Local building department guide · Updated 2026-07-30
Spokane Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact
Use this guide to find the official Spokane Development Services Center, start a permit application, search permit records, schedule an inspection, and locate the correct zoning or plan review contact.
Start here
Quick actions
Apply for a building permit
Review the typical application path and prepare your project details.
See permit stepsTrack or search permits
Find Spokane permit search resources and application status links.
Search permitsSchedule a building inspection
Learn what to have ready before requesting your next inspection.
Schedule inspectionAccela portal login
Open the department's official online services and permit portal.
Open portalThe City of Spokane Development Services Center handles building, planning, land-use, and related development permits inside Spokane city limits. Spokane County Building and Planning serves unincorporated county property, so confirm the jurisdiction before applying to the city portal.
Spokane building permits and Accela
Spokane’s online permitting system is the public entry point for permit applications and records. The city’s permit guidance covers residential and commercial work, pre-development, building and trade permits, code requirements, and plan-review steps. For commercial work, the city recommends researching the applicable code, preparing the required plans, and using the Development Services Center resources before submitting.
Inspections, zoning, and certificate of occupancy
Work performed under a Spokane permit requires inspections, with the number and type determined by the project scope. The city allows inspection arrangements by phone with the inspector listed on the permit and provides online scheduling for registered online-permit users. Spokane’s permit activity map provides up to three years of building, planning, and engineering data and includes zoning and land-use-related planning activity.
A Certificate of Occupancy is required before a building or structure is used or occupied and when an existing occupancy changes. Spokane’s official guidance says the owner should contact the Certificate of Occupancy Coordinator at least 10 days before the certificate is needed and provide the job address and building permit number. Final building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical approvals may be required.
Official contact information
The Development Services Center is on the third floor of City Hall at 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, Washington 99201. The city lists (509) 625-6300 for the center. Use Accela for permit records and applications, and use the city’s inspection and certificate-of-occupancy guidance for project closeout.
Permit process
How to Apply for a Spokane Building Permit
Confirm the project scope
Identify the work, property address, project valuation, and whether plans are required.
Prepare your documents
Gather plans, owner and contractor details, site information, and any zoning approvals.
Submit and monitor
Submit through the department’s stated process, pay fees, and watch for review comments.
Field work & closeout
Building Inspections & Code Compliance in Spokane
Most permitted work must remain accessible for inspection at defined stages. Before scheduling, check your permit record for the required inspection sequence and make sure the site is safe and ready. Final inspections can be especially important for code compliance and a certificate of occupancy.
Helpful preparation
Keep the permit card or approval number available, confirm the property address, and ask the official office about lead times or reinspection fees.
Planning & review
Zoning and Plan Review Requirements
A building permit is not always the only approval your project needs. Zoning guidelines may affect use, setbacks, height, parking, signage, or lot coverage. Residential and commercial building permits can also follow different plan review tracks, so confirm the correct path before investing in a full plan set.
For a project in Spokane, start with the official department below and ask which zoning, planning, conservation, or fire review approvals apply to your address.
Keep this handy
Official Contact Information
| Department | Spokane Development Services Center |
|---|---|
| Phone | (509) 625-6300 |
| Address | 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201 |
| Official website | https://my.spokanecity.org/business/commercial/permit-process/ |
| Last verified | 2026-07-30 |
Official source pages used for this guide
These links were checked on 2026-07-30. Requirements, fees, office hours, and portal addresses can change; use the official source as the final authority.
- https://my.spokanecity.org/business/doing-business/get-started/
- https://my.spokanecity.org/business/commercial/permit-process/
- https://my.spokanecity.org/business/commercial/inspections/
- https://my.spokanecity.org/opendata/gis/permits/
- https://my.spokanecity.org/business/residential/certificate-of-occupancy/
- https://aca.spokanepermits.org/CitizenAccess/default.aspx
- https://my.spokanecity.org/directory/agencies/