The City of Spokane is partnering with Permavia to help residents rebuild after the Spokane Complex Fires. For one year, residential permit applicants rebuilding in the city can use Permavia's Intake Completeness check at no cost, to confirm that their permit package is complete before they submit it to the City.
The program is voluntary. Applicants still submit their permit applications directly to the City of Spokane, and City staff conduct the official review and keep full authority over every permitting decision.
Why completeness matters after a wildfire
The August fires damaged or destroyed about 577 structures, including 501 single-family homes within city limits. The City has set up a dedicated team for wildfire-affected applicants, and its Development Services Center has named incomplete applications as the biggest issue, often missing information or energy code calculations. Every incomplete submittal means another round trip before a family can start building.
Tami Palmquist, Director of the City of Spokane Development Services Center, said the City has been "working diligently to ensure the rebuilding process is as smooth and easy to navigate as possible," and that the partnership "gives us another tool to help those in our community who lost everything."
"Rebuilding a home after a wildfire is hard enough without having your permit application sent back over a missing plan sheet or signature," said Barry Alavi, founder and Chief Operating Officer of Permavia.
What the Intake Completeness check does
The check reviews residential permit materials before submission and flags:
- Missing documents and forms
- Missing plan sheets
- Missing signatures and other required items
- Internal inconsistencies between documents
You get a report that shows how complete your package is and what still needs to be added, so you can fix gaps before the City sees them. The check is for completeness only. It is not a City approval, and it does not guarantee that an application will be accepted or approved.
How to use it
- Create a Permavia account.
- Upload your residential permit application materials.
- Request an Intake Completeness review. The fee is removed automatically for qualifying Spokane projects.
- Review the results and address any flagged items.
- Submit your application through the City's normal permitting process at aca.spokanepermits.org.
The free program runs for one year from September 30, 2026. Homeowners, builders and design professionals working on a qualifying project can all use it.
For the City's announcement, its FAQ and other rebuilding resources, see the City of Spokane's wildfire information page.
Questions about the program? Contact our team.