County recording office
Spokane County Auditor
1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260 (opens in Google Maps)
Checking the bulletin board
Washington WUCIOA vs. RCW 64.38
Communities created on or after July 1, 2018 generally follow WUCIOA (RCW 64.90) — budget ratification, reserve studies, resale certificates; many older HOAs still follow RCW 64.38.
County recording office
Spokane County Auditor
1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260 (opens in Google Maps)
Pacific Northwest rainfall accelerates rot, moss, and paint failure. Set clear maintenance standards for siding, decks, and drainage.
Board checklist
Municipal trash schedules, curb placement, and code enforcement pathways.
City of Spokane Code Compliance handles nuisance, trash, and zoning complaints independently of HOA covenant enforcement. Boards should keep dated photos and cure notices.
Mediation, courts, and state resources when board actions are challenged.
Owner disputes may use Spokane County courts, mediation, or association internal processes. Spokane County recording offices confirm instrument formatting for liens.
Spokane regulates short-term rentals, home occupations, and land use through city zoning and business licensing (verify with Spokane Planning Services). HOA covenants remain enforceable under WUCIOA when recorded and lawfully adopted.
Late fee estimator
Enter your typical monthly assessment to see how local caps may apply. KindHOA can automate notices and fee schedules once your board defines the rules.
Estimated legal ceiling
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Many associations cannot assess late fees until accounts are at least 30 days past due and proper notice has been sent. You entered 15 days past due.
Tell us about your community. We'll show you how KindHOA automates dues, late fees, and resident communication — free for self-managed HOAs.
No per-door fees. No enterprise bloat. Just the tools your neighbors need to run Spokane with confidence.
Spokane County guide for residents and boards: city short-term rental permits do not override recorded HOA covenants, how noise ordinance quiet hours interact with CC&Rs, Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) basics, county recording, and a searchable rules directory (kindhoa.com/blog/hoa-rules-directory-guide).
The quick answer
Reviewed by the KindHOA Editorial Team · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
Official municipal code
Spokane city ordinances
Read the published city code directly from the official online library before comparing it to your HOA covenants.
Summaries below are for board orientation. Verify requirements in the official Spokane municipal code (opens in a new tab).
Spokane municipal code
Spokane regulates short-term rentals, home occupations, and land use through city zoning and business licensing (verify with Spokane Planning Services). HOA covenants remain enforceable under WUCIOA when recorded and lawfully adopted.
HOA governing documents
HOAs enforce recorded use restrictions (minimum lease terms, guest limits, parking) when consistent with applicable city licensure and state law. Covenant enforcement requires notice, cure periods, and uniform application.
Zoning & building code
Spokane Municipal Code establishes fence height, setback, and accessory-structure standards by zone. HOAs may require additional design review through recorded guidelines.
Permit thresholds
Building permits are issued by the building department of Spokane or Spokane County for structural changes. HOA approval is separate. Boards must verify permits under Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA).
HOA architectural control
HOAs review fences and additions through architectural committees under CC&Rs. Municipal compliance alone does not satisfy HOA design or notice requirements.
State / local protections
RCW 64.38.055 restricts HOAs from prohibiting solar panels in Washington state, though reasonable location/aesthetic rules apply. Drought-resistant landscaping is also protected under Washington environmental policy. Confirm rights with association counsel.
What HOAs may still regulate
HOAs may adopt reasonable design rules that meet statutory tests (location, color, timeline). Associations cannot impose outright bans where state law voids them.
HOAs must maintain detention ponds, swales, and drains to meet local stormwater permits.
Board checklist
Cities and counties increasingly regulate STRs. HOAs should align covenant enforcement with municipal registration rules.
Board checklist
Spokane Municipal Code establishes fence height, setback, and accessory-structure standards by zone. HOAs may require additional design review through recorded guidelines.
City of Spokane Code Compliance handles nuisance, trash, and zoning complaints independently of HOA covenant enforcement. Boards should keep dated photos and cure notices.
Building permits are issued by the building department of Spokane or Spokane County for structural changes. HOA approval is separate. Boards must verify permits under Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA).
RCW 64.38.055 restricts HOAs from prohibiting solar panels in Washington state, though reasonable location/aesthetic rules apply. Drought-resistant landscaping is also protected under Washington environmental policy. Confirm rights with association counsel.
Owner disputes may use Spokane County courts, mediation, or association internal processes. Spokane County recording offices confirm instrument formatting for liens.
KindHOA is educational software for self-managed boards, not a law firm, and this guide is not legal advice. State statutes, local ordinances, and your community’s recorded CC&Rs control and change over time — confirm liens, amendments, and enforcement with association counsel and the official sources above.
Free CCIOA checklist plus Denver, Westminster, Springs guides.