Spokane Wildfire Rebuild Hub
Free recovery resources and important contacts for Spokane-area homeowners affected by wildfires. You do not have to work through this alone.
Raven Buildings is an independent local contractor and is not affiliated with FEMA, Spokane County, any city, insurance company, or other government agency. Information in this portal is general organizational and rebuilding guidance. It is not legal, financial, engineering, permitting, or insurance advice. Requirements and contact information should be confirmed directly with the appropriate agency or licensed professional.
Important Contacts Directory
Emergency Services
Spokane County Emergency Management
Department of Emergency Management
Coordinates county-wide disaster response, evacuation updates, and recovery coordination after wildfires.
Services: Disaster coordination, evacuation status, recovery resource referrals, debris program info.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Emergency Services (911)
Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies, active fires, gas leaks, or immediate safety hazards at your property.
Services: Emergency response, fire suppression, medical emergencies, immediate hazard assessment.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
City Building Department
City of Spokane Building & Planning (Permits)
Primary building permit authority within Spokane city limits. Issues building, mechanical, and demolition permits and conducts inspections.
Services: Building permits, plan review, inspections, zoning confirmation, demolition permits.
Commonly required: Permit-ready plans, Site plan, Parcel number
Last verified: 2026-08-05
County Building Department
Spokane County Building & Planning Department
Primary building permit authority for unincorporated Spokane County. Issues building, mechanical, and demolition permits and conducts inspections.
Services: Building permits, plan review, inspections, zoning confirmation, demolition permits.
Commonly required: Permit-ready plans, Site plan, Parcel number, Proof of water/septic approval
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Planning & Zoning
Spokane County Building & Planning — Planning Division
Confirms zoning, setbacks, critical areas, and wildfire/urban-wildland interface requirements for unincorporated county parcels.
Services: Zoning confirmation, setback/easement review, critical areas, pre-application meetings.
Commonly required: Parcel number, Site plan
Last verified: 2026-08-05
City of Spokane Planning & Development
Confirms zoning, setbacks, critical areas, and design review for properties within Spokane city limits.
Services: Zoning confirmation, setback review, critical areas, design review.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Environmental Health
Spokane Regional Health District
Public health district handling environmental health, septic permits, well water safety, and post-fire health guidance for Spokane County.
Services: Environmental health, septic system permits/inspection, drinking water guidance, health hazard assessment.
Commonly required: Property address, Parcel number
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Septic
Spokane Regional Health District
Environmental Public Health — Septic Program
Permits, inspects, and repairs on-site septic systems. Required for rebuilding on properties served by septic.
Services: Septic permits, repair approvals, system records, soil/site evaluation.
Commonly required: Parcel number, Site plan, Soil evaluation
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Wells & Drinking Water
Washington Department of Ecology
Water Resources Program
Regulates well construction, well decommissioning, and water rights. Confirms well records and replacement requirements.
Services: Well permits, well logs/records, water rights, well decommissioning.
Commonly required: Parcel number, Well log ID
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Fire Marshal
Washington State Fire Marshal's Office
State Fire Marshal. Provides wildfire-resistant construction standards, fire inspection, and fire code guidance for rebuilds.
Services: Fire code interpretation, wildfire ignition-resistant standards, plan review referrals.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Assessor
Spokane County Assessor
Provides parcel numbers, property records, ownership, and assessed values. Needed to confirm parcel and property records for permits and insurance.
Services: Parcel lookup, ownership records, assessed value, property characteristics.
Commonly required: Property address or parcel number
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Treasurer
Spokane County Treasurer
Collects property taxes and confirms tax status. Lenders and title companies often require a clear tax status before closing on a rebuild.
Services: Property tax status, tax payoff, delinquency confirmation.
Commonly required: Parcel number
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Public Works
City of Spokane Public Works & Streets
City public works for street access, right-of-way, and utility coordination within Spokane city limits.
Services: Street access permits, right-of-way, drainage, utility coordination.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Spokane County Public Works
County public works department. Handles road access, right-of-way, drainage, and utility coordination for unincorporated Spokane County properties.
Services: Road access permits, right-of-way, drainage review, utility coordination.
Commonly required: Parcel number, Site plan
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Roads & Driveway Access
Spokane County Engineering & Roads
Issues driveway/access permits and manages county road right-of-way for properties in unincorporated Spokane County.
Services: Driveway access permits, road approach permits, right-of-way encroachment.
Commonly required: Parcel number, Site plan showing access
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Electric Utility
Avista Utilities
Primary electric and natural gas utility for the Spokane area. Schedules disconnects/reconnects and service relocation for rebuilds.
Services: Electric service disconnect/reconnect, gas service, meter relocation, line locates.
