Blog · September 25, 2026 · Idaho
Kootenai County, Idaho GIS Parcel Map Guide
Kootenai County is North Idaho’s busiest county, home to Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Hayden, and wrapped around some of the region’s best-known lakes. Its free KCEarth map is the main tool for researching parcels, from city lots to timbered acreage. Here is how to use it.
Main page: Kootenai County, ID GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, Kootenai County facts and neighboring maps).
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About Kootenai County
Coeur d’Alene is the county seat. The 2020 census counted 171,362 residents, making Kootenai the third most populous county in Idaho. The county covers about 1,316 square miles. Cities include Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Spirit Lake, Athol, Harrison, Worley and Dalton Gardens, among others.
Lake Coeur d’Alene fills much of the south-central county, and the south end of Lake Pend Oreille reaches into the north, where Farragut State Park sits near Athol. Much of the population lives on the Rathdrum Prairie, which sits above the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, a sole source of drinking water for many residents in the region.
Using KCEarth
KCEarth is the county’s GIS viewer. After you accept the disclaimer, you can search for parcels by owner name, AIN or parcel number. The AIN is a separate ID the county assigns alongside the parcel number, and either one works. Results open tabs for owner, details and additional information. The viewer also includes spatial selection, a layer list, drawing tools and a measure tool.
- Open KCEarth and accept the disclaimer.
- Search by owner, AIN or parcel number, or find the area on the map.
- Click the parcel and read the owner, details and additional tabs.
- Use the layer list to add layers such as zoning or city limits where available.
- Measure frontage or area, or use spatial select to review neighboring parcels.
The county’s GIS data uses the Idaho State Plane West coordinate system on NAD83, which matters if you or a surveyor download data to use in other software.
Parcel map PDFs
Beyond the viewer, the county publishes parcel map PDFs. Note that the county stopped maintaining those CAD drawings for documents recorded after January 1, 2011, so older map sheets may not show recent splits. Use KCEarth for current lines and the PDFs for historical context.
Lake property
Lakefront parcels on Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Spirit and Pend Oreille lakes command a premium, and the map lines along the shore are approximate. Ownership of the lakebed, docks and encroachments are handled under state law and permitting, not by the tax map. Idaho manages beds of navigable lakes as public trust land, so dock and shoreline work usually needs a permit. Our guide to whether property lines extend into the lake covers the general principles; talk with a local attorney or surveyor for a specific lot.
For buyers and builders
The Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum areas have seen steady subdivision growth. Check city limits, zoning and recorded plats before buying a lot. Because the aquifer beneath the prairie is unconfined and vulnerable to contamination, septic and wastewater rules can be stricter here than in other places. Ask the health district and the county or city about sewer availability and septic limits before counting on a building site.
Rural and timber land
Outside the prairie, much of the county is forested and mountainous, around Worley, Harrison and the hills east of Coeur d’Alene. Use aerials and the measure tool to size up acreage, and check for road access and easements, since some forest parcels depend on private roads. Hunters and recreational buyers can click neighbors to see who owns adjoining land. See our guides on landlocked parcels and finding boundaries in the woods.
Who uses KCEarth
Relocating buyers from out of state often start with KCEarth to compare neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden and Post Falls before a visit. Builders check setbacks, lot sizes and plats in new subdivisions on the prairie. Contractors and well drillers use the map to confirm they are on the right parcel. Recreational buyers use aerials to size up timber, meadows and creeks on acreage near Harrison or Worley. In each case, the owner, details and additional tabs give a quick profile of the parcel, and the measure tool gives a rough sense of size before anyone orders a survey.
A few habits make searches smoother. Try the owner’s last name alone if a full name returns nothing. Copy parcel numbers exactly as they appear on a tax notice. Zoom in before turning on detailed layers, since some only draw at close range. And if a lot seems to be missing, it may have been recently split or combined, so ask the Assessor’s mapping staff.
Offices and records
The Kootenai County Assessor’s office is at 451 Government Way in Coeur d’Alene, 208-446-1500, and the GIS department can be reached at 208-446-1390. Deeds and plats are recorded through the County Clerk’s recording office. KCEarth is for reference, and boundary questions need a licensed Idaho surveyor.
Nearby counties
Kootenai borders Bonner County to the north. See our Bonner County guide, or open Kootenai on the Platbookmapper map and the Idaho directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is KCEarth?
Kootenai County’s free GIS viewer for parcels, owners and map layers.
Can I search KCEarth by AIN?
Yes. KCEarth searches by AIN, owner name or parcel number.
Are Kootenai parcel map PDFs current?
Not fully. The county stopped CAD maintenance for documents recorded after January 1, 2011; use KCEarth for current lines.
Do Kootenai lake lots include the lakebed?
Generally no for navigable lakes, but check with an attorney or surveyor for a specific lot.
Open the official Kootenai County GIS viewer Kootenai 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.