The Inland Northwest has seen a dramatic rise in self-storage demand in recent years, and construction activity is following suit. Kootenai County, Idaho, and Spokane County, Washington, have issued 46 permits for new self-storage projects, generating more than $14 million in fees over the past three years. The pace of development resembles the boom years of 2007 and 2008, when dozens of projects were approved annually. By contrast, as recently as 2012, only two permits were approved in the same market, underscoring how quickly conditions have changed.
Local operators confirm the surge. Chester Self Storage in Spokane Valley, for example, has been running near full occupancy and recently added another 70 units to meet demand. According to facility manager Todd Beadle, customers today often rent for shorter periods, using storage during moves or relocations tied to the housing market. Downsizing homeowners are also fueling growth, choosing to store belongings rather than part with them.
New construction is underway across the region to keep pace. A 100,000-square-foot facility south of Spokane International Airport is one of several large projects in progress. Meanwhile, Steel Structures America reports having built nearly 900,000 square feet of storage space in just three years, four times the volume of the previous period.
As co-owner Justin Sternberg explains, population growth is accelerating the trend: “We’re seeing such an increased volume of people moving to the area. Rents are rising. Units are relatively scarce, and people are asking to rent units before we complete the projects.”
With occupancy rates near capacity in many communities, the surge in permits shows no signs of slowing. The Inland Northwest remains one of the most active self-storage markets in the country, driven by growth, housing shifts, and steady consumer demand.
Read the full article here: Self-Storage Demand, Building Permits Boom in Northwest