Keeping Kootenai

05/18/2026

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 & 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞!

🗓️𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19
📍𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Timberlake Middle School in Spirit Lake
🔎𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭: Learn more about Kootenai County's Comprehensive Plan Update and first-ever Parks and Waterways Plan. Your feedback will help identify priority projects, define beloved recreation areas, and identify service gaps.

𝐂𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭? Visit keepingkootenai.com to complete a survey or learn more about the process.

05/06/2026

Join us at the Community Heart & Soul Open House from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 at Timberlake Middle School in Spirit Lake to learn more about Kootenai County's Comprehensive Plan Update and first-ever Parks and Waterways Plan. Your feedback will help identify priority projects, define beloved recreation areas, and identify service gaps. Can't make it? Visit www.keepingkootenai.com to complete a survey or learn more about the process.

04/21/2026

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲! The county is updating its long-range (20-year) Comprehensive Plan, which guides future growth, land use, infrastructure, and quality of life, and will provide policy guidance for zoning and other regulations that govern new development throughout the county’s jurisdiction. As a component of the Comprehensive Plan, the County is developing its first Parks & Waterways Plan, which sets priorities for trails, recreation facilities, natural areas, and community parks. For this effort to be successful, we need YOUR HELP! To find out more or take the online survey, visit https://keepingkootenai.com.

04/06/2026

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐊𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲’𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞! 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲!

Kootenai County is updating its long-range (20-year) Comprehensive Plan and creating the county’s first-ever Parks & Waterways Plan. The updated plans will guide future growth, recreation, land use, infrastructure and overall quality of life for years to come, and we need to hear from YOU!

📌Take the survey at https://keepingkootenai.com/comp-plan/

01/07/2026

Areas of Impact maps for Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum are now available on Kootenai County’s website.

Kootenai County Commissioners in December approved the maps which clarify planning and service coordination in areas where city and county boundaries meet. Idaho law required cities and counties to review and establish Areas of Impact boundaries by the end of 2025.

“The agreements do not annex property and do not change zoning or taxes,” said David Callahan, the county’s director of Community Development. “Instead, they define long-range planning areas to improve transparency, reduce conflicts between jurisdictions and ensure that future growth is planned in appropriate and logical locations.”

Learn more at keepingkootenai.com

12/02/2025

Kootenai County and the cities of Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum are updating the Areas of Impact that serve as a guide in planning for future growth.

Idaho law requires cities and counties to review and establish these Areas of Impact boundaries by Dec. 31.

Kootenai County’s Board of County Commissioners is holding a public hearing at 11 a.m. Dec. 18 in Room 1B of the County Administration Building.

Learn more at

Kootenai County and the cities of Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum are updating the Areas of Impact that serve as a guide in planning for future growth.

11/26/2025

A public hearing on Areas of Impact Proposed Agreements for Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum is set for 11 a.m. Thursday, December 18, in Room 1B of the Kootenai County Administration Building. For answers to Frequently Asked Questions and more information on AOIs, please visit https://keepingkootenai.com/areas-of-impact-kootenai-county/

10/20/2025

Kootenai County’s Planning and Zoning Commission has set a public hearing for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 6, 2025, to consider proposed Area of Impact agreements for the cities of Athol, Coeur d’Alene, Hauser, Post Falls and Hayden. The hearing will be held in Room 1 of the County Administration Building at 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene.

A second public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at the same location.

Learn more at https://keepingkootenai.com/areas-of-impact-kootenai-county/

05/02/2025

A commission charged with protecting Kootenai County’s agricultural areas and working lands held its first meeting this week. The Agricultural Protection Area Commission was formed by county commissioners in December as required under the Agricultural Area Protection Act approved by Idaho legislators in 2024.

“Legislators expressed concern that Idaho’s working farms, ranches and forests – along with the benefits they provide – were being lost to rapid growth and development,” said David Callahan, Director of Kootenai County’s Community Development department. “The commission will develop a process for reviewing applications to designate agricultural lands as protected areas and make recommendations to county commissioners who will make a final decision.”

Read more: https://keepingkootenai.com/news-updates/

08/07/2024

Dividing land in Kootenai County to gift or sell to a family member will be an easier process thanks to new ordinance that went into effect August 1. The Board of County Commissioners approved the Family Division ordinance last month, paving the way for property owners to divide land to gift or sell to relatives in a process that is more streamlined and far less expensive than traditional subdivisions. Learn more at keepingkootenai.com.

Kootenai County Government