Commonly required: Account number, Service address
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Inland Power & Light Company
Rural electric cooperative serving parts of Spokane County. Coordinates service for rebuilds outside Avista territory.
Services: Electric disconnect/reconnect, meter relocation, line locates.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Natural Gas Utility
Avista Utilities
Natural Gas Division
Natural gas service provider for Spokane. Coordinates gas shut-off, line relocation, and reconnection during rebuilding.
Services: Gas shut-off, line relocation, reconnection, leak response.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Water Provider
City of Spokane Water Department
Municipal water provider for City of Spokane. Coordinates water service activation, meter installation, and service line repair for rebuilds.
Services: Water service activation, meter sets, service line repair.
Commonly required: Service address, Permit number
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Sewer Provider
City of Spokane Wastewater Management
Municipal sewer provider for City of Spokane. Confirms sewer availability, lateral inspection, and connection requirements for rebuilds.
Services: Sewer availability, lateral inspection, connection permits, service activation.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Debris Removal
Spokane County Solid Waste System
Manages disposal of construction debris, ash, and wildfire debris. Confirms disposal sites and accepted materials.
Services: Debris disposal, transfer station info, hazardous waste screening, ash/debris handling guidance.
Commonly required: Proof of residency, Weight tickets
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Hazardous Waste
Washington Department of Ecology
Eastern Regional Office
State environmental agency. Handles hazardous waste, asbestos, ash contamination, well construction, and water resource permits for Eastern Washington.
Services: Hazardous material guidance, asbestos/ash rules, well construction permits, water rights.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
State Disaster Resources
Washington Emergency Management Division
State-level emergency management coordinating wildfire recovery, state disaster declarations, and assistance programs.
Services: State disaster coordination, recovery program info, hazard mitigation guidance.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Federal Disaster Resources
FEMA Region 10 / Helpline
Federal disaster assistance including Individual Assistance grants, temporary housing, and other recovery programs after a federally declared disaster.
Services: Disaster assistance registration, grants for housing/repairs, crisis counseling referrals.
Commonly required: FEMA registration number, Proof of identity, Proof of occupancy/ownership
Last verified: 2026-08-05
SBA Disaster Assistance
Low-interest federal disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses to repair or replace real estate and personal property damaged by wildfire.
Services: Disaster loan applications, rebuilding/repair financing, refinance of existing mortgages.
Commonly required: Proof of identity, Insurance settlement letter, Tax returns, Property damage estimate
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Insurance Resources
Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner
State agency that helps consumers with insurance claim disputes, coverage questions, and filing complaints after a wildfire loss.
Services: Claim assistance, consumer complaints, coverage explanations, insurer regulation.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Mortgage & Lending
HUD Housing Counseling
Free HUD-approved housing counseling for mortgage forbearance, refinancing, and rebuilding financing after a disaster.
Services: Mortgage counseling, forbearance help, financing guidance, lender mediation.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Legal-Aid Resources
Northwest Justice Project
Spokane Office
Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income residents. Can help with insurance disputes, contractor issues, and FEMA appeals.
Services: Civil legal aid, insurance/contractor disputes, FEMA appeals, document review.
Commonly required: Proof of income, Case documents
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Mental-Health & Family Support
Disaster Distress Helpline (SAMHSA)
Free, confidential crisis counseling and emotional support for anyone affected by a disaster, available 24/7.
Services: Crisis counseling, emotional support, local mental health referrals.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Contractor Verification
Washington Department of Labor & Industries
Contractor Registration
Verifies contractor registration, license status, and bond/insurance for Washington contractors. Always verify any contractor here before signing.
Services: Contractor license lookup, bond/insurance verification, complaint history.
Commonly required: Contractor name or registration number
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Better Business Bureau
Northwest - Spokane
Independent business reliability ratings and complaint history. Use alongside L&I to vet contractors before hiring.
Services: Business ratings, complaint history, dispute resolution.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Architects & Engineers
Washington Department of Licensing
Professional Licensing — Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors
Verifies licenses for architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors in Washington. Confirm any designer or engineer is licensed before hiring.
Services: License verification, disciplinary history, license lookup.
Commonly required: Professional name or license number
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Surveyors
Washington Department of Licensing
Professional Licensing — Land Surveyors
Verifies licensed land surveyors. A licensed surveyor is required for boundary surveys, legal descriptions, and elevation certificates.
Services: Surveyor license verification, disciplinary history.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Testing Laboratories
Washington Department of Ecology
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
Accredits laboratories for asbestos, soil, water, and material testing. Use accredited labs for asbestos testing and material analysis required for cleanup and rebuilds.
Services: Accredited lab lookup, asbestos/soil/water testing referrals.
Last verified: 2026-08-05
Recovery Resources
Washington State Board for Architects
Verify architect licenses and find licensed professionals in Washington State.
