Shoreline Rules
This brief overview of rules applies to activities within Spokane County shore- line setbacks around Liberty Lake.
These setbacks range from 100-200’, depending on the shoreline environment designation. There are three which apply on Liberty Lake.
Minimum Buffer Width
(feet from ordinary high water mark-
OHWM)
Shoreline Residential: 100’
Rural Conservancy: 150’
Natural: 200’
Any type of new building, repair of existing structures, repair/replacement of docks, removal of ANY native vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses, etc.), are subject to Spokane County Shoreline Development rules (Shoreline Master Program –SMP) and may require permits from the District, County and/or State.
Yard Work and Landscaping
- Clearing of vegetation, tillage, and application of fertilizers and chemical pesticides is prohibited within shoreline buffers (SMP, 5.2.5.6).
- Fill, grading or other alteration of shorelines for the purpose of creating additional shoreland area is prohibited (SMP, 5.2.1.8).
- The creation of artificial beaches by clearing, grading, or dumping sand, or gravels or other materials on uplands, wetlands, floodways or below the OHWM…is prohibited… except as a component of an approved shoreline restoration project (SMP, 5.2.1.14).
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited in the shoreline buffers (SMP, 5.2.1.16).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Spokane County Building and Planning
509.477.3675
Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District
Jeremy Jenkins—Lake Protection Mgr.
509.922.5443
jjenkins@libertylake.org