Kootenai County
Kootenai County, Idaho: solar permitting grade D (score 56/100, High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | D · High Risk · Score 56/100 |
| Population | 173,000 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Worsening (ordinance direction tightening) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Data-center activity | Restrictions Tightened (CUP required; aquifer siting prohibited) |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Kootenai County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. Idaho's state policy environment adds headwinds — the absence of a strong RPS framework means county-level resistance faces less counterbalancing pressure.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Kootenai County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Athol city
- Coeur d'Alene city
- Dalton Gardens city
- Fernan Lake Village city
- Harrison city
- Hauser city
- Hayden Lake city
- Hayden city
- Huetter city
- Post Falls city
- Rathdrum city
- Spirit Lake city
- State Line city
- Worley city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Benewah County · ≈32 miC46—
- Spokane County, WA · ≈33 miB38—
- Shoshone County · ≈44 miC51—
- Bonner County · ≈44 miC46—
- Latah County · ≈59 miA25—
- Pend Oreille County, WA · ≈65 miB42—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Kootenai County ranks #41 of 44 ranked Idaho counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Idaho: Blaine County (A · 18), Teton County (A · 19), Latah County (A · 25). See all Idaho county grades →
Want the full record?
Setback distances, board vote histories, source documents, and ordinance amendments are available in the full county profile. The map is free; a walkthrough shows you the underlying record.
About this score
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
Related reading
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.