FEMA Individual Assistance Program
Federal grants for temporary housing, repairs, and other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.
WA Office of the Insurance Commissioner — Claims Help
Step-by-step guidance on understanding insurance payouts, tracking expenses, and resolving claim disputes after a disaster.
Spokane County Inspections
Schedule inspections, view inspection requirements, and access inspection records for building permits in Spokane County.
Spokane County Planning & Building — Permits
Building permit applications, forms, fee schedules, and online services for unincorporated Spokane County.
Spokane County Assessor's Office
Property records, parcel numbers, ownership history, and assessed values for properties in Spokane County.
WA Office of the Insurance Commissioner
State agency that regulates insurance in Washington. Offers consumer help with claims, disputes, and complaints. Call 1-800-562-6900.
WA Department of Labor & Industries — Verify a Contractor
Verify contractor registration, license status, and bond information for any contractor working in Washington State.
Spokane County Assessor — Property Updates
Update property records after rebuilding, including new construction valuation and property characteristics.
EPA Disaster Debris Management
Federal guidance on safe debris removal, hazardous materials, and environmental considerations after wildfires.
WA L&I — Construction Safety
Workplace safety rules and inspection resources for residential construction in Washington State.
Washington Emergency Management Division
State-level disaster response, recovery programs, and emergency coordination for Washington residents.
Better Business Bureau — Find a Business
Check contractor BBB ratings, complaint history, and accreditation status.
Spokane County Solid Waste System
County waste management facilities, transfer stations, and disposal guidelines for construction and disaster debris.
City of Spokane Building Department
Permit applications, plan review, inspections, and code information for properties within Spokane city limits.
Spokane County Planning & Building Department
Zoning information, critical areas maps, building permits, and land use regulations for unincorporated Spokane County.
Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers
Verify professional engineer licenses in Washington State.
SBA Disaster Loans for Homeowners
Low-interest federal disaster loans for homeowners to repair or replace real estate and personal property not fully covered by insurance.
WA Office of the Insurance Commissioner — Update Coverage
Guidance on updating your homeowners insurance after rebuilding, including replacement cost and coverage review.
FEMA Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Information about National Flood Insurance Program claims and coverage for flood damage.
Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency
Asbestos testing requirements, air quality regulations, and demolition notifications for Spokane County.
Spokane County Emergency Management
Local emergency management agency coordinating disaster response and recovery resources in Spokane County.
FEMA Individual Disaster Assistance Grants
Federal grants for temporary housing, repairs, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)
Building code standards for construction in wildfire-prone areas, including ignition-resistant materials and defensible space.
Spokane City Planning & Development
Zoning, permits, critical areas, and development services for properties within Spokane city limits.
Spokane County Treasurer — Property Tax
Property tax information, payment options, and assessment questions for Spokane County properties.
Spokane Regional Health District — Septic & Wells
Septic system permits, well permits, and water quality testing requirements for properties in Spokane County.
WA Department of Ecology — Hazardous Waste
State guidance on handling and disposing of hazardous materials, asbestos, and contaminated debris after disasters.
Washington Attorney General — Consumer Protection
File complaints about contractor fraud, deceptive practices, or consumer protection violations.
Consumer Federation of America Insurance Help
Consumer advocacy organization offering free guidance on insurance claims and disputes after disasters.
Spokane Regional Health District
Local public health guidance on septic systems, wells, food safety, and environmental health after wildfires.
WA State Department of Natural Resources — Survey Maps
Historical survey maps, section corner data, and public land survey system information for Washington State.
WA State Energy Code — Residential
Current Washington State Energy Code requirements for residential construction, including insulation and efficiency standards.
Washington Homeownership Resource Center
Free housing counseling and financial guidance for Washington homeowners, including disaster recovery and mortgage assistance.
Northwest Justice Project
Washington's largest legal aid program providing free civil legal assistance to low-income residents, including disaster recovery help.
Spokane County Public Works — Right of Way
Driveway permits, road approach permits, and right-of-way access requirements for Spokane County roads.
WA L&I — Hire a Contractor Checklist
Official state checklist for hiring a registered contractor, including what to verify before signing a contract.
American Red Cross Disaster Relief
Emergency shelter, food, health services, and recovery assistance for disaster-affected families.
Avista Utilities — New Service
Apply for new or reconnected electric and natural gas service, including temporary construction power.
Spokane County Fire Marshal
Wildfire risk assessment, defensible space requirements, and fire code compliance for rebuilding in wildfire-affected areas.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline
Free 24/7 crisis counseling and emotional support for anyone experiencing distress related to disasters. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
FEMA Debris Removal Assistance
Information on federal debris removal programs that may be available in federally declared disaster areas.
WA Department of Financial Institutions
Help with mortgage relief, forbearance, and consumer financial protection after a disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
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