The Planning Department provides land use planning services to the citizens of Coeur d'Alene. These services include assisting the community in the development of the Comprehensive Plan and the administration of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.  

*Please note any final decision made by the Planning and Zoning Commission is appealable within 15 days of the decision pursuant to sections 17.09.705 through 17.09.715 of Title 17, Zoning.

The department also oversees the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist low-to-moderate income community members.

(Click on the CDBG - Community Development Block Grant tab to the left to learn more.)

For general zoning questions, to find out if your property is in the City, or to schedule a meeting or inspection, please call us at 208-769-2274 or send an email to [email protected].  Please be patient, as we may not be able to respond right away.  Please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.  

Free, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) approved plans, sponsored by Housing Solutions Partnership are now available.  Kootenai County has a shortage of housing for local workers. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — also known as granny flats, in-law suites, backyard cottages and Accessory Living Units (ALUs) — offer a practical solution to help address these challenges.

Click here to view the four plan sets available that have been reviewed by building department heads and planners from local municipalities. These plans are FREE for use in Kootenai County, Idaho.

When applying for an ADU Permit in Coeur d’Alene, be sure to include required City of Coeur d' Alene Building Application, ADU Application, Site Plan, Truss and HVAC information. Approved plans do not include site plans or lot coverage plans. Each site must comply with both the site's zoning standards and the ADU standards.

FAQs related to ADUs:

Are ADUs permitted in Coeur d’Alene?  Yes, Coeur d’Alene allows ADUs on property where there is only one single-family detached home.

Is there a maximum square footage or size based on the size of the main house in Coeur d’Alene? Yes, Coeur d’Alene allows an ADU to be up to 75 percent of the floor area of the principal dwelling, up to a maximum of 800 square feet, excluding the garage area.

What other requirements does Coeur d’Alene have for ADUs? Either the principal dwelling unit or the ADU must be occupied by a majority owner of the property if a unit is used as a short-term or vacation rental. A property owner may not rent out both as short-term rentals. Additionally, if an ADU is going to be used for less than 30-day stays, the owner must comply with the City’s short-term rental requirements in Chapter 17.08, Article X of Title 17 (Zoning).

Three paved parking stalls will be required for any home where an ADU is being added. The requirement is for one paved 9-by-20-foot off-street parking stall for the ADU and two paved 9-by-20- foot parking spaces for the primary dwelling unit.

Where would I look for setback requirements for ADUs in Coeur d’Alene? Click on this link to see the code language regarding setbacks for ADUs.

Does Coeur d’Alene require a scaled site plan to be submitted as part of the permit application? Yes. Please click here for the ADU application form that contains a list of required submittals that must be submitted along with the building permit application.

Who do I contact with questions or for more information about building an ADU in Coeur d’Alene? Contact the Planning Department at (208) 769-2274 or the Building Department at (208) 769-2267.

The December 2021 Housing Availability & Affordability Study and the 2023 Next Steps Study prepared by the University of Idaho are available for review. 

 
Department Staff

For more information about the Planning Department and what we do, you can watch a presentation to the General Services/Public Works Subcommittee of the City Council from December 2020.

The City's new 2042 Comprehensive Plan (Envision Coeur d'Alene) was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Plan Award by the Idaho Chapter of the American Planning Association on October 6, 2022 in Garden City, Idaho.





The Planning Team is proud to have received a plaque from the American Planning Association designating Sherman Avenue as a Great Street in America: