Areas of Impact

As of July 1, 2024, the Idaho State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1403, a change that affects how cities and counties plan for growth and manage “areas of impact.”  The amendment revises the state law which governs comprehensive plans and the establishment of areas of impact around city boundaries. Under the new rules, the county’s board of commissioners have clearer authority over drawing impact boundaries, and both cities and counties must review and potentially adjust those impact areas at least every five years.  The goal of this change is to make planning more predictable, reduce conflict between jurisdictions, and ensure growth happens in sensible areas.

Each city is working with Kootenai County to propose new Area of Impact agreements, including an updated Area of Impact boundary map. As of now, the cities of Athol, Coeur d’Alene, Hauser, Post Falls and Hayden have provided the county with enough information to proceed.

Draft Area of Impact Agreements and Area of Impact Boundary Maps for those cities are available for review on the Kootenai County website HERE.

Kootenai County Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 1:30 PM in Room 1, 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, followed by a Board of County Commissioners public hearing on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM in Room 1 to consider these matters.

When additional information is received from the remaining incorporated cities, additional hearings will be scheduled and this page will be updated.