Spokane County

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Spokane County Spokane County government serves all the residents of Spokane County. Within the boundaries of Spokane County are numerous incorporated cities.

We are dedicated to excellence and upholding public trust with responsive, customer-driven services, transparent communication, and a commitment to serving the Spokane County community. Our section on County Government Structure is provided to assist the public in understanding the scope of services provided at the county level. Links have been provided to assist you in navigating to those sites also. Spokane County employs over 2000 individuals to help meet the public needs of the 450,000 County residents. There are more than 50 departments which provide a variety of services, some of which include:
•Public safety - protection, crime prevention, jail, Block Watch, Emergency Search and Rescue, 911 Emergency Communications, Sheriff's Deputies
•Road system - road construction and year-round maintenance of 2500 miles of paved roads
•Recreation opportunities - recreational programs and more than 30 parks including one for off road vehicles, the Interstate Fairgrounds, three golf courses, and three lakes
•Court services - the ability to pursue legal remedies through District, Juvenile and Superior Courts
•Record maintenance - recording and filing of legal documents (public record requests)
•Elections - facilitating the electoral process
•Regional planning - growth management within Spokane County
•Property valuation and tax collections - valuation of property, collecting revenue to ensure public health, safety, and welfare

E3 Washington has selected Elisabeth Murphy from our Spokane County Water & Waste department as the 2026 Non‑Formal Educ...
10/15/2026

E3 Washington has selected Elisabeth Murphy from our Spokane County Water & Waste department as the 2026 Non‑Formal Educator of the Year, recognizing her outstanding leadership in environmental education throughout Spokane County!

Elisabeth delivers high‑quality outreach across classrooms, community events, and facility tours, and she plays a central role in hands‑on learning at the County’s Water Resources Center and the Doris Morrison Learning Center at the Saltese Flats Wetland. Her expertise, professionalism, and ability to engage diverse audiences, including thousands of students, make her one of the region’s most requested educators, and her work continues to strengthen public understanding of stormwater, wastewater, solid waste, recycling, and natural resource stewardship. Congratulations to Elisabeth on this well‑deserved award!

Spokane County Planning Commission will hold their 9AM scheduled meeting in the Commissioner's Hearing Room in the lower...
10/15/2026

Spokane County Planning Commission will hold their 9AM scheduled meeting in the Commissioner's Hearing Room in the lower level of the Public Works Building.

📍1026 W. Broadway Ave

The meeting will discuss Development codes for Urban Lands.

Join Virtually!

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86111507302?pwd=UbwPxj1jTOTPfxCmNYJAFRKx3lwNax.1
Telephone: 1-253-205-0468
Meeting ID: 861 1150 7302
Webinar Passcode: 938707

UPDATE: Fire Disaster Recovery Community Meetings on Monday, October 26, 2026 and Tuesday, October 27, 2026 are cancelle...
10/14/2026

UPDATE: Fire Disaster Recovery Community Meetings on Monday, October 26, 2026 and Tuesday, October 27, 2026 are cancelled. Both meetings on Saturday, October 17 are scheduled as planned.

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Spokane County Housing and Community Development, in partnership with the Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG), has scheduled Community Meetings for the Gray and Oregon Road Fire victims who lost their homes.

Oregon Road Fire Disaster Recovery Community Meeting
📍Country Church of the Open Bible (40015 N Collins Rd, Elk)
📅Saturday, October 17, 2026
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Gray Road Fire Disaster Recovery Community Meeting
📍Medical Lake High School Auditorium (200 E Barker St, Medical Lk)
📅Saturday, October 17, 2026
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m

The meeting agenda will include:
Program Timeline
Eligible Activities
Contracting Procedures
Information for Debris Removal Assistance
Where to find Resources
Meet/speak with members of the LTRG and the Navigators/case manager

This week, the Spokane County Elections Office is mailing approximately 375-thousand ballot packets for the November 3rd...
10/14/2026

This week, the Spokane County Elections Office is mailing approximately 375-thousand ballot packets for the November 3rd General Election. Registered voters will be receiving a ballot packet that includes a security envelope and a postage-paid envelope for mailing. If you are a registered voter and do not receive a ballot by Friday, October 23rd, please contact the Spokane County Elections Office at (509) 477-2320 to receive a replacement ballot.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot no less than seven days before the election to ensure it arrives at the Elections Office in time. After Monday, October 26th, it is recommended that you return your ballot by using one of the 27 Ballot Drop Box locations in Spokane County. Drop box locations are listed in the local voters’ pamphlet, and at https://www.spokanecounty.gov/187/Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations.

