Securing Temporary Occupancy After the Old Trails Fire: A Guide to Living on Your Property

Hey neighbors, Local Luke here.

If you are reading this, my heart goes out to you. The recent Spokane wildfires have tested our Eastern Washington community in ways we never could have imagined. For those of you who have been devastated by the Old Trails Fire, I want you to know one thing right now: there is hope, and you are not alone.

Losing a home is one of the most heartbreaking experiences a family can go through. The memories, the sense of security, the familiar comfort of your own four walls—having that taken away in an instant is deeply traumatic. But as a local contractor who has lived and worked in Eastern Washington for years, I also know the incredible resilience of the people here. We are going to get through this together, and we are going to rebuild your life, step by step.

One of the first questions families ask me when the smoke clears is, "Luke, how can I stay on my land while we rebuild?"

It's a natural instinct. You want to be close to your property, protect what's left, and watch your new home rise from the ashes. Today, I want to guide you through the process of securing temporary occupancy so you can legally and safely live on your property during the rebuild.

Immediate Shelter: Finding Safety First

Before we talk about rebuilding, we need to ensure you and your family are safe right now. If you have just been displaced by the Old Trails Fire, please take advantage of the immediate temporary shelter programs available in our area.

Local authorities and the Red Cross have set up emergency shelters, including spaces at the Spokane Convention Center Cooler weather may aid firefighters battling wildfires in eastern Washington - 104.5 WOKV. Additionally, there are Disaster Recovery Centers, such as the one located at Spokane Falls Community College Wildfire Resources – Spokane Housing Authority, where you can get in-person help with immediate housing, food, and FEMA assistance.

Please use these resources to catch your breath. Once you are safe and ready to look toward the future, we can start planning your return home.

The Healing Power of Living On-Site

When a home is damaged by a wildfire, many families prefer to remain close to their property during repairs Living on Your Property During Rebuild | RVHousingPros | RV Housing Pros. Living on-site in an RV or temporary housing allows you to:

• Oversee the Rebuild: You get to watch the daily progress of your new home.
• Protect Your Land: Being present gives you peace of mind over your property.
• Maintain Normalcy: You can keep your pets with you, stay in your own neighborhood, and avoid the stress of long-term hotel stays.

At Raven Buildings LLC, we highly encourage this if it brings you comfort. There is something incredibly healing about stepping out of your temporary RV with your morning coffee, breathing in the crisp Eastern Washington air, and watching our crews frame up your beautiful, brand-new custom home.

How to Legally Live on Your Property: The Temporary Use Permit

You can't just park an RV on an empty lot indefinitely, but local regulations are designed to help families who are actively rebuilding.

In Spokane County and Spokane Valley, you can apply for a Temporary Use Permit (TUP). This permit allows an individual to conduct a permitted use on their property—like living in an RV—while they are improving the property to meet a required code standard Temporary Use Permit | Spokane Valley, WA.

To get this permit approved, you generally need to have an active building permit for your new home. This is where we come in. When you partner with Raven Buildings LLC, we handle the heavy lifting of the design, engineering, and permitting process. We will help you coordinate your building permits so you can secure your Temporary Use Permit without the headache.

Setting Up Utilities for Eastern Washington Weather

Living in an RV during a rebuild means preparing for our unique climate. Eastern Washington summers are scorching, and our winters bring freezing temperatures and heavy snow. To live comfortably and legally on your property, you must set up proper utilities:

• Power: We can help you set up a temporary power pole on your property so you don't have to rely on noisy, expensive generators.
• Water: If your well survived the fire, we can help ensure the water is tested and safe to connect to your temporary housing. If you are on city water, we will coordinate the temporary hookups.
• Septic/Sewer: You will need a legal way to dispose of wastewater. If your septic system is intact, it can often be utilized. Otherwise, scheduled pumping services will be required.

Pro Tip from Local Luke: If you are staying in an RV through the winter, make sure you invest in an insulated, heated water hose and proper RV skirting to keep your pipes from freezing!

Moving In: The Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO)

As we build your new home, there may come a point where the house is mostly finished, but a few non-essential items (like exterior landscaping or a final driveway pour) are delayed due to winter weather.

You don't have to stay in your RV until every single blade of grass is planted. Spokane offers a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO). This allows partial or conditional use of a building while final items are being completed Spokane Certificate Of Occupancy: Essential Compliance Guide – myshyft.com.

We will work directly with the Spokane Certificate of Occupancy Coordinator to submit your TCO application Business & Development Commercial Certificate of Occupancy - City of Spokane, Washington, ensuring that the living spaces are 100% safe, structurally sound, and up to code so you can move your family out of the RV and into your beautiful new home as quickly as possible.

Let Raven Buildings LLC Guide You Home

Rebuilding after the Old Trails Fire is a journey, but it is not a journey you have to take alone.

At Raven Buildings LLC, we don't just build houses; we build homes. We build safe havens where your family can create new memories. We specialize in wildfire-resilient construction, utilizing materials like HardiePlank siding, metal roofing, and fire-resistant decking to give you peace of mind for the future.

We know the local codes, we know the Spokane County permit offices, and most importantly, we know how to listen to our neighbors. We will hold your hand through the entire process—from clearing the lot and securing your temporary occupancy, to handing you the keys to your stunning, custom-built home.

There is a bright future ahead, and we are here to help you build it.

Ready to take the first step toward rebuilding? Let's talk. Call Raven Buildings LLC today at (509) 350-2016 or contact us online to request a quote. We are ready to bring you home.