Spokane
Background
In August 2022, Spokane – a city of around 200,000 people in Washington State – adopted an interim zoning measure as a trial. The Building Opportunity and Choices for All Act (BOCA), was implemented for a year, temporarily abolishing single-family zoning and allowing the construction of up to fourplexes city-wide.
BOCA did not remain a trial for long. After six months it was initially extended until the end of 2023, and is in the the process of being made permanent ahead of broader upzoning reforms adopted across Washington State, that will begin to affect Spokane in 2026. Spokane has also recently adopted parking reforms, abolishing minimum parking requirements close to transport.
Supply and Rents
Spokane in 2023 has approved more units in the first six months of 2023 than all of 2023. Although most of these are multi-unit, and therefore are not subject directly to the zoning reforms, there has been a noticeable increase in plex construction from the trend, more than doubling the usual rate of plex construction. Additionally, according to the City, there are 425 units in ‘pre-development’, which is an early step in the process that involves developers and landowners meeting with the City and Governmental agencies to determine project feasibility and provide an overview of requirements. Although we do not know how many of these units will be built, they represent 15 years worth of pre-reform plex supply.
Total Supply
Plex Supply
Units in Pre-Development*
It is too early to analyse how rents may be changing in Spokane in response to these reforms. Return to this page later when data on rents will be added.
* Based upon author’s calculations of public applications data. Underestimate based upon true data from the city.