Kootenai County staff report faster permit reviews, more large projects in 2025 year‑end review

Kootenai County Community Development staff presented a fiscal year 2025 year‑end review at a public meeting Oct. 23, 2025, reporting faster permit review times, higher‑than‑expected revenues and an increase in large projects while noting an existing backlog in longstanding code compliance cases.

Craig Davidson, deputy director for community development operations, told Commissioners Eberlein and Matari that total permits in fiscal 2025 were 2,799 and that average review times have fallen compared with 2024. "The reduction in the goal is a good thing. That means it's taking us less time to review these things," Davidson said, pointing to improvements in staff efficiency and revised review processes.

The report showed a notable uptick in higher‑value permits: seven permits exceeded $2,000,000 in value in 2025, and 38 permits were in the $1,000,000–$2,000,000 range. Davidson said most of the largest permits were residential and that the county also saw an increase in complex commercial projects, including several large metal and condominium‑style buildings.

Staf…