What is the maximum dock length on Black Lake, and who issues the permit?

Single-family docks follow Idaho's encroachment standards under IDAPA 20.03.04 where IDL has jurisdiction: maximum 700 sq ft of surface area, 10 ft wide, and may not extend past the established line of navigability. Black Lake sits within the CDA Basin chain-of-lakes, and Coeur d'Alene Tribal jurisdiction may apply on the southern portion. Verify the controlling authority before any dock work.

Can I add sand to make a beach on Black Lake?

Below the OHWM, placement of new material requires an IDL or Coeur d'Alene Tribal encroachment permit (depending on parcel). Above the OHWM, Kootenai County Code 8.7.111 imposes a 25-foot Shoreline Management Area.

Can I dredge or remove weeds at my private shoreline?

Mechanical work requires the controlling agency's encroachment permit plus a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a Section 401 water-quality certification from Idaho DEQ. Legacy heavy-metal sediment from the Bunker Hill Superfund site adds EPA oversight to any sediment-disturbing work in this chain.

What herbicide or algaecide treatments are allowed?

Only EPA-registered aquatic products may be applied, and only under coverage of Idaho DEQ's Pesticide General Permit (IDG87-0000).

Are gas-powered boats allowed? Is there a horsepower limit?

Yes, gas boats are allowed and there is no horsepower cap. In practice, the shallow chain-of-lakes basin keeps activity predominantly fishing and low-speed.

What is the no-wake zone?

5 mph within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, swimmer, or anchored vessel per Kootenai County Code.

Does the lake have a seasonal drawdown?

Black Lake is hydraulically connected to the Coeur d'Alene River chain and water levels follow the Lake CDA / Post Falls Dam regime — about a 7.5-foot annual swing from summer full pool.

What is the shoreline setback for new construction?

Kootenai County Code 8.7.111 establishes a 25-foot Shoreline Management Area. Principal-structure setback is typically 40 feet from OHWM in residential zones.

Is septic permitted on waterfront, or is sewer required?

Septic only — there is no central sewer at Black Lake. Panhandle Health District permits with drainfield setbacks of 100–300 feet from surface water.

Are short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) allowed?

Yes. Idaho Code §67-6539 preempts most local prohibitions, and HB 583 (effective July 1, 2026) further restricts what cities can require.

How deep is Black Lake?

Maximum depth is approximately 30 feet; average depth runs about 10–15 feet. It's a shallow chain-of-lakes basin.

Approximately 400 surface acres (Idaho Fish & Game lists 401.6) with about 3–4 miles of shoreline.

What is the elevation?

About 2,128 feet — the same elevation as Lake CDA at full pool, because the two are hydraulically connected.

Is the lake spring-fed, river-fed, or glacial?

Floodplain lake within the Coeur d'Alene River chain. River-fed and seasonally inundated.

How clear is the water?

Limited. Chain-of-lakes character with suspended sediment in spring runoff. Secchi readings typically run 3–6 feet.

What is the shoreline character?

Predominantly low-bank and walk-out, with extensive wetland and emergent vegetation.

Does Black Lake freeze?

Yes, routinely December through February.

Where are the public boat launches?

Limited. Idaho Fish & Game access on the north end via the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and a CDA River side channel. Most lake-edge launches are private.

What's the typical waterfront price range?

Chain-of-lakes waterfront generally trades between $400K and $1M, with select premium higher. Inventory is thin and comp data sparse.

How many waterfront homes sell each year?

Very low — perhaps 2–5 sales per year.

What's nearby for groceries, schools, and medical?

Harrison (pop. ~250) is about 5 miles east. Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene is roughly 35 miles north. Schools are Harrison/Kootenai joint school districts.

What is the property tax rate?

Kootenai County's average effective rate is approximately 0.541%. Idaho's homeowner exemption — 50% of value up to $125,000 — applies to a primary residence only.

How is fire protection structured around the lake?

Worley Fire District, Mica-Kidd Island FPD, and East Side FPD cover this part of the chain — predominantly volunteer.

Is broadband available lakefront?

Limited. Ziply/CenturyLink DSL is spotty. Starlink is the practical choice on most parcels.

Year-round community or seasonal?

Heavily seasonal/cabin character — roughly 25/75 year-round to seasonal.

◦ Kootenai County · ID

Black Lake

Real Estate · Waterfront Homes · Buyer Guide

A floodplain lake in the Coeur d'Alene River chain-of-lakes — shallow, river-fed, hydraulically tied to Lake CDA, and a thinly traded cabin market.

Black Lake · ID

Black Lake is a 400-acre river-fed floodplain lake in Kootenai County, Idaho — with about 4 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 30 feet, and an elevation of 2,128 feet matching Lake CDA at full pool. Dock authority is split: the Idaho Department of Lands controls much of the basin, while Coeur d’Alene Tribal jurisdiction may apply on the southern portion — and the entire chain sits within the Bunker Hill Superfund sediment area, adding EPA oversight to any lakebed work. Waterfront homes trade between $400K and $1M with thin comp data and only 2–5 sales per year.

