Glossary

ADU

ADU means Accessory Dwelling Unit. It is a second, smaller home on the same property as a main house.

A backyard cottage, basement apartment, or converted garage can be an ADU. Spokane made these homes easier to build in 2022.

AMI

AMI means Area Median Income. Housing programs use it to decide who qualifies for help and what rent may be charged.

For one person in Spokane in 2026, 100% AMI is about $80,000 a year. 50% AMI is about $40,000.

Anti-displacement

Anti-displacement means steps meant to help current residents and businesses stay when housing costs rise or buildings are redeveloped.

Examples include moving-cost help, tenant protections, and homes with income and price limits.

The rules and results differ from one program to another.

BOCA

BOCA means Building Opportunities and Choices for All. This temporary 2022 program allowed up to four homes on many residential properties in Spokane.

The City replaced BOCA with permanent housing rules in January 2024.

BOCC

BOCC means Board of County Commissioners. It is Spokane County's elected governing board.

The board assigned Spokane a target of 23,357 more people by 2046 as the City's share of regional growth.

BRT

BRT means Bus Rapid Transit. It is a bus route designed to run faster and more often than regular service.

Spokane's City Line is one example. Another line is planned for Division Street.

BUILDSpokane

BUILDSpokane is the City's rewrite of the rules for what can be built.

It will cover building height, distance from property lines, landscaping, parking, and how projects are reviewed.

PlanSpokane sets the broad direction. BUILDSpokane writes the detailed rules.

Capital Facilities

Capital facilities are the public systems a city builds and maintains. They include water, sewer, streets, parks, and fire stations.

The plan must address what Spokane needs, when it is needed, and how it will be paid for.

Centers and Corridors

Centers and Corridors is Spokane's plan to place more homes and businesses near major streets, bus routes, and busy intersections.

The idea is to focus growth in these areas instead of spreading it evenly across the city.

Climate Element / House Bill 1181 (HB 1181)

HB 1181 is a 2023 state law. It requires Spokane's growth plan to address climate risks and greenhouse-gas pollution.

Spokane is putting these policies throughout the plan instead of writing one separate climate chapter.

Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

This City study looks at how heat, smoke, flooding, drought, and other climate threats could affect Spokane's people, homes, roads, utilities, trees, and waterways.

The City published it in June 2025 and uses it in the PlanSpokane update.

Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI)

The CVI is a City map showing which parts of Spokane may be hurt most by heat, smoke, flooding, and other climate problems.

It combines more than 30 kinds of data. Parts of Northeast Spokane and the I-90 corridor rank above the city average.

Commercial Conversion

Commercial Conversion is a state tax break for turning an underused store, office, or other business property into housing with price limits.

The owner can delay sales and use taxes on construction. Those taxes may be forgiven if the housing follows the price rules for at least 10 years.

Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan is Spokane's official plan for how the city should grow over the next 20 years.

It gives broad direction for housing, streets, transit, parks, and public services. Zoning later sets the building types and sizes allowed on a property.

PlanSpokane is the current update.

Concurrency

Concurrency means checking whether public facilities can serve new growth when it arrives.

For transportation, a project may have to wait, change, or help pay for improvements when the road system does not meet the City's adopted standard. Spokane also plans capacity for water, sewer, parks, and other services.

Critical Areas

Critical areas are land and water that need extra protection.

Examples include wetlands, wildlife habitat, flood areas, water-supply areas, and land at risk of sliding.

State law requires Spokane to protect these places through local rules.

CRSB

CRSB means Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board. This City-appointed board reviewed the climate parts of Spokane's growth plan.

For this work, it also serves as Spokane's Climate Policy Advisory Team, or CPAT.

In February 2026, it recommended 97 policies across 11 parts of the plan.

Data center sales-tax exemption

Washington exempts qualifying data centers from sales and use tax on certain equipment, power infrastructure, and installation labor.

The current urban program applies only in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Spokane County does not qualify.

A 2026 bill that would have added Spokane County did not become law.

DEIS / EIS

DEIS means Draft Environmental Impact Statement. It is the version released for public review before the agency completes its analysis.

An EIS studies how a plan could affect traffic, public services, neighborhoods, and the environment. The final version, the FEIS, comes before the City's final decision.

Density

Density means the number of homes, or dwelling units, per acre.

A house counts as one dwelling unit, a duplex as two, and a sixplex as six.

Design Review

Design review looks at how a proposed building will look and fit on its property.

For example, an apartment building may already be allowed while design review considers its entrances, materials, shape, and landscaping.

