Spokane County commissioners approve sharp cut to demolition permit fees for recent wildfire victims

On July 14, 2026, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reduce demolition permit charges for residents affected by recent upriver wildfires.

A commissioner who moved the consent-agenda motion told the board the county previously reduced fees after the Grayson, Oregon Road fire and proposed the same relief for the most recent victims. “The permit itself, normally costs over $340. We're dropping that down to $27.12 for the administrative and processing side of the county and a $6.50 fee that we're required by the state to charge,” the commissioner said.

The motion to approve items 3, 4 and 5 — including the demolition permit fee reduction in item 5c — was moved by a commissioner and seconded by another commissioner. The chair called for a vote and all present commissioners signified “aye”; the chair pronounced the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the change sharply reduces out-of-pocket demolition costs the county ordinarily charges, which county speakers framed as targeted financial relief for households recovering from recent wildfire damage. Commissioners described the reduction as extending a practice used after an earlier wildfire to help lower the cost burden of demolition for affected residents.

What the board approved: acceptance of the consent agenda items that include the fee reduction; the transcript records the county administrative/processing fee at $27.12 and a separate state-mandated $6.50 charge. The board did not state additional implementation dates, conditions or funding offsets in the recorded discussion.

The board completed the consent-agenda vote and moved on to schedule a short closed session; no further public hearings were held during the meeting.