Spokane Register of Historic Places
Nominating a Property | Application Review | Design Review | About Local Historic Districts
The Spokane Register of Historic Places is our local government’s official list of properties that have been designated as significant contributors to the historical development of Spokane. The Register was established by ordinance in both the City and County of Spokane in 1981 and 1982, respectively. These ordinances deem the City/County Historic Landmarks Commission responsible for the stewardship of historic and architecturally significant properties. Nominations to the Spokane Register must be accompanied by owner consent. Properties must be located on the Spokane Register of Historic Places or be a contributing property in a Spokane Register Historic District in order to access incentives such as Special Tax Valuation (10-year property tax reduction incentive) or the Facade Improvement Grant Program.
Eligibility for the Spokane Register is generally reserved for properties 50 years of age or older and is determined by the following criteria:
- (Category A) Those structures that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our local history; or
- (Category B) That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
- (Category C) Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction; or
- (Category D) That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important to prehistory or history; and
- (Category E) A property that represents the culture and heritage of the city of Spokane in ways not adequately addressed in the other criteria, as in its visual prominence, reference to intangible heritage, or any range of cultural practices.
Once a property has been determined eligible for placement on the Spokane Register, a nomination is completed for the property either by the property owner or a consultant. The nomination then goes before the Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission, which meets the third Wednesday of each month. The Commission will make a recommendation, based on the nomination, to the Spokane City Council, which will be heard and voted on at the next available Council Meeting.
Requirements for Application
Draft Nomination Form: A draft nomination to the Spokane Register of Historic Places must be submitted to the Historic Preservation Office 30 days before the Landmarks Commission Meeting. Please send documents in MS Word or Adobe PDF format (MS Word preferred) via email to preservation@spokanecity.org. Staff will respond with suggestions or revisions.
Final Nomination Form: The final nomination to the Spokane Register must be submitted no later than two weeks before the Landmarks Commission Meeting. Completed final nomination forms and accompanying documents must be submitted electronically to the Historic Preservation Office at preservation@spokanecity.org.
- View the Spokane Register Nomination Guide 2023 and download a fillable Spokane Register Fillable Form.
Management Agreement Form: A completed Management Agreement form, with notarized signature of owner(s). (can be delivered at the hearing)
Maps: Illustrative maps.
Color Photographs: At least six digital photographs showing: primary and secondary elevations and landscape; at least one photograph showing the property in the context of its neighborhood; and at least six representative interior photos of significant interior features.
Spokane Register Nomination Fees: Due Upon Submission of Nomination:
Residential property: $50 Nomination Fee + $303.50 County Auditor Filing Fee = $353.50 Total Due
Commercial property: $100 Nomination Fee + $303.50 County Auditor Filing Fee = $403.50 Total Due
- Hearing Schedule: Once staff determines the application is complete, a hearing will be scheduled with the Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission, which usually meets the third Wednesday of each month.
- Public Notice: Staff will publish a public hearing notice in the Spokesman-Review 14 days prior to the hearing date.
- Site Visit: A sub-committee of the Landmarks Commission will visit and view the property prior to the hearing date. That site visit is generally held two weeks prior to the public meeting.
- Hearing: Staff will present the nomination. The applicant, or a qualified representative or consultant, should be present and will have an opportunity to offer comments concerning the nomination.
- Decision: City staff submits the nomination, Management Agreement, and findings of fact to City Council or the Board of County Commissioners for a final decision.
- Notification: Staff will notify the applicant of the final decision and forward any relative documents for the applicant’s files.
Historic Marker Program
The Historic Preservation Office and the Historic Landmarks Commission have long worked toward the establishment of an historic marker program for properties listed on the Spokane Register of Historic Places. Local artist Marcia Smith created a handsome design executed in a 10-inch bronze plaque. The plaques are designed for exterior mounting, and finished with a clear acrylic lacquer for extra protection against the elements.
The Spokane Register Historic Marker Program offers us the opportunity to recognize those residences and commercial properties that contribute significantly to the historic and architectural character of this community. We envision this project as a means of applauding local preservation efforts, as well as an effective educational tool.
To purchase a plaque, simply come to City Hall, 3rd Floor. You will be able to pay the $250 purchase price and take your plaque home with you!
Simply put, Design Review is the process that helps insure any alterations to a building do not adversely affect that building’s historic character and appearance. There are many benefits to conducting design review which include the preservation of the unique and historic qualities of our shared environment, the promotion of unique business environments and the protection of neighborhood identity.
Owners of properties listed on the Spokane Register of Historic Places agree to follow Management Standards and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation outlined in their “Management Agreement.” This agreement states than an owner must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), or approval, for any action affecting use, exterior appearance, new construction or demolition of the designated historic structure.
It’s important to note that normal maintenance or repair does not require design review if no changes are made to the exterior appearance of the building.
To learn more about design review, please click here.
About Local Historic Districts
Spokane’s historic districts are “areas in which historic buildings and their settings are protected by public review, and encompass buildings deemed significant to the city’s cultural fabric. A property included in a historic district, valued for its historical associations or architectural quality, is worth protecting because it is a virtue to the special and unique personality of the city.” (National Trust for Historic Preservation)
Eligibility requirements and the application process are similar to the process for individual properties listed on the Spokane Register. A district’s boundaries must relate to the significance of the district and the “period of significance” of the district. All properties within the proposed historic district must be photographed and have a resource sheet prepared and included with the nomination form. Specific design standards and guidelines must be prepared for the proposed district. In order to form a local historic district, a balloting process must be completed and requires approval by a majority of the property owners. For information about the creation of historic districts on the Spokane Register, you might consider reviewing the Historic Preservation ordinance in the Spokane Municipal Code.
Learn more about Spokane’s local historic districts.
