Spokane plan check and resubmittal guide

What we could verify about the City of Spokane’s permit office from government and permit portal pages, what Washington law says about plan check there, and how to answer a correction letter. Each fact links to its source.

The City of Spokane permit office

Links and facts checked on October 28, 2026.

Codes its letters cite

Local code abbreviations you will see on the City of Spokane letters: SMC.

Source: my.spokanecity.org

Building code named on the city’s pages: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) with ICC/ANSI A 117.1-2017.

Source: my.spokanecity.org

Local amendments to the building code

Any city or county may amend the state building code; amendments that affect houses and apartments need State Building Code Council approval first.

Source: app.leg.wa.gov

Spokane and Spokane County

Spokane is in Spokane County. See the Spokane County guide.

Washington rules every plan check here follows

These come from Washington law and state agencies, so they apply in Spokane as well. Each links to its source.

Building code in force

Washington's current building code is based on the 2021 model codes and took effect on March 15, 2024.

Source: Washington State Building Code Council, checked October 31, 2026

Next edition

The next update, based on the 2024 codes, is scheduled to take effect on May 3, 2027.

Source: Washington State Building Code Council, checked October 31, 2026

Local amendments

A city or county may change the state code for its own area, but its changes cannot weaken the code's minimum standards.

Source: Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.27.040, checked October 31, 2026

Rules are locked in when you apply

A complete building permit application is reviewed under the building and zoning rules that were in effect on the date it was filed.

Source: Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.27.095, checked October 31, 2026

What a good response to plan check corrections has

General guidance, not the City of Spokane’s own rules. Check its page before you resubmit.

Other Washington city guides

How we help

Send us the whole correction letter. We draft a response to every comment and list the drawing changes sheet by sheet. Your first letter is free. You review each response, then you sign and submit to the City of Spokane yourself.

Cleared to Build is an independent service. We are not the City of Spokane and are not affiliated with it.

Upload your correction letter

Only one comment to answer? Try the free one-comment tool.

Questions

How do I respond to Spokane’s plan check corrections?

In general, answer every comment in a response letter that says what changed and on which sheet, then resubmit the revised drawings the way the City of Spokane asks. Check its own instructions first.

What should a resubmittal to Spokane include?

In general: a response letter answering each comment, the revised drawings with changes marked, and any new calculations or reports the comments ask for. The City of Spokane may ask for more, so check with it before you send.

Where do I send my resubmittal to Spokane?

The City of Spokane’s online permit portal is Online Permitting, linked on this page. Ask the building department how it wants resubmittals sent if its instructions don’t say.

How long does Spokane take to review a resubmittal?

Review times change with workload. Ask the building department at 509.625.6300.

Whom do I ask about Spokane’s plan check corrections?

Call DSC & Permit Center at 509.625.6300. For a question about one comment, ask for the reviewer named on the letter.

Does Spokane charge for another plan review?

This guide doesn’t list fees. Ask DSC & Permit Center at 509.625.6300 before you resubmit.

How many rounds of corrections can Spokane send?

This guide doesn’t list a limit. Answering every comment fully the first time is the surest way to fewer rounds; ask DSC & Permit Center at 509.625.6300 if unsure.

Is Cleared to Build part of the City of Spokane?

No. Cleared to Build is an independent service, not affiliated with the City of Spokane or any permitting agency. You submit to the city yourself.