In The News - 5/21/2025

KREM

Boomtown: Spokane breaks records in housing boom — Here’s what’s fueling it

The city says it issued 1,433 residential permits this year, marking a 32% increase in total permits over the last three years.

The City of Spokane is experiencing a major housing boom, having permitted more housing units in 2024 than in any previous year, according to a recent announcement. The city issued 1,433 residential permits this year, marking a 32 percent increase in total permits over the last three years. A significant majority of those permits were for multifamily housing—which more than doubled during the same time period.

Among the new developments permitted last year is an apartment complex located near Gonzaga University. It's built on the site of a former four-bedroom rental house affectionately known as "The 803." The renovated property can now accommodate roughly 50 tenants.

These new apartments are part of a record-setting year for housing permits in the city.

When asked what is driving this upward trend, city officials pointed to recent changes in housing policy and zoning codes. Reform efforts over the past two years have included allowing multiple units on every residential lot in the city, eliminating parking minimums, and removing height restrictions downtown.

“It’s a positive story because it's really addressing an issue that we have here—the housing crisis,” Steven MacDonald, Spokane’s Community & Economic Development Director said.

He emphasizes the importance of maintaining this momentum.

“We need to continue to keep at this pace, Macdonald said. "One, because some of our housing stock is older and we want to be able to have newer housing stock here. And two, because for many years there wasn't a lot of building going on, so we're playing a little bit of catch up. But we're certainly meeting the goals that the state sets out for each of the cities.”

The city expects 2025 residential permit numbers to remain on par with last year’s record total.

In anticipation of continued growth, the city has added four new positions to its Development Services Center.