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.010.130
 

Title 17H Engineering Standards

Chapter 17H.010 Street Development Standards

Section 17H.010.130 Alleys

  1. When constructed, alleys shall be provided at the rear or side of lots.
     
  2. Where alleys are provided in new developments, on-site parking spaces shall be accessed from the alley and not the street.
     
  3. Dead-end alleys shall be avoided wherever possible, but if unavoidable, shall be designed with adequate turn-around facilities or alternative connections acceptable to the director of engineering services at the dead-end.
     
  4. All new alleys shall be constructed in conformance with the standard plans.
     
  5. Public alleys shall be located in public right-of-way. If public utilities are to be located in an alley, the alley must be located in public right-of-way.
     
  6. Private alleys may be located in a tract or on an easement. Tracts must be owned in common by the owners of the property served by the private alley or by a homeowner’s association and must be designated on the plat as a special purpose tract. A maintenance agreement must be recorded with the Spokane county auditor that commits the owner(s) to maintain all elements of the private alley.
     
  7. New alleys shall have a paved width of at least twelve feet and a clear width of at least twenty feet. The twenty-foot width shall not be obstructed in any manner, including the parking of vehicles, fences or utility structures.
     
  8. Alleys that serve as a primary access or as a fire access must have a paved width of at least twenty feet. Unless specifically approved by the city fire department, alleys are not considered a fire access.
     
  9. Stormwater from all new alleys must be collected and treated according to the city’s stormwater guidelines.

Date Passed: Monday, May 15, 2006

Effective Date: Thursday, June 29, 2006

ORD C33838 Section 1