Design review does not decide whether that kind of building is allowed there.

Development Standards

Development standards are the detailed rules for how a building must fit on its property.

They cover height, parking, landscaping, distance from property lines, and how much of the lot a building can cover.

Other rules decide whether homes, shops, offices, or other uses are allowed there.

Displacement

Displacement happens when redevelopment or rising costs push current residents or businesses out of a neighborhood.

A building may be demolished or converted. People may also be priced out even when it remains.

Dwelling Unit

A dwelling unit is one complete place to live, with its own sleeping, cooking, and bathroom facilities.

A studio apartment, a one-bedroom apartment, and a three-bedroom apartment each count as one dwelling unit. Bedrooms do not count as separate dwelling units. A duplex counts as two dwelling units, and a sixplex as six.

Emergency Ordinance

An emergency ordinance is a City law passed to take effect immediately instead of waiting through the usual effective-date period.

Spokane used this process to adopt BOCA in 2022. The program was temporary and was later replaced by permanent housing rules.

Flexible Thresholds for Categorical Exemptions

Flexible thresholds are project-size limits under SEPA. A project at or below Spokane's adopted limit can skip the usual project-level environmental checklist and threshold decision.

Spokane's current code uses a 20-unit limit for residential projects. The City's consultant recommends considering higher limits, up to the state maximums shown below, but its table lists Spokane's multifamily threshold as four units while current City code says 20; this comparison uses the code.

These are maximums, not a final Spokane decision; before raising a limit, the City must document how its current rules protect environmental and cultural resources and allow at least 60 days of public and agency comment. An exemption removes only project-level SEPA review; zoning, building, stormwater, and critical-area rules still apply, and some projects cannot use the exemption.

Future Land Use Map (FLUM)

The Future Land Use Map shows the general kind of growth the City plans for each area.

For example, a Residential High designation shows where denser housing is planned. Later zoning and development rules decide the building types and sizes allowed on a property.

The City released the draft parcel-level map on August 7, 2026. It is still proposed, not adopted.

Growth Management Act (GMA)

The Growth Management Act is the state law that tells growing cities and counties how to plan for housing, transportation, public services, and the environment.

It requires Spokane to update its 20-year growth plan on a regular schedule.

House Bill 1220 (HB 1220)

HB 1220 is a 2021 state housing law. It requires cities to plan for housing needs at every income level.

It also requires cities to examine racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in housing policies and regulations.

Housing affordability

Housing affordability asks whether people can pay for the homes available without spending too much of their income. A common guideline is no more than 30% of income.

When a program limits who qualifies or what rent or sale price may be charged, Spokane2046.com calls that income-restricted or price-restricted housing.

Adding housing does not by itself guarantee that people can afford it.

Housing capacity

Housing capacity is the number of homes that zoning and site rules could legally accommodate.

It is permission on paper, not a count of homes that will be built or made affordable.

Impervious Surface

An impervious surface is a hard surface that rain cannot easily soak through.

Roofs, roads, driveways, and parking lots are examples. More hard surfaces send more water into streets and drains instead of into the ground.

Infill

Infill means building new homes or businesses inside an area that is already developed.

It may use vacant land or replace an existing building.

Land Capacity Analysis (LCA)

The LCA is the City's estimate of how many more homes and jobs could fit in Spokane under its rules.

For example, a vacant lot that allows four homes may count as capacity for four even when no project is proposed.

The estimate depends on which land is available, what the rules allow, and what the City assumes can actually be built.

LOS

LOS means Level of Service. For traffic, it is a grade from A through F showing how much delay drivers face.

A generally means less traffic delay. F means more delay.

The City uses similar targets to judge whether parks, water, sewer, and other services are keeping up with growth.

Market-rate housing

Market-rate housing has no income or price limit. The owner charges what renters or buyers will pay.

A lower-priced apartment can still be market-rate if no housing program limits its rent.

Market-rate does not automatically mean luxury.

MFTE

MFTE means Multi-Family Tax Exemption. It is a City tax break for certain apartments, townhouses, and buildings with both homes and businesses.

For 8, 12, or 20 years, the owner does not pay property tax on the new housing. The land is still taxed.

Some versions require lower rents in part of the building.

Middle Housing

Middle housing has more than one home but is smaller than a large apartment building.

Examples include duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and groups of small cottages. These buildings are often close in size to a house or small apartment building.

Mitigation

Mitigation is an action promised to prevent, reduce, repair, or make up for harm caused by a project or plan.

Examples include preserving trees, building a turn lane, reducing noise, or restoring a wetland.

