Eastern Washington's permitting culture is more pragmatic than the complex western Washington systems. In Spokane County, the county actually tells you upfront that their preferred site plan format is 8.5" × 11"—a regular sheet of paper.
Hand-draw it if you want. Just make sure the dimensions are clear, the property lines are labeled, and you include all the required elements. Then upload it to SmartGov and wait for your 14-to-30-day review.
Do You Need a Site Plan for a Small Permit in Spokane County?
Yes. If your project in unincorporated Spokane County requires a building permit, a site plan is required.
The Building and Planning Department's site plan checklist requires:
- Property address and parcel number (APN).
- An indicated scale (minimum 1" = 20').
- A North arrow.
- Property line dimensions labeled as P/L.
- New vs. existing structures, clearly labeled, with dimensions.
- Setbacks (distance from all property lines to all structures).
- Streets and rights-of-way labeled with street names.
- Utilities (water, sewer, septic, well, gas, electricity).
- Parking (number of spaces, dimensions, surface material).
- Driveways and access points.
- Drainage areas and stormwater features.
- Critical areas (wetlands, flood zones, shorelines—within 250 feet of regulated water body show ordinary high water mark).
Who Runs Into This in Spokane County
- City of Spokane homeowners who apply to the Spokane County SmartGov portal, only to be redirected to the City of Spokane Building Services department.
- Spokane Valley residents who similarly discover they need the Spokane Valley Building Department rather than the county.
- Rural homeowners who submit a site plan without the utilities section completed, causing a completeness rejection.
- Contractors who submit a deck permit without showing the garage setback, unaware that Spokane County requires garages to sit further back from the street (20 ft) than residences (15 ft).
What Needs a Site Plan in Spokane County
- Fence permit site plan — Fences over 6 feet require a permit. (Fences 6 feet or under in side and rear yards generally do not require a permit).
- Shed permit site plan — Required for sheds over 200 sq ft. (Sheds 200 sq ft or less are exempt from building permits, but must comply with zoning setbacks).
- Deck permit site plan — Required for decks attached to a dwelling, or freestanding decks over 30 inches above grade.
- Pool permit site plan — Required for pools and spas. Must show barriers and setbacks.
- Addition permit site plan — Required. Must show expanded footprint, updated setbacks, and utility connections.
- ADU — Washington state law allows ADUs by-right on residential lots; Spokane County regulations apply.
Why This Trips People Up in Spokane County
The Jurisdiction Split. The Spokane metro area spans three separate jurisdictions: unincorporated Spokane County, the City of Spokane, and the City of Spokane Valley. The county uses SmartGov; Spokane uses its own Building Services portal; Spokane Valley uses its own building department. You must use the SCOUT Maps interactive tool to confirm your jurisdiction before submitting.
The Garage Setback Rule. Spokane County's zoning code specifies that in Low Density Residential zones, garages must maintain a 20-foot front setback while residences need only 15 feet. This is specifically because of garage door sight lines, and it catches many homeowners who assume all structures on a lot use the same front setback.
The Shoreline Setback. If your property is within 250 feet of a regulated water body (river, lake, stream), your site plan must show the ordinary high water mark and any required shoreline setback buffer.
The 200 Square Foot Shed Exemption. Washington follows a standard 200 sq ft exemption for one-story detached accessory structures. Sheds that exceed this require a permit. Even exempt sheds must comply with zoning setbacks.
Zoning and Setbacks in Spokane County
Setbacks are governed by Spokane County Zoning Code Title 14.
Urban Residential Zones:
- Low Density Residential: Front 15 ft (residence) / 20 ft (garage) / Side 5 ft / Rear 5 ft (+ 1 ft per additional ft of height over 25 ft, max 15 ft)
- Medium Density Residential: Front 15 ft / Side 5 ft+ / Rear 5 ft+
Specific Zone Examples:
- RSF: Front 20 ft / Side 5 ft / Rear 20 ft
- RSF-2 (smaller lots): Front 15 ft / Side 5 ft / Rear 15 ft
- RA-1 (Rural Agriculture): Front 25 ft / Side 7 ft / Rear 25 ft
Zero foot side setbacks may be allowed in certain circumstances for townhouse developments.
How the Tool Handles This — 5 Steps
this site plan creator webtool loads Spokane County parcel data so you can generate the 8.5"×11" site plan at the 1"=20' scale the Building and Planning Department prefers:
- Enter your address — Lot lines load from SCOUT Maps parcel data.
