Coeur d'Alene, ID Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- No structure above the height set by its zoning district (§ 17.06.310)
- Hillside extra story
- Up to twelve and one-half feet on downhill lots
- Hillside trigger
- Twenty five percent (25%) or greater grade from the street
- Lowest ceiling limit
- Not more than two feet above curb level
- Rooftop projections
- Up to fifteen feet above the maximum, covering no more than ten percent of roof area
- Trees
- Can project without limit above any maximum height
Summary
In the City of Coeur d'Alene, no building, sign, or structure can exceed the maximum height set by its zoning district or by the sign chapter of Title 15. Residential lots downhill from the street on a twenty five percent grade or steeper can add one story of up to twelve and one-half feet on the principal structure.
17.06.305: GENERAL HEIGHT MAXIMUM: ... No building, sign, or structure shall exceed the maximum height prescribed in the applicable zoning districts, or in title 15, chapter 15.24 of this Code. ... 17.06.310: ... MAXIMUM HEIGHT: No structure shall have a height in feet greater than that prescribed by the applicable zoning district. ... 17.06.315: ... ADDITIONAL STORY ON HILLSIDE LOTS: On lots in the residential zoning districts located downhill from the street and having a twenty five percent (25%) or greater grade measured perpendicular to the center of the lot frontage, an additional story, not to exceed twelve and one- half feet (121/2'), may be constructed on the principal structure; provided, that the ceiling of the lowest story shall be not more than two feet (2') above the curb level measured at the center of the lot frontage.
Full Breakdown
Coeur d'Alene sets height in two layers. Municipal Code § 17.06.305 says no building, sign, or structure shall exceed the maximum height prescribed in the applicable zoning districts, or in title 15, chapter 15.24 of this Code. Section 17.06.310 repeats the point for every structure: no structure shall have a height in feet greater than that prescribed by the applicable zoning district. The actual number for a house sits in the Site Performance Standards; Maximum Height section for its district in chapter 17.05, where R-1, R-3, R-5 and the other residential districts each carry their own table. Accessory structures are pulled in by § 17.06.640, which subjects all accessory structures other than accessory dwelling units and caretaker's units to the height regulations of article IV of chapter 17.06.
The one citywide bonus is the hillside story in § 17.06.315. On lots in the residential zoning districts located downhill from the street and having a twenty five percent (25%) or greater grade measured perpendicular to the center of the lot frontage, an additional story, not to exceed twelve and one-half feet, can be built on the principal structure. The ceiling of the lowest story must be not more than two feet above the curb level measured at the center of the lot frontage.
Section 17.06.325 lets projections rise above the limit. Skylights, spires, flagpoles, chimneys, radio or television aerials, masts, antennas and similar projections can extend not more than fifteen feet above the maximum height prescribed for the building, provided they cover, in the aggregate, no more than ten percent of the horizontal area of the building. Trees can project without limit. Sign spires follow the sign regulations in title 15, chapter 15.24, and a communication tower, aerial, mast or antenna used with a service that needs a special use permit under § 17.09.205 gets its height set as a condition of that permit.
On shoreline property along Lake Coeur d'Alene, § 17.08.220 measures height from preexisting grade whenever a retaining wall or earth berm raises the finished grade, so raising the lot with fill or a wall does not raise the allowed height.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations fall under § 17.09.825: anyone who violates or causes another person to violate the zoning ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor as provided in § 1.28.010, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, imprisonment not to exceed 180 days, or both. Each day can be a separate offense. Under § 17.09.820, a structure erected contrary to the zoning ordinance is unlawful and a public nuisance that a stop work order can abate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the exact height limit for my house in Coeur d'Alene?
Can I add a story on a hillside lot?
How far can a chimney or antenna stick above the height limit?
Does a garage or shed have its own height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coeur d'Alene
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