Kootenai County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Kootenai County?
Public records in Kootenai County are defined according to the Idaho Public Records Act § 74-101, which states that public records include "any writing containing information relating to the conduct or administration of the public's business prepared, owned, used or retained by any state agency, independent public body corporate and politic or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics." Kootenai County maintains numerous types of public records that are accessible to citizens pursuant to state law.
The following categories of public records are maintained by various Kootenai County departments:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases are maintained by the Kootenai County District Court. These include judgments, case filings, hearing schedules, and court orders.
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments, and property transfers are maintained by the Kootenai County Recorder's Office.
- Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees are available through the Kootenai County Clerk's Office, though birth and death certificates are primarily maintained at the state level.
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name statements (DBAs) are maintained by various county departments.
- Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax payment histories are maintained by the Kootenai County Assessor's Office and Treasurer's Office.
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration information, election results, and campaign finance disclosures are maintained by the Kootenai County Elections Office.
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners, planning and zoning commission, and other county boards are maintained by the respective departments.
- Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, and financial statements are maintained by the Kootenai County Auditor's Office.
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports, and jail records (where not exempt) are maintained by the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Building permits, zoning applications, and land use decisions are maintained by the Kootenai County Community Development Department.
The Kootenai County official website serves as the primary portal for accessing information about these records, with many records available through online databases maintained by the county.
Is Kootenai County an Open Records County?
Kootenai County adheres to the Idaho Public Records Act § 74-102, which establishes the right of citizens to examine and copy public records. This statute explicitly states that "Every person has a right to examine and take a copy of any public record of this state and there is a presumption that all public records in Idaho are open at all reasonable times for inspection except as otherwise expressly provided by statute."
The Idaho Public Records Act establishes that government records are presumed open for public inspection unless specifically exempted by law. Kootenai County has implemented policies to comply with these state requirements, ensuring transparency in government operations.
Under Idaho Code § 74-102(1), "All records in the custody of a public agency are presumptively open to public inspection." This provision underscores the state's commitment to government transparency, which Kootenai County upholds through its records management practices.
Kootenai County has established procedures for public records requests that align with state requirements. The county maintains a public records request process that allows citizens to submit requests to the appropriate department custodian of records. The county's compliance with these open records provisions is overseen by the Idaho Public Records Law Manual published by the Idaho Attorney General's Office.
How to Find Public Records in Kootenai County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records from Kootenai County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need. The county provides multiple access points for public records retrieval:
-
Online Access: Many records are available through the county's official website. Court records can be accessed through the Idaho Supreme Court's iCourt Portal, which provides a centralized system for searching court cases throughout the state. Property records can be searched through the Kootenai County Assessor's online database.
-
In-Person Requests: Citizens may visit the appropriate county department during regular business hours to inspect records in person. For example:
- Court records: Visit the Kootenai County Courthouse
- Property records: Visit the Recorder's Office
- Tax information: Visit the Assessor's Office
-
Written Requests: Submit a written public records request to the specific department that maintains the desired records. The county provides a standard public records request form that can be submitted via mail, email, or in person.
-
Telephone Inquiries: Initial inquiries about record availability can be made by contacting the relevant department by telephone.
For records not available online, requestors must submit a Public Records Request Form to the appropriate department. Pursuant to Idaho Code § 74-103, agencies must respond to requests within three (3) working days. For more extensive requests, the agency may take up to ten (10) working days to respond.
Law enforcement records can be requested through the Idaho State Police or the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, depending on the nature of the record sought. Court assistance for self-represented litigants seeking court records is available through the Idaho Court Assistance Office.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Kootenai County?
Kootenai County assesses fees for public records in accordance with Idaho Code § 74-102(10), which permits agencies to charge for the actual labor and copying costs associated with locating and providing records. The current fee structure for public records in Kootenai County includes:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard black and white copies
- Color Copies: $1.00 per page
- Large Format Documents (maps, blueprints): $5.00 per page
- Digital Records: $1.00 per CD/DVD for electronic copies
- Labor Costs: After the first 100 pages or two hours of labor, agencies may charge for actual labor costs for locating and copying records
- Certified Copies: Additional $1.00 per document
Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards (in most departments). Some departments may have specific payment requirements.
The Idaho Public Records Act provides that fees may be waived if the request is likely to contribute significantly to the public's understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. Fee waiver requests must be submitted in writing along with the records request.
Specialized records may have different fee schedules established by state statute:
- Vital Records: Birth certificates ($16), Death certificates ($16), Marriage licenses ($30)
- Court Records: Varies by document type and certification requirements
- Recorded Documents: First page ($10), Additional pages ($3 each)
These fees are subject to change based on county ordinances and state law revisions.
