Commercial Permit Process
Pre-Development Conference:
This is an optional meeting between an applicant and representatives of City Departments and other governmental agencies involved in the plan review process. These meetings help applicants determine project feasibility and they provide an overview of requirements to prepare for the application submittal process.
Pre-Development Conference: General Information & Scheduling
Pre-Development Conference: Application and Site Plan Requirements (pdf) – (Excel Version)
Remodels and Tenant Improvements:
Please submit 3 sets of plans and a completed application to the 3rd Floor of City Hall. If the project involves any site work, parking lot changes, exterior modifications (ramps, canopies, additions), or involves a change in use or occupancy group, then an intake meeting and 8 additional site plan sets will be required. See the New Construction, Addition, and Change-Of-Use section below.
Over-The-Counter Review Process – for small TI’s that meet the identified requirements
If the work proposed will be performed at a location where food or beverages will be served or stored, the applicant will need to submit a set of plans to the Spokane Regional Health District at 1101 W College Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201-2095.
New Construction, Additions, and Changes of Use:
An intake meeting is required for all New Construction, Additions, and Changes-Of-Use (COU). Requirements are identified in the following documents:
Intake Process – General Requirements & How to Schedule ~ Updated
Application Packet – Includes NREC Form, Critical Materials Forms, & Submittal Checklist
Commercial Application Submittal Requirements – This form is also included the Application Packet above.
If the work proposed will be performed at a location where food or beverages will be served or stored, the applicant will need to submit a set of plans to the Spokane Regional Health District at 1101 W College Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201-2095.
Plan Review, Processing, and State Building Code fees are required to be paid at the time of project submittal. Information on these fees is available on our Fee Schedules page and fee estimates can be calculated from the Permit Fee Calculators page.
Please click here, for additional information on Change of Use permits.
Plan Review:
Following application submittal and payment of the Plan Review, Processing, and State Building Code Fees; project plans and supplemental documents are routed to each department involved in approving the project for permit issuance. The multiple copies of the plans supplied at application submittal allow for a speedier approval as each department can perform its review concurrently, or at the same time without needing to wait for another department to complete its review before receiving the plans.
Plan review approval times vary depending upon staffing levels, permit activity, the time of year, the location of the project, the type of occupancy, and the scope of work being applied for. The plan review statistics provided below help identify current permit activity and average approval times for commercial and multi-family projects:
Data as of June 3, 2013:
Commercial Projects in Plan Review: 28 Projects
Commercial Reviews Completed Last Month: 64 Projects
Plans in queue waiting to be assigned to a reviewer: 5 Projects
Plan Review Average for Remodels: 17 Days
Plan Review Averages for New Construction, Additions, & COU’s: 34 Days
To assist applicants and provide a means for the public to be kept informed, the status of any permit processed through the Department of Building Services can be viewed from our Online Permit system. Click on the following guide sheets to see how:
Printing Plan Review Comments from our Online Permit System
Viewing Plan Review/Processing Status & Comments Online <– guide sheet coming soon
Critical Materials Forms and Handouts:
Inspections:
Contact the Inspector identified on your permit from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m on the day you want the inspection. Please visit our Inspection Process page for more details.
Certificate of Occupancy:
Please visit our Certificates of Occupancy page for details.
