Note 3 - Acquisitions (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Number of Businesses Acquired	13	9
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	$ 682	$ 354
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	(122)	(579)
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount	7,511	6,753
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	10,442
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, Low	10,207
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High	12,008
Contingent Consideration Paid	2,490	7,172
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	(621)	(54)
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	$ 10,442	$ 3,316
FirstService Residential Segment [Member]
Number of Businesses Acquired	5	7
FirstService Brands Segment [Member]
Number of Businesses Acquired	8	2
FirstService Brands Segment [Member] \| California Closets [Member]
Number of Businesses Acquired	3
FirstService Brands Segment [Member] \| Paul Davis Restoration [Member]
Number of Businesses Acquired	3
FirstService Brands Segment [Member] \| California Closets and Paul Davis Restoration [Member]
Number of Businesses Acquired	6

The contingent consideration paid.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

+ References

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- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531572&loc=d3e1043-128460

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the value of a contingent consideration liability, including, but not limited to, differences arising upon settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e7008-128479

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- Definition

For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

+ References

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For contingent consideration arrangements and indemnification assets recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the low-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

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- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911338&loc=d3e6819-128478

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

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- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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