A promise is not proof of a result. Check whether the action is required, paid for, assigned to someone, and measured afterward.

Mixed-use

Mixed-use means homes and businesses in the same building or on the same block, like apartments above a shop.

PlanSpokane's centers and corridors approach relies on mixed-use so people can live near stores, jobs, and transit.

Nonconforming Use

A nonconforming use is a building or activity that was legal when it started but no longer matches current rules.

For example, a store may remain after new zoning allows only homes on that property.

It can usually continue, although rebuilding or expanding it may be limited. People sometimes call this grandfathered.

OFM

OFM means Office of Financial Management. It is the state agency that forecasts how Washington's population may change.

Those forecasts help set Spokane's growth target. The next one is due before the 2036 plan update.

Overlay Zone

An overlay zone is a boundary drawn on the zoning map on top of the zoning already there.

Inside the boundary, certain rules are added, relaxed, or replaced while the underlying zoning remains. Cities use overlays for historic districts, airport noise areas, shoreline rules, and downtown design standards.

Parking 2 People

Parking 2 People is a tax break for replacing an underused outdoor parking lot with housing.

The owner can delay construction sales tax. The tax may be forgiven if at least half the homes follow income and price rules.

Planned Unit Development (PUD)

A PUD lets a larger property be planned as one project instead of one lot at a time.

For example, homes may be grouped closer together so another part of the property can remain shared open space.

Homes, streets, open space, and other features are reviewed together under one approved plan.

PlanSpokane

PlanSpokane is the City's current update to its 20-year growth plan.

It is also the name of the City's official website for the process.

Preferred Alternative

The Preferred Alternative is the combination of map and policies City staff recommends after studying several growth options.

It is the basis for the next version of the plan, but it is not the adopted plan.

PSH

PSH means Permanent Supportive Housing. It combines a long-term apartment with rent help and services for people leaving homelessness or living with disabilities.

The state places this housing in the lowest-income part of Spokane's housing target.

Public Comment

Public comment is written or spoken input sent to government before a decision.

For PlanSpokane, comments become part of the material the Spokane Plan Commission and City Council consider.

A comment does not guarantee an outcome, but it shows that an issue was raised.

RCW

RCW means Revised Code of Washington. It is the collection of state laws passed by the Washington State Legislature.

State agencies adopt more detailed WAC rules to carry out those laws. Spokane's local code must operate within state law.

The number after RCW points to one specific section of state law.

R1

R1 is one of Spokane's residential zones.

It allows houses, middle housing, and multi-unit residential buildings, subject to development standards and other site rules.

On development sites of two acres or less, the code does not apply a maximum-density limit.

Rent increase limit (House Bill 1217)

Washington limits most annual rent increases. The limit is 9.683% for 2026 and 10% for 2027.

New buildings are exempt for their first 12 years.

SEPA

SEPA means State Environmental Policy Act. This state law requires government to study possible environmental harm before making certain decisions.

A review may examine traffic, water, air, wildlife habitat, noise, and public services.

For PlanSpokane, that review is mainly done through an Environmental Impact Statement.

SEPA Exemption Expansion

SEPA exemption expansion means allowing more projects to skip their own project-level environmental review.

This can happen by raising flexible thresholds based on project size or by adopting an exemption for development in a mapped area. PlanSpokane and BUILDSpokane records discuss both approaches.

An exemption may speed up permits. Building, zoning, stormwater, critical-area, and other rules would still apply.

SMC

SMC means Spokane Municipal Code. It is the collection of local laws adopted by the Spokane City Council.

The SMC turns state requirements and City policy into local procedures and rules. It must operate within Washington state law.

The number after SMC points to one specific section of Spokane law.

Spokane City Council

Spokane City Council is the City's elected lawmaking body. It adopts the Comprehensive Plan, zoning rules, budgets, and other City laws.

For PlanSpokane, the Spokane Plan Commission makes recommendations and City Council votes on adoption.

Spokane Plan Commission

The Spokane Plan Commission is a City-appointed board whose members serve without pay. It reviews growth plans, holds public hearings, and recommends what City Council should adopt.

State Middle-Housing Law

Washington law requires cities such as Spokane to allow more homes on residential lots.

Cities may set setbacks and tree-protection rules. Those rules generally cannot be stricter for middle housing than for detached houses.

TAZ

TAZ means Transportation Analysis Zone. It is one small area on a traffic-model map.

A neighborhood may contain several TAZs. The model estimates trips between them and which roads those trips use.

