SPOKANE, Wash. – Residents living in downtown Spokane love the vibrant urban life but are increasingly concerned about noise disturbances. As many residents pointed out, the noise, especially late on weekends, can be overwhelming.
Jordan Filbert, who lives downtown, shared her feelings about the noise. “I love living in downtown Spokane. There’s a lot of fun things to do over here, but I will say that when I go to bed at night especially on weekends it’s nice people can have fun but the excessive screaming and partying and howling can get a little annoying,” she said.
Ryan Lewis, the Director of Residential for Cowles Real Estate, also acknowledges the noise issues faced by downtown tenants. “There definitely is noise complaints from time to time,” he said.
Spokane’s current noise ordinance enforces quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. It states, “it is unlawful to knowingly cause or permit sound that is a public disturbance noise and refuse to cease when ordered to do so by a law enforcement officer.”
Lewis emphasizes the importance of enforcing these ordinances by involving law enforcement. “The biggest thing is you have to report what you see. Crime check is always available. You have to report what you see and what you hear I should say in this case,” he added.
However, Filbert mentioned challenges in resolving noise complaints. “I will say that in my opinion from calling the cops on people, I haven’t heard any follow-ups or if anything was really taken care of so,” she stated.
The revving of engines is a common noise problem in the area, as Filbert noted, “the revving of the engines can get very obnoxious.”
Residents are encouraged to report noise complaints to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office through Crime Check. Spokane Police were contacted for more information on handling these calls, but no response was received by the deadline.
Residents hope for better enforcement and responsiveness to help maintain the livability of downtown Spokane.
