Kootenai County, ID Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Shoreline zone width
- 25 feet from high water mark
- Applies to
- Lakes, CdA & Spokane Rivers
- View-corridor trimming
- Allowed within code limits
- Governing code
- County Code 8.7.111
- Away from shoreline
- No county trim permit
Summary
In unincorporated Kootenai County there is no general tree-trimming permit, but within the 25-foot Shoreline Management Area along Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Coeur d'Alene and Spokane Rivers, shrub trimming and view-corridor work is limited by the county's Shoreline Management Code.
A shoreline management area of twenty five feet (25') in slope distance landward of the ordinary high water mark of all recognized lakes, the Coeur d'Alene River, and the Spokane River, is hereby established.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Code current through: Ord. 633, passed December 23, 2025).
Full Breakdown
Away from the water, trimming your own trees in unincorporated Kootenai County is unregulated by the county. The controlled zone is the Shoreline Management Area, 25 feet in slope distance landward of the ordinary high water mark of all recognized lakes, the Coeur d'Alene River and the Spokane River (County Code 8.7.111). Within it, trimming of shrubs and tree removal to create a view corridor is allowed only within limits defined in the Shoreline Management Code, and mechanical ground disturbance not otherwise permitted requires a Shoreline Management Plan. Inside city limits, cities such as Coeur d'Alene regulate trees in the public right-of-way separately.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted disturbance or excessive vegetation removal in the Shoreline Management Area is a site-disturbance code violation enforced by Community Development; restoration and penalties may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut a view corridor to the lake?
Do I need a permit to trim inland trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kootenai County
Compare Kootenai County to another location·View the Idaho landscaping rules overview
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