Tech Hub

Spokane's tech hub is the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center, a group of companies, agencies, and schools working on lightweight composite materials for aircraft.

It is an aerospace-manufacturing project, not a data center. It appears in data-center discussions because City Council asked how new rules might affect the hub's site.

TOD / ETOD

TOD means Transit-Oriented Development. It places homes, shops, and services within an easy walk of frequent bus or train service.

ETOD means Equitable Transit-Oriented Development. It adds the goal that people with a range of incomes should be able to afford to live there.

Tree canopy

Tree canopy is the area covered by branches and leaves when seen from above.

The City has a goal of 30% canopy coverage by 2030. The draft plan says to focus first on parts of Spokane where tree cover is low or missing.

The urban forest includes trees on public and private land. A citywide target does not, by itself, protect a particular tree or neighborhood.

Urban Growth Area (UGA)

The UGA is the boundary around land planned for city growth and city services such as water, sewer, roads, and transit.

Land inside the boundary is planned for urban growth. Land outside is generally planned to remain rural.

The boundary is meant to keep city growth from spreading onto rural land.

Utility allowance

A utility allowance is a program's estimate of what a tenant pays for utilities.

The program subtracts that amount when it sets the highest allowed rent.

If rent and utilities together are limited to $1,000 and utilities are estimated at $150, the rent limit is $850.

VMT

VMT means Vehicle Miles Traveled. It is the total distance people drive, often shown as miles per person.

If two people each drive 10 miles, their total VMT is 20 miles.

The plan uses VMT to estimate whether a growth option may lead to more or less driving.

WAC

WAC means Washington Administrative Code. These are detailed rules adopted by state agencies to carry out laws in the RCW.

The number after WAC points to one specific state rule.

WAHCAP

WAHCAP means Washington Habitat Connectivity Action Plan. It is a 2025 state plan for keeping wildlife routes connected as land is developed.

Commenters cite it when asking Spokane to map how wildlife moves through the city.

Workforce housing

Workforce housing usually means homes for working people who earn too much for many housing programs but still struggle with regular rents or home prices.

The term has no fixed income range. Check what a program or speaker means when using it.

WUI

WUI means wildland–urban interface: places where buildings and other development meet or mix with vegetation that can burn.

WUI outreach means communication about those areas. WUI standards are rules addressing their risks. Neither phrase, by itself, establishes an evacuation plan.

YIMBY

YIMBY stands for Yes In My Back Yard. It is a label for supporting more housing, often in existing neighborhoods.

The label does not identify which projects or rules a person supports. Check the specific proposal.

Zoning & Development Code

Zoning and the development code are the property-by-property rules for what can be built.

For example, zoning may allow a duplex while also setting its maximum height, parking, landscaping, and distance from property lines.

The Comprehensive Plan gives the broad direction. Zoning and the development code provide the legal details.

Catholic Charities Eastern Washington (CCEW)

CCEW is a nonprofit serving people across Eastern Washington.

In Spokane, it operates income-restricted housing, housing with on-site support, and emergency shelters.

Community Frameworks

Community Frameworks is a Spokane nonprofit that develops income-restricted housing and helps other nonprofits and housing authorities create it across the Northwest.

It also provides homebuyer counseling, down-payment help, rental housing, and development services.

Greenstone Corporation

Greenstone is a Spokane-area homebuilder and land developer.

In a PlanSpokane comment, founder Jim Frank questioned the plan's housing-cost assumptions and asked the City to study ownership, smaller housing types, and neighborhood-scale mixed-use growth.

Habitat for Humanity Spokane

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit that helps lower-income households buy homes in Spokane County.

It builds homes, provides financing, and supports buyers through the purchase process.

Spokane Home Builders Association

The Spokane Home Builders Association is a local trade group for home builders, remodelers, and other construction businesses.

It appears in Spokane2046.com records because its representatives have commented on local housing rules and development costs.

Spokane Housing Authority (SHA)

SHA is a public agency that provides rent assistance and income-restricted housing across Eastern Washington.

Its programs include housing vouchers, help tied to specific properties, and apartments it operates.

Spokane Housing Coalition

The Spokane Housing Coalition is a local advocacy group of housing providers and builders.

It supports more housing construction and faster permitting. It is independent from the City.

Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium (SLIHC)

SLIHC is a member group for organizations and people working on lower-cost housing across Greater Spokane.

It provides training, education, and a shared public voice. It does not provide housing itself.

Clarion Associates

Clarion is a national consulting company the City hired to help rewrite Spokane's development code through BUILDSpokane.

