City Of Sandpoint

09/01/2026

A message from Mayor Jeremy Grimm:

"Parking has challenged Sandpoint for decades. The City removed downtown parking meters in 1990, yet by 1996 Sandpoint was again debating how to balance parking access, turnover, business and employee needs, enforcement, and cost. Those questions remain with us today.

Sandpoint has grown, downtown and waterfront activity have increased, and demand for a limited number of public spaces continues to rise.

As the Council considers whether additional changes to the parking-management plan are appropriate for 2027, I am reestablishing the Sandpoint Parking Committee under Chapter 8 of Title 2 of Sandpoint City Code. This will be a focused, relatively short-term committee charged with reviewing the facts, considering the experiences of residents, businesses, employees, and visitors, and providing recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.

I am seeking members who will approach this work without a predetermined outcome. The committee needs people willing to examine the data, listen respectfully to differing views, and balance financial realities, access, enforcement, business needs, and Sandpoint’s unique culture.

The committee’s recommendations will help inform the Council’s consideration of any additional changes to the parking-management plan for 2027.
Thank you to everyone willing to volunteer their time and share their interest in this important community issue. Applicants selected to move forward will be contacted to schedule an interview."

Jeremy Grimm
Mayor, City of Sandpoint

To apply to be considered for a seat on the Sandpoint Parking Committee, follow this link: https://lf.sandpointidaho.gov/Forms/duEOE or navigate to www.sandpointidaho.gov/commissions-and-committees

Thank you for your interest in our volunteer citizen advisory boards. If the City is seeking applications for a particular board, the name of the board in the list below will be hyperlinked. ADA Advisory Committee Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission Parking Committee Parks and Recreat...

07/30/2026

Tree Inventory To Be Conducted In Sandpoint, Idaho

PlanIT Geo's Certified Arborists will be conducting a tree inventory in Sandpoint, Idaho, starting August 4th, 2026. Tree inventories are an important tool for local urban forest managers, as they provide a big-picture view of the urban forest and can be used to identify potential threats to the trees in the city. They also help locate potential gaps in canopy coverage, prioritize maintenance efforts, and guide future policy. Funds for this tree inventory update work are provided by Idaho Department of Lands in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service as part of the Inflation Reduction Act-Urban Forestry State Allocations grant program.

In this tree inventory, PlanIT Geo’s ISA Certified Arborists will be mapping and evaluating all of the trees, stumps, and available planting sites within the city rights-of-way and public parks. Trees in these locations will be identified and assessed for health, condition, location information, and maintenance needs. Once collected, tree and planting site data attributes and locations provide urban forest managers the power to proactively manage their tree population, reduce potential liabilities, and prepare for potential threats to the state’s urban forest.

The Arborists will be easily identifiable wearing high visibility safety vests, carrying tablets, and driving a vehicle marked with magnets displaying the PlanIT Geo company logo.

Since 2012, PlanIT Geo has been providing cutting-edge technology and planning services for urban forestry, parks management, and arboriculture. Their TreePlotter™ Software Suite is used by governments, nonprofit organizations, universities, and the private industry around the world. The PlanIT Geo team is driven by a passion for trees and technology, and is widely regarded as an innovator and trusted partner in urban and community forestry programs.

07/29/2026

City of Sandpoint Suspends Open Burning Due to Very High Fire Danger

Sandpoint, Idaho – July 29, 2026 — Effective immediately, the City of Sandpoint has suspended all open burning within the city limits due to Very High fire danger conditions.

The suspension is being implemented to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during a period of elevated fire danger. Dry vegetation, warm temperatures, and current weather conditions have created an environment where fires can spread rapidly and threaten lives, property, and natural resources.

The only exception to this suspension is for cooking fires contained within enclosed grills or enclosed barbecue pits that are designed and intended for food preparation. Residents are reminded to exercise caution when using these appliances and to never leave them unattended.

All other forms of open burning are prohibited until further notice.

The City of Sandpoint will continue to monitor fire conditions in coordination with the Idaho Department of Lands and other local fire management partners. The suspension will remain in effect until conditions improve and it is safe to resume open burning.

The City of Sandpoint Fire Department appreciates the public's cooperation in helping protect our community during this period of increased wildfire risk. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant, properly dispose of smoking materials, avoid activities that could produce sparks, and immediately report any signs of wildfire by calling 911.

