Blog · September 24, 2026 · Idaho
Bonner County, Idaho GIS Parcel Map Guide
The Bonner County GIS Viewer is the free parcel map for Sandpoint, Ponderay, Kootenai, Dover, Priest River, Clark Fork, Oldtown and the shores of Lake Pend Oreille and Priest Lake.
Main page: Bonner County, ID GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, Bonner County facts and neighboring maps).
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Bonner County is Idaho’s lake country, with the state’s largest lake at its center and timber mountains on every side. The Bonner County GIS Viewer maps every lakefront lot and forest tract.
The new Bonner County GIS Viewer
The county recently launched a new viewer, describing it as easier to use, faster and built for both desktop and phone. The welcome screen links a tutorial video and a feedback form. The disclaimer says the data does not have survey-level accuracy, may contain errors, and is illustrative only, not a substitute for legal surveys or records. It asks users to verify information in the county’s official records before acting, and choosing Disagree sends you back to the county website.
After you agree, the map opens with search and layer tools. We link it from Bonner in our Idaho directory, and you can click the panhandle on our U.S. county locator.
Parcel numbers and searches
Idaho assessors typically use a parcel number that encodes township, range and section, often with a separate account number. Search by owner, address or parcel, and open the record for values and legal description. If you are new to the viewer, the tutorial video shows how the search and layer panels work.
How to find property lines in Bonner County
Timber tracts follow the section grid, while lake and town lots follow plats.
- Copy the legal description from the Assessor record.
- Get the deed, plat or record of survey from the Bonner County Recorder, part of the Clerk’s office in Sandpoint.
- Look for corner monuments; in dense forest, a GPS unit and metal detector help.
- Hire an Idaho professional land surveyor before fencing, building or logging near a line.
Lake Pend Oreille and shoreline rules
Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho’s largest and deepest lake, fed by the Clark Fork and drained by the Pend Oreille River. The lake level is managed at Albeni Falls Dam, so shorelines move with the seasons. Docks, encroachments and work below the high-water mark typically require state permits in Idaho, so check with the Idaho Department of Lands before planning a dock. Check flood zones along the rivers; see county flood layers explained.
Priest Lake and state leases
At Priest Lake, some cabins historically sat on state-owned lots leased from the Idaho Department of Lands, and many of those lots have been sold to lessees over the past decade. A parcel’s ownership history can be unusual, so read the record carefully and ask a title company.
Timberland and forest neighbors
Idaho Panhandle National Forests, state endowment land and industrial timber companies own much of the county. Access roads may cross private or company land with gates or seasonal closures. Before buying a remote parcel, confirm legal access, since a road on the map is not proof of an easement.
Bonner County plat book
Timber-company sales and lake subdivisions keep reshaping ownership here, and we know of no current printed landowner atlas. The Recorder in Sandpoint holds the recorded plats, and the viewer is the no-cost way to see who owns a tract.
Acreage map and hunting
Big-game hunters use the viewer to find private tracts and ask permission, or to stay on public land. Idaho Department of Fish and Game sets seasons, and some timber company land has its own access programs.
Power, roads and septic in rural Bonner
Much of rural Bonner is served by Northern Lights, a member-owned electric cooperative, and extending a line to a remote building site can cost more than the land. Many back roads are private or seasonally maintained, which affects winter access and school bus routes. Panhandle Health District issues septic permits and may require a site evaluation. Before buying acreage, ask three questions: can I get power, can I reach the lot year-round, and will a septic system pass?
Broadband is another gap. Fiber and cable reach Sandpoint and nearby towns, but many rural homes rely on satellite or fixed wireless. If you plan to work from home, test coverage at the lot before closing. Wildfire season has lengthened across the Panhandle, and insurers may ask about defensible space and road access for fire trucks. A gravel driveway that is fine in August may need plowing contracts from December through March.
Is the Bonner County GIS map accurate?
The county says the data is not survey level and may contain errors. Forest tracts and shorelines can shift, while newer plats usually fit well. A survey is the only way to settle a line; see why county GIS is not a survey.
Viewer not loading?
Agree to the disclaimer, then reload if the map stays empty. The tutorial video helps if tools look unfamiliar, and the feedback form reaches the GIS department. For the Boise area, see our Ada County guide, or open the Idaho GIS county list.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bonner County GIS Viewer free?
Yes. It is free after you accept the county’s disclaimer.
Do property lines extend into Lake Pend Oreille?
Typically not past the ordinary high-water mark; work below it usually needs state permits. Ask the Idaho Department of Lands.
Can I get power to rural land in Bonner County?
Often, but line extensions can be expensive. Ask the local electric utility or cooperative for an estimate before you buy.
Who issues septic permits in Bonner County?
Panhandle Health District reviews and permits septic systems, often after a site evaluation.
Open the official Bonner County GIS viewer Bonner County in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey — especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.