Spokane Municipal Code

Title 08 Taxation and Revenue

Chapter 08.02 Fees and Charges

Article III. Building and Construction Permits

Section 08.02.031 Building Code

1. Building Permit.

Building permit fees are based on the value of the work to be done as follows:

VALUE OF WORK

(in dollars)

FEE

(in dollars)

1 – 2,000

73.00

2,001 - 25,000

73.00 plus 13.00 for each 1,000 over 2,000

25,001 - 50,000

372.00 plus 10.00 for each 1,000 over 25,000

50,001 - 100,000

622.00 plus 7.00 for each 1,000 over 50,000

100,001 - 500,000

972.00 plus 5.00 for each 1,000 over 100,000

500,001 - 1,000,000

2,972.00 plus 4.00 for each 1,000 over 500,000

1,000,001 - 99,999,999

4,972.00 plus 3.00 for each 1,000 over 1,000,000

2. Valuation.

1. 1. The value of construction for purposes of calculating the amount of the fee is determined by using the:

1. 1. 1. most current building valuation data from the International Code Council (ICC) as published and updated by the ICC twice annually; or

1. 1. 2. total construction valuation, whichever is greater. The total construction valuation shall include the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued, as well as all finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire extinguishing systems, and any other permanent equipment.

1. 2. “Gross area” when used in conjunction with the ICC building valuation data to determine valuation of a project is the total area of all floors, measured from the exterior face, outside dimension, or exterior column line of a building, including basements and balconies but excluding unexcavated areas.

1. 3. The fee is based on the highest type of construction to which a proposed structure most nearly conforms, as determined by the building official.

1. 4. For roofing permits, the value is determined to be:

1. 1. 1. two hundred fifty dollars per square for recovering roofs;

1. 1. 2. three hundred fifty dollars per square for roofing projects when existing layers of roofing are torn off and a new layer is installed;

1. 1. 3. four hundred dollars per square for roofing projects when existing layers of roofing are torn off, new sheeting is installed, and a new layer of roof is installed;

1. 1. 4. or the contract valuation if it is greater.

3. Building Plan Review.

1. 1. Fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule

4. Demolition

1. 1. Permit fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. All demolition permit fees provided in the Development Fee Schedule received by the city are to be deposited in the historic preservation incentives fund established by SMC 07.08.152.

5. Fencing.

Permit fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

6. Grading.

1. 1. Permit fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. Plan review fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 3. Failure to obtain a grading permit is a class one infraction under SMC 1.05.150.

7. Sign Permits.

1. 1. Permit fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. Plan review fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

8. Factory-built Housing.

1. 1. The installation fee for factory-built housing is provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. A foundation or basement requires a separate building permit.

1. 3. Decks, carports and garages require a separate building permit.

1. 4. The development services review fee is provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. Manufactured (Mobile) Home.

1. 1. The installation fee for a manufactured (mobile) home is provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. A basement requires a separate building permit.

1. 3. Decks, carports and garages require a separate building permit.

1. 4. The development services review fee is provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

10. Temporary Structures.

1. 1. Permit fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. Review fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 3. No third session will be permitted.

11. Relocation.

1. 1. Inspection fees for bond determination are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. Review fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 3. Any repairs or alterations required for relocation are handled by various building permits and the fees for such building permits are in addition to the relocation permit fee.

12. Early Start and Fast Track Approval.

The fee for an early start or fast track building permit approval is twenty-five percent of the building permit fee rounded to the next whole dollar amount and is in addition to all other applicable fees.

13. Certificate of Occupancy.

1. 1. There is no separate fee for the issuance of a certificate of occupancy following final inspection of a permit; otherwise, the minimum fee for a building permit and certificate of occupancy is provided in the Development Fee Schedule plus a processing fee.

1. 2. The fees for the issuance of a certificate of occupancy not resulting from work done under permit are as provided in SMC 8.02.060.

1. 3. The building official will assess a fee not to exceed one hundred percent of the building permit fee for the issuance or extension of any temporary certificate of occupancy. The minimum fee will be:

1. 1. 1. five-hundred and twenty dollars plus a processing fee when the building permit fee exceeds this amount;

1. 1. 2. equal to the amount of the building permit fee when the building permit fee is less than five-hundred and twenty dollars.

14. Swimming Pools.

1. 1. Permit fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. Review fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

14. 3. Mechanical, electrical and fence permits are additional.
15. Parking Lot and Site Work Permits.

The fee for a site work permit is charged in accordance with the fee table in subsection (A) of this section.

16. Reinspections.

Reinspection fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

17. Inspections Outside Normal Inspector Working Hours.

Fees for inspections outside normal inspector working hours are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

18. Work Done Without a Permit/Investigation Fees.

Where work has commenced without first obtaining the required permit(s), a work without permit fee equivalent to the greater of:

1. 1. twice the inspection fee, or

1. 2. the permit fee plus three hundred dollars, must be paid prior to the issuance of the permit(s).

19. Safety Inspections.

1. 1. Safety inspection fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

20. Recording Fee Use of Public Right-of-way and Large Accessory Building Agreement.

The property owner shall be charged a pass-through fee equal to the amount assessed by Spokane County when erecting a fence, retaining wall or other structure in a public right-of-way. This is a recording fee for the acknowledged agreement whereby the property owner covenants to remove the encroachment upon notice by the City. An additional processing fee is required when a permit is not issued in conjunction with the recording. Processing fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

21. Expired Permits Over Six Months.

1. 1. Building Permits.

1. 1. 1. No inspections have been made: Permits require full resubmittal, and if a commercial project, plan review. Original valuation shall be contained in description of new permit.

1. 1. 2. Footings and foundations only have been inspected and approved: Minimum of seventy-five percent of the original assessed permit fee plus new processing fees. Original valuation shall be contained in description of new permit.

1. 1. 3. All rough-in inspections approved: Minimum of twenty-five percent of original permit fee plus new processing fees. Original valuation shall be contained in description of new permit.

1. 1. 4. Additional work done not on original permit: New valuation shall be calculated based upon either square footage if new construction, or valuation if remodel.

1. 2. Plumbing Permits.

1. 1. No inspections: A full new permit for all fixtures is required.

1. 2. Partial inspections approved: If water tests, top outs and ground plumbing have been approved, then twenty-five percent of the original itemized permit fees plus new processing fee.

1. 3. Mechanical Permits.

1. 1. No inspections: A full new permit is required.

1. 2. Partial inspections: If all rough-in inspections and air tests have been approved, then twenty-five percent of the original permit fee plus new processing fee.

1. 4. Electrical Permit.

1. 1. 1. No inspections: A full new permit is required.

1. 1. 2. Partial inspections: If all rough-in inspections and service inspections have been approved, then twenty-five percent of the original fees plus new processing fee.

5. Processing Fee.

In addition to all of the fees identified in SMC 8.02.031, the processing fee for each permit is as provided in the Development Fee Schedule, unless specifically stated otherwise.

23. Solar Permits.

1. 1. Solar permit fees are provided in the Development Fee Schedule.

1. 2. Additional electrical fees are as provided in SMC 08.02.032.

 

Date Passed: Monday, December 9, 2024

Effective Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025

ORD C36619 Section 5