Does Kootenai County Have Free Public Records?
Kootenai County provides free inspection of public records in accordance with Idaho Code § 74-102(6), which states that "no fee shall be charged for the right to inspect and examine public records." Citizens may visit the appropriate county department during regular business hours to view records without charge, though fees apply for copies or extensive searches as noted above.
The following records are currently available at no cost:
- Online Court Case Information: Basic case information is available free of charge through the Idaho Supreme Court's iCourt Portal, though fees apply for document downloads.
- Property Assessment Information: Basic property assessment data is available free of charge through the Kootenai County Assessor's website.
- County Commissioner Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Available on the county website at no cost.
- Election Results and Voter Information: Basic election results and voter information resources are provided free of charge on the Elections Department website.
- County Budget Documents: Summary budget information is available on the county website.
- Public Notices: Legal notices and public hearing announcements are posted on the county website at no cost.
For records not available online, in-person inspection remains free, though appointments may be required for certain record types or extensive research requests. The Kootenai County Clerk's Office maintains public access terminals where citizens can search certain records at no cost.
Who Can Request Public Records in Kootenai County?
Under Idaho Code § 74-102(1), "Every person has a right to examine and take a copy of any public record of this state." This broad eligibility means that:
- Requestors need not be Idaho residents to request public records from Kootenai County
- Identification is generally not required for most public records requests, though specific records may require verification of identity
- Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most records
- Non-citizens and business entities have the same rights to access public records as Idaho citizens
However, certain restrictions apply to specific record types:
- Vital Records: Requests for birth and death certificates are restricted to the person named in the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record.
- Criminal History Records: Complete criminal history information may be restricted to authorized agencies or the subject of the record.
- Medical Records: Access is restricted by HIPAA and state privacy laws.
- Juvenile Records: Access is limited by Idaho Code § 20-525 to specific parties involved in the case.
When requesting records about oneself, identification is typically required to verify identity and protect privacy. When requesting records about others, access may be limited based on the record type and applicable exemptions under state law.
Government agencies, law enforcement, and authorized researchers may have expanded access to certain restricted records when necessary for official purposes.
What Records Are Confidential in Kootenai County?
While Idaho law presumes that public records are open for inspection, Idaho Code § 74-104 through § 74-111 establishes numerous exemptions from disclosure. The following record types are generally confidential in Kootenai County:
- Sealed Court Records: Cases sealed by court order, including certain juvenile proceedings, adoption records, and mental health commitments.
- Juvenile Records: Records related to juvenile offenders are confidential under Idaho Code § 20-525, with limited exceptions.
- Ongoing Investigations: Records related to active law enforcement investigations are exempt from disclosure until the matter is resolved.
- Personal Identifying Information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personal identifying information are protected from disclosure.
- Medical Records: Health information protected under HIPAA and state privacy laws.
- Adoption Records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are confidential by statute.
- Child Welfare Records: Child protection investigation records and proceedings are confidential.
- Personnel Records: Employee personnel records are generally exempt, though certain information about public employees (position, salary) remains public.
- Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information and trade secrets submitted to the county.
- Critical Infrastructure: Security plans, vulnerability assessments, and detailed infrastructure information.
- Attorney-Client Communications: Communications between the county and its legal counsel.
- Preliminary Drafts: Preliminary drafts and working papers of county officials prior to final decision.
Idaho law requires agencies to apply a balancing test in some cases, weighing the public's right to know against individual privacy interests. When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the county must redact the exempt information and provide the remainder.
Requestors denied access to records may appeal the decision according to procedures outlined in Idaho Code § 74-115, which provides for administrative and judicial review of denial decisions.
Kootenai County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Kootenai County Recorder's Office
451 Government Way
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
(208) 446-1480
Kootenai County Recorder
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and federal holidays
The Recorder's Office maintains and provides access to property records including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land records. The office also issues marriage licenses and maintains records of marriages performed in Kootenai County.
Kootenai County Clerk's Office
451 Government Way
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
(208) 446-1000
Kootenai County Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and federal holidays
The Clerk's Office serves as the clerk of the district court and maintains court records, processes passport applications, and handles various administrative functions for the county.
Kootenai County Assessor's Office
451 Government Way
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
(208) 446-1500
Kootenai County Assessor
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and federal holidays
The Assessor's Office maintains property assessment records, tax information, and property ownership data for all real property within Kootenai County.
Lookup Public Records in Kootenai County
Kootenai County Official Website
Idaho Supreme Court Records Portal