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Spokane Valley building permits

Spokane Valley, Washington — as published 2026-09-16.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

Codes adopted

SPOKANE VALLEY NAMES NO EDITION FOR THE BUILDING CODES. SVMC 24.40.020(A): "Pursuant to Chapters 19.27 and 19.27A RCW, and Chapter 51-50 WAC, the City adopts the Washington State Building Code, as presently constituted or subsequently amended, together with all amendments and additions provided in SVMC Title 24."THE ADOPTED LIST, EACH WITHOUT A YEAR: the International Building Code (Chapter 51-50 WAC); the International Residential Code (Chapter 51-51 WAC); the International Energy Conservation Code (Chapters 51-11C and 51-11R WAC); the International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 58 and NFPA 54 (Chapter 51-52 WAC); the International Fire Code (Chapter 51-54A WAC); and the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Plumbing Code Standards (Chapter 51-56 WAC) - each "including Washington State Amendments".ONE ADOPTION CONTRADICTS ITSELF, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU RELY ON IT. SVMC 24.40.020(B): "The City hereby adopts the 2018 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code, current adopted edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc." A fixed year and a rolling reference sit in the same phrase. THIS GUIDE DOES NOT DECIDE which controls - ask the city which IPMC edition it enforces.AND A LONG LIST OF IPMC SECTIONS IS NOT ADOPTED: "Sections 106, 111, 302.3, 302.4, 302.8, 304.2, 304.8, 304.13 through 304.19, 305.3, 305.6, 308, 309.2 through 309.5, 404.1, 506.3, 507, and 606 are not adopted." A property maintenance argument that rests on one of those sections does not rest on anything here.RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.

Permit types & fees

Building Permit

Required for construction in Spokane Valley. The city adopts the state building code without naming an edition - but unusually, a complete application vests you to the edition in force when it was accepted.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

Requirements

Built to the Washington State Building Code "as presently constituted or subsequently amended" - SVMC 24.40.020 names no edition year for the building codes
A complete application vests the project to the state code edition then in force
Applications are valid for ONE YEAR; extensions are capped at 180 days and by the remaining code cycle
An issued permit expires unless work commences within TWO YEARS

Required documents

RequiredA complete permit applicationA complete permit application - completeness is what fixes which state code edition you are judged under

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building permit fee	Not stated in this guide - see notes	NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. Show full citationHide NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. The chapters read for this entry set out which codes apply, how applications vest and when they expire; they do not carry a fee schedule, and no separate fee chapter was opened. TWO FEE RULES ARE IN THE TEXT AND DO MATTER: if an application expires, "a new permit application must be submitted and a new fee paid", and the new application is judged under "the Spokane Valley Municipal Code as constituted at the time of the new application" - so letting an application lapse can cost you both the fee and the code edition you were vested to.

Shed or Detached Accessory Structure

Spokane Valley sets its permit exemption for detached accessory structures at 200 square feet - notably higher than several other Washington cities.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

Requirements

Exempt if one story, detached, used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, and the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet
Zoning setbacks and lot coverage still apply even where a building permit does not

Required documents

RequiredA complete permit applicationA complete permit application - completeness is what fixes which state code edition you are judged under

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building permit fee	Not stated in this guide - see notes	NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. Show full citationHide NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. The chapters read for this entry set out which codes apply, how applications vest and when they expire; they do not carry a fee schedule, and no separate fee chapter was opened. TWO FEE RULES ARE IN THE TEXT AND DO MATTER: if an application expires, "a new permit application must be submitted and a new fee paid", and the new application is judged under "the Spokane Valley Municipal Code as constituted at the time of the new application" - so letting an application lapse can cost you both the fee and the code edition you were vested to.

Deck Permit

Low decks are exempt in Spokane Valley, but only where all four conditions in the local amendment are met.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

Requirements

Exempt if not more than 30 inches above the lowest adjacent ground level within six feet horizontally of the edge
AND where a guardrail is not required by other sections of the code
AND not over any basement or story below
AND not part of an accessible route

Required documents

RequiredA complete permit applicationA complete permit application - completeness is what fixes which state code edition you are judged under

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building permit fee	Not stated in this guide - see notes	NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. Show full citationHide NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. The chapters read for this entry set out which codes apply, how applications vest and when they expire; they do not carry a fee schedule, and no separate fee chapter was opened. TWO FEE RULES ARE IN THE TEXT AND DO MATTER: if an application expires, "a new permit application must be submitted and a new fee paid", and the new application is judged under "the Spokane Valley Municipal Code as constituted at the time of the new application" - so letting an application lapse can cost you both the fee and the code edition you were vested to.

Verify a Contractor Licence

Washington contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries. Registration is a STATE record; Spokane Valley does not issue it.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

Requirements

Check contractor registration with Washington State Labor & Industries

Required documents

OptionalNo city document requiredNo city document - check the state register

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building permit fee	Not stated in this guide - see notes	NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. Show full citationHide NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. The chapters read for this entry set out which codes apply, how applications vest and when they expire; they do not carry a fee schedule, and no separate fee chapter was opened. TWO FEE RULES ARE IN THE TEXT AND DO MATTER: if an application expires, "a new permit application must be submitted and a new fee paid", and the new application is judged under "the Spokane Valley Municipal Code as constituted at the time of the new application" - so letting an application lapse can cost you both the fee and the code edition you were vested to.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

City of Spokane Valley - Permit Center — official building department

Codes & ordinances

Department & other records

City of Spokane Valley

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Spokane Valley building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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