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 17H
Chapter 17H.010
Section 17H.010.090
 

Title 17H Engineering Standards

Chapter 17H.010 Street Development Standards

Section 17H.010.090 Private Streets, Private Alleys, and Driveways

 

  1. General Requirements.
    1. Water or sewer systems situated under a private street, private alley, driveway, or other private access shall be privately owned.
    1. Private streets; private alleys; and driveways or other private access serving more than one parcel shall ensure access for all properties served through a common ownership instrument such as a homeowners’ association, or through access easements and shared maintenance agreements.
    1. Private streets, private alleys, driveways, or other private access shall not obstruct traffic circulation or cut off future development from public access or utilities.
  1. Additional Requirements for Private Streets.
    1. Private streets require the approval of the City Engineer.
    1. Residential private streets shall only be permitted in the following development types:
      1. Planned Unit Development;
      1. Binding Site Plan;
      1. Mobile Home Park;
      1. Unit Lot Subdivision.
    1. Private streets are discouraged. The following criteria shall be considered by the City Engineer in approving a proposed private street:
  1. The private street serves a limited area; and
  1. Connectivity to the rest of the street network is severely limited and cannot be improved through alternative alignments due to topography or the configuration of existing lots and streets.
    1. Streets shall be public if they are designed to connect to an adjacent development site or will serve lots on an adjacent site.
    1. Private streets shall be constructed in accordance with the design standards for public streets.
    1. A maintenance agreement shall be recorded with the Spokane county auditor that commits the owner(s) to maintain all elements of the private street. Accessibility (snow plowing, etc) shall be maintained at all times for emergency vehicles.
    1. Mid-block transitions from public to private streets should be avoided. Where a mid-block transition is unavoidable, a public turn-around designed to meet city standards shall be provided.

 

Date Passed: Monday, August 25, 2025

Effective Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

ORD C36744 Section 9