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 17G
Chapter 17G.080
Section 17G.080.065
 

Title 17G Administration and Procedures

Chapter 17G.080 Subdivisions

Section 17G.080.065 Unit Lot Subdivisions
  1. Purpose.

The purpose of these provisions is to allow for the more flexible creation of lots of varying sizes and types, including for attached housing, cottage housing, and similar developments with multiple dwelling units on a parent site, while applying only those site development standards applicable to the parent site as a whole, rather than to individual lots resulting from the subdivision.

  1. Applicability.

A unit lot subdivision creates a relationship between the parent site and each lot created, referred to as a “child” lot.

    1. Unit Lot Subdivisions are allowed for all residential development on parent sites of two acres or less. Subdivisions with a commercial or other non-residential use seeking similar flexibility must be approved through another platting action under chapter 17G.080 SMC.
    1. A unit lot subdivision may be used in any development with two or more dwelling units meeting the standards of this section.
    1. A unit lot subdivision may also be used to subdivide an accessory dwelling unit from the principal structure, subject to the additional standards in subsection F of this section.
    1. A unit lot subdivision may be combined with a subdivision or short subdivision so long as the portion of the development utilizing this section meets the requirements of this section.
  1. Application Procedure.

Unit lot subdivisions resulting in nine or fewer lots shall be processed as short plats and all others shall be processed as subdivisions according to the associated permit types in chapter 17G.061 SMC.

  1. General Regulations.
  1. A unit lot subdivision shall meet development standards applicable to the parent lot’s zoning, including but not limited to:
  1. Setbacks;
  1. Lot size;
  1. Building frontage; and
  1. Floor area ratio;
  1. All buildings shall meet all applicable provisions of the building and fire code;
  1. Lots created through a unit lot subdivision shall be subject to all applicable requirements of Title 17 SMC, except as otherwise modified by this section;
  1. Each child lot’s area and width for purposes of subdivision may be as small as the footprint of the building situated upon it, subject to the requirements of the building and fire code;
  1. Portions of the parent site not subdivided for child lots shall be identified as Tracts and owned in common by the owners of the child lots. For example, a homeowners association comprised of the owners of the child lots located within the parent site. This requirement shall be included in deed restrictions as required in subsection E of this section;
  1. The parent site and each child lot shall make adequate provisions for ingress, egress, and utility access to and from each lot created by reserving such common areas or other easements over and across the parent site as deemed necessary to comply with all other design and development standards generally applicable to the underlying site development plan.
  1. Separation requirements for utilities must be met.
  1. Driveways providing vehicle access to lots shall not serve more than nine (9) units unless approved by the City Engineer.
  1. Recording.
    1. The plat recorded with the county auditor’s office shall include the following:
  1. Access easements, joint use and maintenance agreements, and covenants, conditions, and restrictions identifying the rights and responsibilities of property owners and/or the homeowners association for use and maintenance of common garage, parking and vehicle access areas; on-site recreation; landscaping; utilities; common open space; exterior building facades and roofs; and other similar features.
  1. A note that approval of the subdivision was granted by the review of the site as a whole (stating the subject project file number if applicable);
  1. A note that subsequent platting actions, additions or modifications to the structure(s) may not create or increase any nonconformity of the parent site as a whole, and shall conform to the approved site development plan;
  1. A note stating that if a structure or portion of a structure has been damaged or destroyed, any repair, reconstruction or replacement of the structure(s) shall conform to the approved site development plan;
  1. A note that additional development of the individual lots may be limited as a result of the application of development standards to the parent sit
    1. The legal description of each lot shall identify it as part of a unit lot subdivision.
  1. Accessory Dwelling Units.

A lot with an accessory dwelling unit may be subdivided under this section with the following additional requirements:

  1. All utility lines for the accessory dwelling unit must branch from a common line on a portion of the parent site owned in common. A utility line for the accessory dwelling unit shall not cross another child parcel without approval of the City Engineer.
  1. The plat recorded with the county auditor’s office shall further specify the following:
  1. The child lot that is associated with the accessory dwelling unit;
  1. That the child lot associated with the accessory dwelling unit is subject to any and all additional regulations of an accessory dwelling unit under the Spokane Municipal Code.
  1. The legal description of a lot for an accessory dwelling unit shall identify the lot as an accessory dwelling unit within a unit lot subdivision.

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 45