The regulatory picture is the most important variable on this part of the basin. Coeur d’Alene Tribal jurisdiction may apply on the southern portion, and the entire chain sits within the legacy Bunker Hill Superfund sediment area — meaning any work that disturbs lakebed material attracts EPA oversight in addition to the standard IDL/USACE/IDEQ stack. Confirm controlling authority and sediment-disturbance constraints early.

Market activity is thin — perhaps 2–5 sales per year — and the inventory leans cabin and recreational. Septic is universal, fixed broadband is limited (Starlink is the practical default), and fire protection is volunteer. Black Lake is the right pick for buyers prioritizing privacy, chain-of-lakes access, and a deep discount to the main basin of CDA. It is not a primary-residence market.

Editorial cartographic illustration of Black Lake — Black Lake — stylized depth illustration

◦ Common buyer questions

What buyers ask about Black Lake.

Permits, rules & permissions

What is the maximum dock length on Black Lake, and who issues the permit?
Single-family docks follow Idaho's encroachment standards under IDAPA 20.03.04 where IDL has jurisdiction: maximum 700 sq ft of surface area, 10 ft wide, and may not extend past the established line of navigability. Black Lake sits within the CDA Basin chain-of-lakes, and Coeur d'Alene Tribal jurisdiction may apply on the southern portion. Verify the controlling authority before any dock work.
Can I add sand to make a beach on Black Lake?
Below the OHWM, placement of new material requires an IDL or Coeur d'Alene Tribal encroachment permit (depending on parcel). Above the OHWM, Kootenai County Code 8.7.111 imposes a 25-foot Shoreline Management Area.
Can I dredge or remove weeds at my private shoreline?
Mechanical work requires the controlling agency's encroachment permit plus a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a Section 401 water-quality certification from Idaho DEQ. Legacy heavy-metal sediment from the Bunker Hill Superfund site adds EPA oversight to any sediment-disturbing work in this chain.
What herbicide or algaecide treatments are allowed?
Only EPA-registered aquatic products may be applied, and only under coverage of Idaho DEQ's Pesticide General Permit (IDG87-0000).
Are gas-powered boats allowed? Is there a horsepower limit?
Yes, gas boats are allowed and there is no horsepower cap. In practice, the shallow chain-of-lakes basin keeps activity predominantly fishing and low-speed.
What is the no-wake zone?
5 mph within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, swimmer, or anchored vessel per Kootenai County Code.
Does the lake have a seasonal drawdown?
Black Lake is hydraulically connected to the Coeur d'Alene River chain and water levels follow the Lake CDA / Post Falls Dam regime — about a 7.5-foot annual swing from summer full pool.
What is the shoreline setback for new construction?
Kootenai County Code 8.7.111 establishes a 25-foot Shoreline Management Area. Principal-structure setback is typically 40 feet from OHWM in residential zones.
Is septic permitted on waterfront, or is sewer required?
Septic only — there is no central sewer at Black Lake. Panhandle Health District permits with drainfield setbacks of 100–300 feet from surface water.
Are short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) allowed?
Yes. Idaho Code §67-6539 preempts most local prohibitions, and HB 583 (effective July 1, 2026) further restricts what cities can require.

The water itself

How deep is Black Lake?
Maximum depth is approximately 30 feet; average depth runs about 10–15 feet. It's a shallow chain-of-lakes basin.
How big is the lake?
Approximately 400 surface acres (Idaho Fish & Game lists 401.6) with about 3–4 miles of shoreline.
What is the elevation?
About 2,128 feet — the same elevation as Lake CDA at full pool, because the two are hydraulically connected.
Is the lake spring-fed, river-fed, or glacial?
Floodplain lake within the Coeur d'Alene River chain. River-fed and seasonally inundated.
How clear is the water?
Limited. Chain-of-lakes character with suspended sediment in spring runoff. Secchi readings typically run 3–6 feet.
What is the shoreline character?
Predominantly low-bank and walk-out, with extensive wetland and emergent vegetation.
Does Black Lake freeze?
Yes, routinely December through February.
Where are the public boat launches?
Limited. Idaho Fish & Game access on the north end via the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and a CDA River side channel. Most lake-edge launches are private.

Living on the lake

What's the typical waterfront price range?
Chain-of-lakes waterfront generally trades between $400K and $1M, with select premium higher. Inventory is thin and comp data sparse.
How many waterfront homes sell each year?
Very low — perhaps 2–5 sales per year.
What's nearby for groceries, schools, and medical?
Harrison (pop. ~250) is about 5 miles east. Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene is roughly 35 miles north. Schools are Harrison/Kootenai joint school districts.
What is the property tax rate?
Kootenai County's average effective rate is approximately 0.541%. Idaho's homeowner exemption — 50% of value up to $125,000 — applies to a primary residence only.
How is fire protection structured around the lake?
Worley Fire District, Mica-Kidd Island FPD, and East Side FPD cover this part of the chain — predominantly volunteer.
Is broadband available lakefront?
Limited. Ziply/CenturyLink DSL is spotty. Starlink is the practical choice on most parcels.
Year-round community or seasonal?
Heavily seasonal/cabin character — roughly 25/75 year-round to seasonal.