Building Setbacks & Zoning in Kootenai County, ID (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Kootenai County, Idaho.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Kootenai County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Setback Rules

Kootenai County's Restricted Residential Zone imposes one uniform setback table on every structure, per LUDC 8.2.409(A): a 25-foot front yard, 10-foot side yard (shrinking to 6 feet where the lot backs onto an alley), 25-foot rear yard, and 15-foot setback where a parcel flanks a second street. Off-street parking is handled separately under section 8.4.1301, not folded into these distances.

Restricted Residential Setbacks in Kootenai County

Some Restrictions

Kootenai County LUDC 8.2.409(A)

8.2.409: SETBACKS AND OFF STREET PARKING: A. Setbacks: The following setbacks shall apply to all structures in the Restricted Residential Zone: Setback Type Distance Front yard 25 feet Side yard 10 feet Side yard, with an alley 6 feet Rear yard 25 feet Flanking street 15 feet B. Off Street Parking: Standards for off street parking are set forth in section 8.4.1301 of this title. (Ord. 493, 6-9-...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Structure Height Limits

Kootenai County's residential zones set no numeric building-height cap in the code, but the Light Industrial zone limits buildings to three stories or 35 feet. Height limits do not apply to spires, chimneys, antennas, water tanks and similar rooftop appurtenances.

Building and Structure Height Limits in Kootenai County

Some Restrictions

Kootenai County LUDC 8.2.806

No building hereafter created or structurally altered in a Light Industrial zone shall exceed three stories or a maximum height of thirty-five (35) feet.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Lot Coverage Limits

Kootenai County's residential and suburban zones require that development leave 65% of the parcel as open space free from structures. The code prohibits any building from occupying a greater percentage of lot area than allowed.

Lot Coverage and Open Space Rules in Kootenai County

Some Restrictions

Kootenai County LUDC 8.2.406

On parcels that are a minimum of nine thousand nine hundred (9,900) square feet but less than five (5.00) acres in size, the following uses are permitted, provided that all uses shall leave sixty-five percent (65%) of the parcel as open space free from structures.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Kootenai County ordinances

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