Animal Ordinances in Kootenai County, ID (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Kootenai County, Idaho.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Idaho's Right To Farm Act shields Kootenai County chicken and livestock keepers from nuisance lawsuits: once an agricultural operation, including a coop or corral, has run for more than one year without complaint, newly arrived neighbors cannot force it out as a nuisance under Idaho Code 22-4503. Idaho Code 22-4504 goes further and voids any county ordinance or zoning rule that tries to declare a lawful farm use a nuisance.
Chicken and Livestock Nuisance Protection in Kootenai County
Some RestrictionsIdaho Code 22-4503
22-4503. Agricultural operation, agricultural facility or expansion thereof not a nuisance -- Exception. No agricultural operation, agricultural facility or expansion thereof shall be or become a nuisance, private or public, by any changed conditions in or about the surrounding nonagricultural activities after it has been in operation for more than one (1) year, when the operation, facility or ...
Dog Leash Laws
Kootenai County requires dogs off their owner's property to be on a leash no longer than five feet and under control of someone able to restrain them (Code 5.1.106). Six categories of working and supervised dogs are exempt, and a first violation draws a twenty five dollar civil penalty that climbs with repeat offenses.
Dog Leash and At-Large Rules in Kootenai County
Some RestrictionsKootenai County Code 5.1.106
5.1.106: DOGS AT LARGE: A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, no owner or keeper of a dog shall allow or permit the dog, whether licensed or not, to be or remain upon any street, alley or public place, or upon any premises other than the premises of the person who owns or harbors the dog, unless the dog is maintained on a leash no longer than five feet (5') in length and of suf...
Breed Restrictions
Kootenai County doesn't restrict dog breeds; instead it regulates individual dogs the sheriff declares "dangerous" or "at risk" after a bite or attack (Code 5.1.301). Once declared, an owner can face secure confinement, muzzling, warning signs, up to $500,000 in liability insurance, and mandatory identification under 5.1.302, with violations a misdemeanor that can end in the dog's destruction.
Dangerous Dog Rules in Kootenai County
Significant RestrictionsKootenai County Code 5.1.302
5.1.302: REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING OF DANGEROUS OR AT RISK DOGS: The owner of any dangerous or at risk dog shall license the dog, unless the owner is in possession of a valid kennel license, and shall maintain all vaccinations as required under the provisions of this chapter. In addition, the board or district court may order the owner of a dangerous or at risk dog to comply with any or all of t...
Exotic Pets
Kootenai County doesn't license or specifically regulate exotic pets itself. Code 5.1.108 instead requires owners of any exotic or wild animal to follow every applicable federal, state, and local law, naming the USDA, Idaho Department of Agriculture, and Idaho Fish and Game as agencies with jurisdiction, and a violation is a misdemeanor.
Exotic and Wild Animal Rules in Kootenai County
Some RestrictionsKootenai County Code 5.1.108
EXOTIC ANIMAL: Any animal which is not native to, or regularly present as a wild animal in, the state of Idaho. Exotic animal does not include any animal commonly accepted as domestic in the United States. ... WILD ANIMAL: Any animal native to or regularly present in the state of Idaho and regulated by the U.S. fish and wildlife service or the Idaho department of fish and game pursuant to the a...
Pet Limits
No more than five dogs may be kept on a single Kootenai County parcel without a county kennel license (Code 5.1.201(A)(1)). A nursing litter counts as one dog with its mother until it turns six months old, and keeping more than five without a license risks impoundment and a misdemeanor charge.
Household Pet Limit Rules in Kootenai County
Some RestrictionsKootenai County Code 5.1.201(A)
5.1.201: KENNEL LICENSES: A. Licenses Required: 1. No more than five (5) dogs may be kept, harbored or possessed on any parcel of real property, including any buildings erected thereon, if the owner of such property, or tenant in possession thereof, has not first obtained a county kennel license as provided herein. 2. For purposes of this article, the litter of a female dog may be kept with its...
Pet Store Rules
Kootenai County does not ban retail pet sales or require adoption-only stores. Instead, any pet shop that regularly sells dogs is legally a commercial kennel under Code 5.1.103 and must hold a county kennel license under 5.1.201, regardless of how many dogs are on hand, with Community Development approval and Panhandle Health District review of waste disposal.
Pet Store Dog Sales Rules in Kootenai County
Some RestrictionsKootenai County Code 5.1.103, 5.1.201(A)(4)
COMMERCIAL KENNEL: A kennel facility which includes one or more of the following activities: ... D. Any pet shop regularly selling dogs. ... 4. A county kennel license shall also be required for any parcel of real property in which any of the activities listed in the definition of "commercial kennel," as set forth in section 5.1.103 of this chapter, are occurring, regardless of the number of do...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary hospitals and clinics need a conditional use permit in unincorporated Kootenai County and are allowed only in the Agricultural, Rural, and Agricultural Suburban zones. LUDC 8.5.130 sets a five-acre minimum lot, a 300-foot setback from neighboring homes, and mandatory animal housing and fencing standards.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Kootenai County
Significant RestrictionsKootenai County LUDC 8.5.130
8.5.130: VETERINARY HOSPITALS OR CLINICS: A. Zones permitted: Agricultural, rural, agricultural suburban. B. Minimum area: Five (5) acres. C. All animals will be housed in permanent structures which can be physically enclosed during nighttime hours. D. Adequate fencing shall be provided to restrain animals from running at large. At a minimum, the animals shall be enclosed within a six foot (6')...
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