The city of Moyie Springs has notified the Boundary County commissioners that the city plans to repeal its existing area of impact.  

A recent change to Idaho Code specifies that cities cannot extend not extend an AOI more than two and half square miles outside of the city’s limits and must be planned for annexation by the city within five years.  

An AOI is land claimed by a city outside of their limits, which the city could annex, plan to zone, get notified about new developments and more. 

"The City Council has determined that the current area of impact no longer serves the best interests of our residents or aligns with our long-term planning objectives,” Moyie Springs Mayor Geoff Hollenbeck told county commissioners in a recent letter. 

By repealing the AOI, Hollenbeck said city officials believe it will allow Moyie Springs officials to have a “more direct and responsive approach to governance within our jurisdictional boundaries.” 

Moyie Springs City Council member Jake Francom said that AOIs may not be necessary in the future, and that annexation will occur only if property owners ask to join the city.  

“If someone wants to be annexed into the city, they’ll come to us and do that,” Francom said.  

Moyie Springs officials previously told the Herald that they do not anticipate any growth or development in the next five years and therefore see no need for an AOI. One reason is Idaho Code 50-222, which requires cities seeking annexation to provide fee-supported municipal services- such as water and sewer- to the newly annexed lands. That requirement would come at a cost for the city of Moyie Springs.   

In 2024, the Idaho Legislature replaced the former “Area of City Impact” state law, with updated AOI language. Under Idaho Code 67-6526, areas of impact should be established, modified, or confirmed based on the ability and likelihood of a city to annex lands within that area of impact in the next five years. Eligible land should also be within two miles of the city.  

As a result of this change, many parcels near Bonners Ferry and Moyie Springs do not fit the new AOI language.  

Francom said Moyie Springs was unaware of the AOI changes and went to the commissioners with the same proposal previously used by the city. The revised AOI proposal was presented at the Nov. 5 council meeting. 

Unlike Moyie Springs, Bonners Ferry recently annexed five parcels into the city that are on its southeast border, according to a Planning and Zoning staff report. Prior to annexation, the owners of the parcels expressed interest in becoming part of Bonners Ferry.  

The Boundary County commissioners unanimously approved Bonners Ferry’s AOI proposal on Sept. 8, 2025.