Step 3 — Rebuilding
Start rebuilding
Permits in the right order, a realistic timeline, and the costs insurers tend to miss. The first step does not wait on your settlement.
What do I need to do before I can rebuild?
You can't start construction without permits, and there are steps that have to happen in order. The good news: Spokane has cut fees and is fast-tracking rebuilds.
Get an asbestos survey
Required before any demolition or building permit. A certified inspector tests your site. If negative, you can remove debris yourself. If positive, a WA Certified Asbestos Abatement Company handles removal, and contaminated debris goes to Graham Road Landfill.
Your contractor should be handling this conversation, not leaving it to you.
File a Notice of Intent with SRCAA
File online with the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. Can be done by you or your contractor. NOI fees are currently waived for fire-affected properties.
Get a demolition & cleanup permit
Fee reduced to $35 (normally up to $450). Processing and technology fees waived.
Apply for your rebuild permit
Same-footprint rebuilds are being targeted at 5–7 business days. If your original approved plans are on file, the permit office may be able to transfer them — one rebuild permit was issued in just two days (August 27, 2026).
A different size or layout needs full plan review, an architect, and possibly engineering. Budget additional weeks. A "like-for-like" code to speed same-footprint reviews further is under consideration.
Unincorporated county
Building & Planning · 509-477-3675
State code with local amendments — confirm before accepting an estimate
What your contractor should handle: the asbestos survey, the NOI, pulling the permits, and coordinating with the permit office. You shouldn't be managing this paperwork yourself.
Three things first estimates leave out
- Well. Heat damage to the casing, pump and wiring is common, and a replacement is its own line item.
- Septic. Tanks and drainfields get crushed by heavy equipment during debris removal, and the repair surfaces late.
- Driveway and access. Culverts, gates and the driveway itself take the weight of demolition traffic. Rebuilding needs the access to work.
How long will this actually take?
A full rebuild typically takes 12–18 months from start to move-in. Some phases overlap — knowing which ones saves months.
Insurance claim & settlement
OngoingFile your claim, get your own rebuild estimate, negotiate with your adjuster.
Runs in parallel with everything else — don't wait for settlement to start the steps below.
Asbestos survey & debris removal
2–6 weeksSurvey, NOI filing, demolition permit, and site clearance.
Start the asbestos survey while your claim is still in process.
Permits
1–4 weeksSame-footprint rebuilds are being fast-tracked. New designs take longer.
Design & planning
4–8 weeksIf rebuilding to the same plans, this is short or skipped. New designs need an architect.
Can overlap with permitting if your builder coordinates it.
Construction
6–12 monthsFoundation through final inspection. Weather, complexity, and material lead times all factor in.
Where insurance estimates and contractor estimates diverge
An adjuster's estimate and a contractor's estimate for the same house rarely land in the same place. Here's where the gaps typically show up.
| Line item | In insurer's first estimate? | What often gets missed |
|---|---|---|
| Structure (framing, roof, envelope) | Usually included | — |
| Interior finishes | Usually included | Grade may be set lower than what was lost |
| Debris removal & haul-off | Sometimes | Asbestos abatement, disposal fees, landfill routing |
| Code upgrades (WUI materials, egress, insulation) | Rarely | Covered under Ordinance & Law, often omitted |
| Permits & fees | Sometimes | Plan review, impact fees, SRCAA filings |
| Site work | Rarely | Foundation inspection, erosion control, re-grading |
| Temporary utilities during construction | Rarely | Power, water, portable sanitation |
| Utility reconnection (well, septic, meter reset) | Rarely | — |
| General conditions | Sometimes | Supervision, dumpsters, site security |
| Contractor overhead & profit | Sometimes | Frequently omitted or set below market |
| Landscaping & hardscape | Rarely | Fencing, driveway, retaining walls |
| Detached structures (garage, shed) | Separate limit | Often overlooked entirely |
Interior finishes
Debris removal & haul-off
Code upgrades (WUI materials, egress, insulation)
Permits & fees
Site work
Temporary utilities during construction
Utility reconnection (well, septic, meter reset)
General conditions
Contractor overhead & profit
Landscaping & hardscape
Detached structures (garage, shed)
None of this means your insurer is acting in bad faith. Adjusters work from software templates; builders work from actual local subcontractor pricing. The two rarely land in the same place on the first pass.
Not sure where your coverage stands?
The 2-minute coverage check gives you your own numbers to work from.