Spokane Realtors

Spokane Realtors is the local trade group for real estate professionals. It belongs to the National Association of Realtors.

Its monthly reports provide local home-price figures. It also presented housing data at the April 14, 2026 Plan Commission hearing.

The group publishes The Truth About Housing with the Spokane Housing Coalition.

Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP)

DSP is a private nonprofit representing downtown property and business owners.

It works on development, safety, and investment. It also manages a district where property owners pay for added downtown services.

Northeast Public Development Authority (NEPDA)

NEPDA is a public corporation created by the City of Spokane and Spokane County to guide economic development in greater Hillyard.

It invests in infrastructure and real estate, offers incentives, and helps projects navigate permits.

Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC)

SRTC coordinates long-term transportation planning across Spokane County.

It brings local governments and transportation agencies together on major roads, transit, growth, and funding.

Spokane Transit Authority (STA)

STA is the public agency that runs bus service across the Spokane region.

Its projects include the Division Street Bus Rapid Transit line discussed in the growth plan.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)

WDFW is the state agency responsible for fish, wildlife, and their habitat.

Its role in local growth plans includes reviewing possible harm to wetlands, habitat, and wildlife.

Washington State Department of Commerce

Commerce is the state agency that helps local governments follow the Growth Management Act.

Its housing estimates, planning guides, grants, and annual rent-cap information help shape Spokane's plan update.

Washington State Department of Ecology

Ecology is the state agency that oversees SEPA rules and explains how environmental review works.

Its work on water also appears in the PlanSpokane record.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

DNR is the state agency that manages forests, wildfire work, state-owned land, and the Washington Geological Survey.

A DNR staff member commented on Spokane's Draft EIS and pointed the City to state maps and information about the ground beneath Spokane.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

WSDOT is the state agency responsible for highways and some transit routes.

It reviews local growth plans for possible effects on traffic and highway access.

350 Spokane

350 Spokane is a local climate-advocacy organization.

In PlanSpokane comments, residents using its main points asked the City to map natural areas and study environmental effects before expanding SEPA exemptions.

California YIMBY

California YIMBY is a group that supports building more housing and changing rules that limit development.

Its research director, Nolan Gray, interviewed Spokane Rising writer Anthony Gill about Spokane's zoning changes on the Abundance podcast. That interview is preserved on this site.

Friends of Spokane Trees (FOST)

Friends of Spokane Trees is a local tree-advocacy group.

In its PlanSpokane comment, the group warned that less environmental review and fewer limits on development could harm trees, air, and water.

Futurewise

Futurewise is a statewide land-use organization that supports growth inside cities, housing choices, transportation options, and environmental protection.

In its PlanSpokane comment, it raised questions about displacement, water supply, transportation assumptions, and natural-area mapping.

Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI)

GSI is the Spokane region's chamber of commerce and a private member organization.

It works on economic development, jobs, worker training, and business growth.

Spokane Reimagined

Spokane Reimagined is a local group that supports safer streets, better transit, and growth near transit.

At an April 2026 Plan Commission hearing, it supported the proposed transit focus and said the map omitted some existing transit lines.

Spokane Riverkeeper

Spokane Riverkeeper is an independent local nonprofit that works to protect the Spokane River and its watershed.

Board member Brian Muegge testified at City Council about water and noise concerns related to data centers.

Strong Towns

Strong Towns is a national nonprofit that supports gradual growth cities can afford to maintain.

Its Bottom Up Revolution podcast interviewed Spokane's planning director in 2022 about the City's early housing-rule changes. The interview is available as an article and podcast.

Community Assembly

The Community Assembly is a citywide group made up of representatives from Spokane's neighborhood councils.

It brings neighborhood concerns into City discussions through the City's neighborhood-council system.

Grandview-Thorpe Neighborhood Council

This City-recognized neighborhood council covers southwest Spokane west of Highway 195 and south of Interstate 90.

Latah Valley Neighborhood Council

This neighborhood group covers the Latah Valley area of southwest Spokane.

The City's official name for the council is the Latah/Hangman Neighborhood Council.

North Indian Trail Neighborhood Council

This is the City-recognized neighborhood council for North Indian Trail.

It has asked the City to show that schools, roads, and evacuation routes can handle more homes before allowing them.

Spokane Urban Nature

Spokane Urban Nature is a local group asking the City to identify and protect trees and wildlife habitat as Spokane grows.

Its February 2026 comment proposed keeping wildlife habitat connected. Similar wording later appeared in the CRSB's recommended climate policies.