Current election information is available at www.spokanecounty.org/elections

Spokane County Treasurer’s office hosts 4 off-site collection events for the upcoming Property taxes due Oct. 31!The Spo...
10/14/2026

Spokane County Treasurer’s office hosts 4 off-site collection events for the upcoming Property taxes due Oct. 31!

The Spokane County Treasurer’s Office will once again offer convenient off-site tax collection opportunities this October for residents who prefer to pay their property taxes in person without traveling to the Spokane County Courthouse in downtown Spokane. Two of this year’s off-site events will be held in Spokane Valley, and two will be in North Spokane.

The off-site collection locations for October 2026 will be: ·

📍Spokane Valley City Hall
10210 E. Sprague Ave.
Oct. 16 and Oct. 23
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

📍North Spokane Library
44 E. Hawthorne Rd.
Oct. 20 and Oct. 27
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“It can be difficult for some residents to get downtown during business hours, so we continue to offer off-site collection days to make in-person payments more accessible,” said Spokane County Treasurer Mike Volz. “Property owners also have multiple other secure payment options available, including paying online, mailing a check, or using a drop box.”

Annual property tax statements were mailed earlier this year. Spokane County allows property owners to split their annual tax obligation into two installments, with first-half payments due April 30 and second-half payments due Oct. 31.

More information about payment options and collection locations can be found at www.spokanecounty.gov/treasurer.

The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved changes to building and planning policies aimed at increas...
10/05/2026

The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved changes to building and planning policies aimed at increasing the availability of affordable housing in Spokane County. The ‘Affordable Housing Permit Program’ will expedite applications for affordable housing structures that meet affordability requirements in Spokane County. The program will also defer collecting certain building and construction fees until the certificate of occupancy is issued.

“The need for more affordable housing units in our community is clear. Delaying fees and expediting permits will support developers build more housing faster in Spokane County,” said Commissioner Amber Waldref.

Spokane County Commissioner Al French also assisted in the program’s development. “Working with the Building and Planning Department, along with local businesses helped us make significant progress and see it through to a successful conclusion,” French said.

The new policies become effective on Jan 1, 2027, and will apply to either rental or owner-occupied housing units that are affordable to households earning up to 80-percent of area median income. The Affordable Housing Permit Program developed during BoCC discussions with affordable housing developers and Commissioner Waldref’s research into similar policies adopted by local governments around the state.

Read more: https://www.spokanecounty.gov/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/6264

Our SCRAPS team is still asking the public for help in identifying the person or persons who abandoned an elderly, emaci...
10/02/2026

Our SCRAPS team is still asking the public for help in identifying the person or persons who abandoned an elderly, emaciated dog at Valley Mission Park the morning of August 29, 2026.

Surveillance video shows an individual removing the dog from a light-colored SUV and leaving him behind (photos attached). We are asking anyone who recognizes the individual, vehicle or dog – or who may know where the dog came from – to contact SCRAPS at (509) 477-2532, option 2 (refer to case 90651). If you were around Valley Mission Park on August 29th and saw something that may be related, we would also like to hear from you.

If you are the individual in the video, we encourage you to come forward and speak with us directly. We want to hear your account of what happened and better understand the circumstances that led to the dog being left in the park.

You can also email information to [email protected] or leave a message on our non-emergency phone line at (509) 477-2532, option 2. Please use the case number 90651 when you call or email.

As for the senior dog, he has since been given the name Grayson and is thriving in his foster home. He’s gaining weight, getting stronger, and showing us more of his goofy personality every day!

