Unincorporated Bingham County, Idaho requires building permits for occupied structures and many other construction projects1. County zoning applies across unincorporated land, except tribal land within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation where the county lacks jurisdiction2. Septic permits go through Southeastern Idaho Public Health, and the county requires septic approval before issuing a building permit when onsite service is needed3.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required for occupied structures and many other projects1
- Zoning
- County zoning applies in unincorporated areas, with a tribal-land exception2
- Septic permit
- Required through Southeastern Idaho Public Health4
- RV living
- Not confirmed countywide; ask Planning and Development for the parcel's district5
- Tiny home
- Any occupied structure needs a building permit, regardless of size1
- Owner-builder exemption
- Not confirmed; ask Planning and Development6
- Well permit
- Obtain an IDWR drilling permit before drilling7
Who to call
Building permits
Bingham County Planning and Development
Building and construction, code enforcement, land development, and the Planning and Zoning Commission
490 N Maple, Suite A, Blackfoot, ID 83221
Zoning
Bingham County Planning and Development
Zoning applications, land development, and the Planning and Zoning Commission
490 N Maple, Suite A, Blackfoot, ID 83221
Septic permits
Southeastern Idaho Public Health, Environmental Health
Septic permit applications, site evaluations, and onsite sewage requirements
1901 Alvin Ricken Dr, Pocatello, ID 83201
Septic permits
Southeastern Idaho Public Health, Bingham County Office
Local Bingham County contact for Southeastern Idaho Public Health
145 W Idaho Street, Blackfoot, Idaho 83221
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.
Do you need a building permit in Bingham County, Idaho?
Yes. Unincorporated Bingham County requires a permit for any occupied structure, regardless of size, as well as additions, decks or porches, structural repairs or remodels, changes of use, manufactured-home placement, and other listed work1. An accessory structure needs a permit when it exceeds 200 square feet, or 120 square feet for a commercial accessory structure1. Bingham County has adopted the 2018 family of building, residential, energy, mechanical, fuel-gas, and existing-building codes with county and state amendments8. Electric service may not be used in a structure until the required building, zoning, or waiver permit has been secured9. Starting construction before issuance doubles the permit fee9. Idaho separately requires permits for regulated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work10.
Who issues Bingham County building permits, and how do you apply?
Bingham County Planning and Development handles building and construction, code enforcement, land development, and planning and zoning11. Reach the department at 208-782-3177 or visit 490 N Maple, Suite A, Blackfoot, ID 8322111. Select the pertinent application, create a portal account, attach the required documents, and submit for staff review12. If the project meets adopted-code criteria, the applicant receives notice to pay for and print the permit; inspection requests use the same portal12. After the final inspection passes, the county issues the applicable Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion12. Fees vary by project, and extra charges apply for starting early or failing to request an inspection13.
Does Bingham County have zoning?
Yes. Bingham County zoning applies across unincorporated land, except portions of tribal land inside the Fort Hall Indian Reservation where the county lacks jurisdiction2. Uses and dimensional standards vary by zoning district, and some uses require conditional-use approval142. Incorporated municipalities and city-impact areas may have separate or overlapping rules; county materials identify city-specific zoning processes for Aberdeen, Basalt, and Firth15. Before ordering plans, ask Planning and Development to identify the governing jurisdiction and district, then confirm the allowed use, setbacks, and required land-use approvals16. We could not confirm a countywide minimum dwelling size, lot-coverage limit, or general building-height limit. Ask Planning and Development about those items and any parcel-specific floodplain review.
How do septic permits work in Bingham County?
Southeastern Idaho Public Health administers onsite sewage permitting for Bingham County, and the local county office is at 145 W Idaho Street in Blackfoot317. A complete application needs the fee, a deed or tax notice, and a signed, dated plot plan drawn to scale4. Every application requires an onsite evaluation, and the owner or applicant must provide test holes 8 to 10 feet deep depending on soil type18. The application page lists $300 for a speculative site evaluation and $925 for a site evaluation plus permit when the site is suitable19. Only about 32.3% of county soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so evaluate the parcel before purchase20. Public or central sewer availability can also lead the director to deny an onsite permit21.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Bingham County?
We could not confirm a general Bingham County rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV occupancy on private land. Ask Planning and Development about the parcel's zoning district, temporary-use rules, and utility requirements before relying on an RV for housing1416. A tiny home intended for occupancy is not exempt merely because it is small: Bingham County requires a permit for any occupied structure1. We also could not confirm a minimum dwelling size, a special tiny-home occupancy path, or a complete rule for off-grid sanitation; Southeastern Idaho Public Health should approve the wastewater plan before construction4. A HUD-certified manufactured home requires an installation permit before placement, must be inspected before occupancy, and must meet county rules for modifications, additions, and alterations22.
Building a home in Bingham County: the steps, in order
- Ask Bingham County Planning and Development to confirm jurisdiction, zoning district, allowed use, setbacks, and any conditional-use or floodplain review1416.
- Confirm legal access. Work on a driveway in county public-road right-of-way needs written Public Works authorization before it begins23.
- Establish water and wastewater feasibility. IDWR requires a drilling permit and a licensed driller for a well7. Apply to Southeastern Idaho Public Health with the deed or tax notice, scaled plot plan, fee, and test holes4.
- Select the county application, create a portal account, attach the required plans and approvals, and submit for review12.
- Obtain separate Idaho permits for regulated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work10.
- Request inspections through the county portal and pass the final inspection to receive the applicable occupancy or completion certificate12.
What should you check before buying land in Bingham County?
Start with jurisdiction and zoning: county districts govern unincorporated land but exclude tribal land where Bingham County lacks authority, while municipalities and city-impact areas may use different rules214. Test wastewater feasibility early because only about 32.3% of county soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field20. Annual precipitation is about 13.7 inches, and IDWR requires a permit before drilling a well247. Confirm which agency controls the road frontage: a county-road approach needs Public Works authorization, while a driveway onto state highway right-of-way needs an Idaho Transportation Department encroachment permit2325. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, with a median annual bill near $1,3892627.
Watch-outs
- Starting construction before Bingham County issues the building permit doubles the permit fee9.
- Bingham County's owner-builder exemption could not be confirmed; ask Planning and Development who may pull the permit before assuming you qualify611.
- RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size, and off-grid sanitation were not confirmed countywide; ask Planning and Development and Southeastern Idaho Public Health about the specific parcel54.
Sources
- Residential Permit Application Checklist, quoted and re-checked
- Land Development, quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Code Title 8 — Building Regulations, quoted and re-checked
- Southeastern Idaho Public Health — Septic Permits, quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Code Title 10 — Zoning Regulations (2026 county census)
- (2026 county census)
- Idaho Department of Water Resources — Wells Overview, quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Code Title 8, quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Code Title 8, quoted and re-checked
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Planning and Development (binghamid.gov)
- Planning & Development Building References, quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Permit Forms, quoted and re-checked
- Land Development, quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Code Title 10 — Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Planning and Development (binghamid.gov)
- Southeastern Idaho Public Health, Bingham County Office (siphidaho.org)
- Southeastern Idaho Public Health — Septic Permits, quoted and re-checked
- Southeastern Idaho Public Health, Environmental Health (siphidaho.org)
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- IDAPA 58.01.03 Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Bingham County Code Title 8, quoted and re-checked
- Application & Permit to Use Bingham County Right of Way for Approaches, quoted and re-checked
- Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
- Types of Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.