applies to the combined length of the Front Facades of all units. For all other lots and structures, the standards apply to the Front Facade of each individual building. See Figure 17C.111.335-A. (P)

1. 1. 2. Exemptions.

1. 1. 1. 1. The garage opening width standard does not apply to facades or portions of the facade that are not visible from a private or public street or further than sixty feet (60’) away from a street lot line. See Figure 17C.111.335-B.

1. 1. 1. 2. For attached housing units less than twenty feet (20’) in width or for detached houses less than twenty feet (20’) in width, a single opening of no more than ten feet (10’) in width is permitted. Units meeting this exemption shall have enclosed living space above the first floor that is set back no further than the face of the garage and extends the entire width of the width of the unit.

Figure 17C.111.335-A. Garage Door Standard

 

Figure 17C.111.335-B. Façade Exemption.

1. 2. Garage Wall Step Back.

1. 1. 1. On a Front Facade with garage openings cumulatively totaling more than ten feet (10’) in width, all garage openings shall be set back in one of the following ways: (R)

1. 1. 1. 1. at least two feet (2’) behind the Primary Street-Facing Facade; or

1. 1. 1. 2. at least two feet (2’) behind the front of a covered porch that is a minimum of six feet (6’) in depth and spans at least half of the Front Facade. The covered porch shall have columns, railing, or other vertical elements along the front to visually establish the edge of the porch.

1. 1. 2. A Front Facade with one street-facing garage opening of ten feet (10’) or less in width shall be even with or set back from the Primary Street-Facing Facade. (R)

1. 1. 3. A Front Facade for a garage with the opening facing the side lot line is not required to step back from the Primary Street-Facing Facade, but shall meet all other relevant design standards. (P)

1. 1. 4. A grouping of attached housing units shall be considered a single building for purposes of these step back requirements.

1. 1. 5. This standard does not apply to facades or portions of the façade that are not visible from a private or public street or further than 60’ away from a street lot line.

1. 1. 6. Waivers.

A waiver or modification of the garage wall step back may be granted by the Planning Director. The Planning Director shall consider contextual issues such as:

1. 1. 1. 1. Topography that does not allow a step back; and

1. 1. 1. 2. An addition to an existing structure where a step back is impractical.

Merely the presence of existing structures on nearby properties with garages situated forward of the Primary Street-Facing Facade shall not be grounds for a waiver.

1. 3. Access to Parking.

1. 1. 1. Vehicular access to a parking area, garage, or carport shall occur only via an approved driveway approach from an alley, improved street, or easement pursuant to chapter 17C.230 SMC Parking and Loading. (R)

1. 1. 2. If the lot abuts a public alley, then vehicle access shall be from the alley unless the applicant requests a waiver of the requirement and the Planning Director determines that one of the following conditions exists: (R)

1. 1. 1. 1. Existing topography does not permit alley access; or

1. 1. 1. 2. A portion of the alley abuts a nonresidential zone; or

1. 1. 1. 3. The alley is used for loading or unloading by an existing nonresidential use; or

1. 1. 1. 4. Due to the relationship of the alley to the street system, use of the alley for parking access would create a significant safety hazard.

1. 1. 3. For lots with vehicle access through an alley, garages shall not be accessed from the street. (R)

1. 1. 4. Where off-street parking is provided for attached housing or for two or more units on one lot, only one driveway approach and sidewalk crossing for each two dwellings may be permitted. See Figure 17C.111.335-C. (R)

1. 1. 5. Driveway approaches shall be separated by a minimum distance of 36 feet. The Planning Director may grant an exception to this standard if one of the following conditions exist. See Figure 17C.111.335-C. (R)

1. 1. 1. 1. existing driveways on adjacent lots would preclude vehicular access to the subject lot; or

1. 1. 1. 2. existing topography makes shared driveway approaches infeasible; or

1. 1. 1. 3. development is proposed on a lot created prior to January 1, 2024 with insufficient frontage for the required separation; or

1. 1. 1. 4. the Planning Director determines that the conditions of the lot render an alternate form of access infeasible.

1. 4. Detached garages and detached carports shall not be located between the Front Facade and the street unless the Planning Director determines that one of the following conditions is met. (P)

1. 1. 1. The lot and primary structure existed prior to January 1, 2024 and are situated such that a garage or carport cannot reasonably be located to the side of or behind the primary structure; or

1. 1. 2. Existing topography does not permit the placement of a garage or carport to the side of or behind the proposed or existing primary structure; or

1. 1. 3. Placement of the garage or carport to the side of or behind the primary structure would create a safety hazard.

Upon meeting one of these conditions, the garage or carport shall follow all other design standards as practicable.

1. 5. Parking areas shall not be located between the Front Facade and the street except for driveways that lead to an allowable vehicle parking facility. (R)

Figure 17C.111.335-C. Paired Driveways and Minimum Spacing

Date Passed: Monday, January 27, 2025

Effective Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

ORD C36629 Section 10