Office of the Hearing Examiner

Listed below are recent decisions on land use matters issued by the Hearing Examiner. If the item you are looking for is not in this group, please contact the Hearing Examiner's Office for assistance.

Click each year to view the files available. Click again to hide that year. They are filed according to the year of the decision, not the year the application was filed.

2012 Land Use Decisions

2011 Land Use Decisions

2010 Land Use Decisions

2009 Land Use Decisions

2008 Land Use Decisions

2007 Land Use Decisions

2006 Land Use Decisions

2005 Land Use Decisions

2004 Land Use Decisions

2003 Land Use Decisions

2002 Land Use Decisions

2001 Land Use Decisions



The Office of the Hearing Examiner acts on behalf of the City Council in issuing written documentation and recommendations on land use applications for variances, conditional use permits, rezones, subdivisions, and other permits. The office also hears matters relating to local improvement districts, junk vehicles, dangerous buildings, and dangerous dogs, as well as other matters referred by the City Council. To this end, the Hearing Examiner holds public administrative or quasi-judicial hearings, receives public testimony and written evidence, reviews and interprets applicable land use ordinances, and issues a written decision or recommendation setting forth findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Hearing Examiner is an attorney specializing in land use law, appointed by the Spokane City Council. The Hearing Examiner's Office is not part of the Planning Department.

The City maintains a separate file for every application and/or appeal. The file is available for public review and normally includes the application, an environmental checklist, SEPA threshold determination, draft and final environmental impact statements (if required), technical studies, record of public notice, agency comments, and all correspondence received. Persons desiring to review the file in advance of the hearing should call the Planning Department for an appointment. After the hearing and after the Hearing Examiner's decision is rendered, the complete file will be available for review in the Hearing Examiner's Office.