Spokane County, Spokane County Water & Waste, and City of Spokane - Municipal Government are combining efforts to educat...
10/02/2026

Spokane County, Spokane County Water & Waste, and City of Spokane - Municipal Government are combining efforts to educate the region about the importance of preventing stormwater pollution and keeping drains clear. Residents, businesses, and organizations have the opportunity to “adopt” stormwater drains in their community and taking care of it by sweeping away leaves and debris, making a pathway for water during snow melt, and reporting illicit discharges if seen.

Preventing pollution in stormwater protects local waterways such as the Spokane River and reduces the amount of polluted groundwater that eventually reaches the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. The aquifer is the sole source for drinking water for the region and has an interdependent relationship with the Spokane River. It is important to keep stormwater as clean as possible.

“We have learned a lot over the last several years how important it is to keep storm drains clear and free of pollutants to protect the Spokane River and our region’s aquifer,” says Public Works Director Marlene Feist. “We’ve received feedback from the community that they are eager to learn more and have opportunities to help. This program is a way to learn about stormwater and have fun while making a difference.”

“We all play a role in protecting our drinking water, neighborhoods, and beloved rivers. We are excited to utilize this program to give the community additional ways to help by adopting a piece of important infrastructure in their neighborhood. A small amount of attention and effort by a large number of community members will go a long way towards preventing pollution and ice buildup in the region,” says Senior Director of Public Works, Kyle Twohig.

How to Adopt-A-Drain

• Go to www.WA.adopt-a-drain.org and sign up. We’ll help you find a storm drain near you!
• Name your drain
• Volunteer 15 minutes twice a month to keep your adopted drain clear of leaves, trash, and other debris. Help us measure success by tracking the debris you’ve cleared.
• Have fun with us as we highlight fun names and bring creative events to the community!

Public Works Receives ‘Rails to Trails’ Grant for Centennial Trail!Spokane County’s Public Works Department has received...
10/01/2026

Public Works Receives ‘Rails to Trails’ Grant for Centennial Trail!

Spokane County’s Public Works Department has received a $10,000 ‘Rails to Trails’ grant for Centennial Trail improvements that will enhance the accessibility and safety of trail users. The grant award provides matching funds to leverage the Complete Streets grant that was awarded in 2025 by the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board.

This project is the first step to address a two-mile segment of the Centennial Trail known as the “Argonne Gap” and fully separate trail users from vehicular traffic. The 0.15-mile improvements include a ten-foot-wide paved path with a 7.5-foot swale for additional separation from traffic. Construction will begin in 2027 and be completed by 2028.

www.spokanecounty.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/6260

County Commissioners Unanimously Approve Reducing Permit Fees and Expedited Reviews for Wildfire Victims!To help in supp...
09/29/2026

County Commissioners Unanimously Approve Reducing Permit Fees and Expedited Reviews for Wildfire Victims!

To help in supporting recovery for those impacted by wildfires, building permits associated with demolition, rebuilding, or repair of damaged or lost structures from the Spokane Complex and Upriver wildfires will receive reduced building permit fees and expedited review.

Spokane County Commissioner Mary Brooks said Spokane County is committed to helping wildfire victims rebuild. “It is hard to imagine that level of catastrophic loss and the emotional toll it’s taking on hundreds of our neighbors. The county will do whatever it can to reduce the burden on those who lost their homes,” Brooks said.

Commissioner Chris Jordan’s district includes numerous homes lost in the Five Mile Area due to the Old Trails Fire. “This action alone will save the average affected homeowner seeking to rebuild more than $600 in reduced inspection fees, on top of other fees we’ve already reduced. This is yet another sign of our commitment to make rebuilding as quick and seamless as possible to support our affected neighbors,” Jordan said.

Commissioner Josh Kerns’ district was impacted by the Upriver, Autumn Lane and Fairview Fires. Kerns said he hopes many of the affected families will rebuild. “These were beautiful neighborhoods and they will be again. I’m looking forward to seeing construction sites and then families moving back home soon,” Kerns said.

The Resolution that was unanimously approved on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, will reduce fees for demolition and all other building permits.

View fee structures: https://www.spokanecounty.gov/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/6258

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44 E Hawthorne Rd
Spokane, WA
99218

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