For additional information, please contact the City of Sandpoint Fire Department at (208) 263-3502 or visit the City of Sandpoint website.

07/23/2026

The City will be removing the bags off of the kiosks located Downtown on Friday, July 24th. There is no parking check-in at the kiosks for the 2-hour free parking. Per the signage, this remains a 2-hour free maximum parking area. Enforcement is active for vehicles remaining beyond the 2 hour limit between the hours of 9a.m. – 5p.m. Monday thru Saturday.

Update - We've received several questions about why the black covers are being removed from the downtown parking kiosks.
The kiosks remain offline and do not require any interaction for downtown on-street parking.
The black covers were a temporary visual indicator while the kiosks were taken out of service. However, leaving them covered for an extended period prevents the solar panels from charging the internal batteries. Without sunlight, the batteries can discharge and become damaged over time.
To be good stewards of public equipment and avoid unnecessary replacement costs, we are removing the covers so the kiosks can continue to maintain their batteries while remaining out of service.

07/17/2026

City of Sandpoint Updates Downtown Parking Following City Council Meeting

During its regular meeting on July 15, the Sandpoint City Council expressed its support for suspending the use of on-street parking kiosks within the downtown two-hour parking district for further evaluation. Based on that discussion, City staff began implementing the changes immediately. Please follow all posted parking signs.

What is Changing?

Effective immediately:

All on-street parking kiosks located within the downtown two-hour parking area are being taken offline.

Parking signs associated with kiosk registration in these on-street areas will be removed over the coming days.

Downtown on-street parking is returning to the same process that existed prior to July 1.

Motorists parking in the downtown two-hour on-street parking zones are no longer required to check in at a kiosk to receive free 2- hour parking.

The two-hour parking limit remains in effect as it did prior to July 1st, 2026, and will be enforced starting July 18th.

As was the case prior to July 1, parking enforcement officers will monitor occupancy, and vehicles remaining beyond the posted two-hour limit may be issued parking citations. There will not be any option to extend parking beyond the two-hour limit in these on-street spaces.

What is Not Changing?

The operational changes described above apply only to the downtown on-street parking kiosks.

Parking kiosks located in City-owned parking lots remain in service, including:

Downtown Parking Lot
City Beach
Bridge Street Lot
Jeff Jones Town Square Lot
Pend Oreille Bay Trail Lot

Permit holders with valid monthly or annual parking permits are not required to interact with kiosks when parking in locations where their permits are valid.

Looking Ahead

The parking program was intentionally launched with a soft implementation period to educate the public, evaluate operations, and gather community feedback.

Throughout that process, the City received substantial input regarding the on-street kiosk registration process, including concerns about convenience, accessibility, the lack of a cash payment option. During its July 15 meeting, the City Council expressed support for pausing the on-street kiosk component while these and other aspects of downtown parking management are further evaluated. Discussions regarding the long-term management of on-street parking will continue over the coming weeks and months.

The City appreciates the constructive input received from residents, visitors, downtown businesses, and property owners throughout this process.

“I remain focused on administering City operations, protecting taxpayer investments, and ensuring that whatever policy direction the City Council ultimately adopts is implemented effectively and transparently” said Mayor Jeremy Grimm.

For additional parking information, please visit the City of Sandpoint website or contact City Hall at (208) 263-3158.

To access parking permits and seasonal boat launch permits online, please navigate to the Permit Portal: sandpoint.thepermitportal.com

07/10/2026

Good news, North Idaho! 📣 After weeks of emergency evaluation and repairs, the Long Bridge pedestrian path is expected to reopen by the end of next week, restoring end-to-end access between Sandpoint and Sagle!

While the bridge will reopen, the 70-year-old structure remains in need of additional repairs, meaning pedestrians and bicyclists will need to stay within designated areas and obey all cones, barriers and signage.

Read the full story here 📲 https://ow.ly/3pvI50ZmfZA

07/03/2026

How to use a kiosk in Sandpoint’s 2-hour street parking zone:

Step 1: Press green button
Step 2: Enter license plate number
Step 3: Press green check mark
Step 4: Select time (0-2 hours = $0.00; >2 hours = $4 per hour)
Step 5: Press green check mark
TRANSACTION COMPLETE
Total time to check in: ~20 seconds

Now go enjoy your lunch, pottery class, hair appointment, or shopping at a local business! If you need more than the 2 free hours available, you have the option to extend your stay for $4 per hour.