- Place your project — Add your shed, deck, or addition.
- Apply the 1"=20' scale — Generate the plan at Spokane County's preferred scale.
- Label everything — Streets, setbacks, utilities, and structure dimensions.
- Export on 8.5×11 — Download a professional, correctly sized PDF for SmartGov upload.
Where This Tool Fits — and Where It Doesn't
| Situation | Best path |
|---|---|
| Shed, deck, or addition in unincorporated Spokane County | SitePlans.ai for the required site plan |
| Checking setbacks for an exempt shed | SitePlans.ai to verify zoning compliance before building |
| Shoreline property (within 250 ft of water) | SitePlans.ai for layout + consult county for shoreline setbacks |
| New home construction | Licensed WA Architect/Engineer required |
| Disputed property lines | Licensed WA Land Surveyor required |
What This Doesn't Replace
SitePlans.ai helps create preliminary, conceptual site plans for residential projects in unincorporated Spokane County. It is not a licensed land survey or sealed engineering drawing. For properties near regulated water bodies or steep slopes, you must confirm shoreline and critical area setback requirements with the Spokane County Building and Planning Department before finalizing your site plan.
Comparison: Your Options for a Spokane County Site Plan
| Method | Cost | Time | Stamp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand sketch on 8.5×11 | Free | 30–60 min | ✗ | County-accepted; must be at minimum 1"=20' scale |
| SitePlans.ai | Free first plan | Minutes | ✗ | Generates the correctly sized 8.5×11 PDF at 1"=20' scale |
| CAD drafter | $300–$800+ | 1–2 weeks | Sometimes | Useful for large or complex additions |
| Licensed WA Engineer/Surveyor | $700–$2,500+ | 2–4 weeks | ✅ | Required for new homes, shoreline properties, disputed boundaries |
| SitePlans.us (done-for-you) | Custom | 1–3 days | ✗ | Best if your SmartGov submittal was rejected |
Common Mistakes That Delay Spokane County Permits
- Wrong jurisdiction — Submitting to the county SmartGov portal when the property is in the City of Spokane or Spokane Valley.
- Using the wrong setback for garages — Assuming the garage and residence share the same 15-foot front setback, when the garage requires 20 feet.
- Missing the utility section — Leaving off the water, sewer, and septic locations from the site plan.
- Ignoring shoreline rules — Building near a river or lake without checking the shoreline management area setback.
- Submitting below 1"=20' scale — Drawing a larger property at a smaller scale (e.g., 1"=100') and losing the minimum 1"=20' requirement.
Support and Local Resources
- Spokane County Building and Planning — 1026 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260 | (509) 477-3675.
- SmartGov Portal — smartgov.spokanecounty.org — submit permits online.
- SCOUT Maps — scout.spokanecounty.org — verify jurisdiction and parcel data.
- FEMA Flood Maps — msc.fema.gov
Nearby Counties
- King County site plan guide — West;
- Snohomish County site plan guide — West;
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Spokane County allow homeowners to draw their own site plans?
Yes. Spokane County explicitly allows homeowners to submit hand-drawn site plans, as long as the dimensions are clear, property lines are labeled, and all required elements are included.
2. Do I need a permit for a shed in Spokane County?
Sheds 200 square feet or less are exempt from building permits. Sheds over 200 square feet require a permit and site plan. All sheds must comply with zoning setbacks.
3. What is the preferred site plan format?
The Building and Planning Department prefers site plans on 8.5" × 11" paper at a minimum scale of 1" = 20'. Construction drawings (floor plans, elevations, etc.) must be at minimum 11" × 17" at a 1/8-inch scale.
4. Why does a garage require a bigger front setback than a house?
In Spokane County's Low Density Residential zones, garages require a 20-foot front setback while residences require only 15 feet. This is a specific code requirement to maintain sight lines.
5. How do I submit my site plan?
All applications for unincorporated Spokane County are submitted through the SmartGov Community portal online.
6. Can I use SitePlans.ai for a Spokane County permit?
Yes. SitePlans.ai generates an 8.5"×11" PDF at the 1"=20' scale the county prefers, with all required elements clearly labeled.
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Start Your Spokane County Site Plan
Verify your jurisdiction on SCOUT Maps first. Then enter your address below to pull your property lines, place your project, label your setbacks, and download the 8.5×11 PDF you need for the SmartGov portal.
Build My Spokane County Site Plan →
Got a correction from the Building and Planning Department? Send the comments to SitePlans.us and we'll draft the revision.
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