Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17G Administration and Procedures

Chapter 17G.041 Streamlined Design Review

Section 17G.041.030 Downtown Projects Subject to Design Review

 

1. All projects in a downtown zone requiring a building permit that meet any of the following criteria shall be subject to the design review process:

1. 1. New structures with a floor area of twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet or greater;

1. 2. Modifications of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of a building facade facing the public right-of-way; or

1. 3. Sidewalk encroachments for private use.

2. The following downtown projects are exempt from the design review process:

1. 1. Projects converting a commercial use to a residential use, where design review is triggered by the modification of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the building’s facade;

1. 2. Projects where the primary use is a child day care center as defined by RCW 43.216.010;

1. 3. Temporary business signs, such as sandwich or A-frame signs;

1. 4. Standard kiosks, such as for newspapers or pamphlets;

1. 5. Benches, streetlamps, water fountains, bike racks, and other street furniture;

1. 6. Traffic and wayfinding signage and lights installed by or on behalf of the City of Spokane;

1. 7. Street trees; and

1. 8. Temporary or seasonal installations, such as sidewalk cafes, parklets, and other installations subject to a special event permit.

3. Design review of downtown projects shall be performed using the Downtown Design Guidelines, except that all sidewalk encroachments shall be reviewed using the Citywide Design Guidelines.

 

Date Passed: Monday, February 9, 2026

Effective Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026

ORD C36830 Section 8