And remember, kiosk check-in is only required between 9am and 5pm. Outside of those hours there are no time limits and no check-in is required, so if you’re coming downtown for a show at the Panida, drinks at a bar, or dinner out, just ignore the kiosks and enjoy your evening! If you leave a bar or restaurant late at night, feel free to leave your car on the street, as long as it’s been moved by 9 the next morning (or a parking session has been started), and if you have a morning appointment you can check-in for a 2-hour session as early at 6am, which would allow you to park until 11am for free (2 hours after enforcement begins).

Also, keep in mind that for roughly 80% of Sandpoint's downtown street parking, NOTHING HAS CHANGED! No kiosks, no check-in, no payment... just park and go about your day (keeping the time limits in mind, of course!)

Finally, for the next two weeks, if you see one of Sandpoint’s Community Resource officers walking around downtown, they are there to help. No tickets will be issued for parking in a normal street spot; instead, they will be focusing on education and awareness, and only friendly reminders will be left on a vehicle if a parking session has not been initiated or a 2-hour free session has been overstayed.

If you’re nervous about downtown’s new parking regulations, please don’t be. The program is meant to increase turnover, meaning parking is more likely to be available close to the businesses that depend on customers like you! Sandpoint’s downtown businesses are the beating heart of this community, and the City’s new parking program was designed to increase convenience for the customers they depend on. So come downtown this summer, enjoy free parking, and support the local businesses you love!

07/02/2026

1% LOT Tax Survey Reminder: Survey open until TUESDAY, JULY 7th

If Sandpoint has an opportunity to make long-term investments in its infrastructure and community assets, what should those investments be?

Whether you support a Local Option Sales Tax, oppose it, or remain undecided, your opinion matters. The survey is designed to help the City Council understand community priorities before making decisions regarding potential ballot language, project selection, or duration.

Sandpoint taxpayers are encouraged to take a few minutes to complete the survey and share their thoughts. Good decisions begin with good information, and the more voices we hear from, the better equipped we will be to make informed choices about Sandpoint's future.

You can access the survey at:

Be heard, collaborate, and share ideas—make meetings and classes more engaging with real conversations.

06/25/2026

06/23/2026

After two weeks of parking permit sales the City has made the following changes to the parking program that we would like to share with the community:

1. The number of vehicle parking permits available for each household has been increased from three to four.

2. A boat trailer permit does not count towards the vehicle permit number a household may purchase. A household may now purchase up to four vehicle permits and additional boat trailer permits.

3. Handicap parking: Those with a blue placard handicap identified vehicle can park at any time in any legal parking space in any city lot or on-street, for any length of time. No parking permit is required for vehicles with handicap placards.

As a reminder, the two resident permits available are for City of Sandpoint and Bonner County residents. There have been many questions from residents of other counties and even other states about parking permits. The only parking permit available to non-locals (i.e. out of county residents) is the 24-hour downtown parking permit, which does not come with a residency requirement and provides the most access to parking in downtown Sandpoint and the waterfront lots.

Downtown employees who are not City or County residents are encouraged to either purchase a 24-hour downtown parking permit or to utilize any of the free all-day street parking spaces downtown, which include 315 parking stalls on the periphery, starting at Alder Street to the north, Fifth Avenue to the west, and Lake Street to the south.

Parking permits are on sale now at http://sandpoint.thepermitportal.com and will remain on sale throughout the year. Permits are valid for the calendar year they are purchased, and a new permit is required in the new calendar year. Beginning July 1st, non-permit holders parking at City Beach, the downtown lot, and other waterfront lots will be required to pay the hourly rate at a kiosk. All permit holders will enjoy frictionless parking at public lots (no check-in required). In the 2-hour zones, all parkers will be required to begin their 2-hour free parking session by checking in at a kiosk. No permits are valid in the 2-hour zone to encourage turnover and availability of parking spaces in front of the businesses that depend on parking availability for their customers.

Staff at City hall are available to assist residents with their parking permit purchase, so if you need assistance, feel free to stop by 1123 Lake Street and we will be happy to help! With questions about the parking permit or paid parking program, send emails to [email protected]