Bolthole Index

Bonneville County, Idaho

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Bonneville County, Idaho

62Index Score / 100
#19 of 44 in Idaho

Unincorporated Bonneville County, Idaho requires a written permit before a building is constructed, altered, reconstructed or moved1. The county's Planning, Zoning and Building department issues permits, and applications must show the parcel's zone plus the size and location of existing and proposed buildings2. Eastern Idaho Public Health handles septic permits3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before construction, alteration, reconstruction or moving in unincorporated areas1
Zoning
Yes; the county maintains zoning districts and a public zone map4
Septic permit
Installation permit required from Eastern Idaho Public Health before construction35
Well permit
State drilling permit required from IDWR before a licensed driller starts work6
Manufactured home
Needs a DOPL installation permit and inspection before it can be occupied78
Driveway access
ITD encroachment permit required for any driveway connecting to a state highway9
Building code
2018 International codes, with Idaho amendments, apply statewide10

Who to call

Building permits

Bonneville County Planning, Zoning and Building

Building, electrical, plumbing and zoning permits and inspections for unincorporated Bonneville County

(208) 524-7920

[email protected]

357 Constitution Way, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

Online permits →

Zoning

Bonneville County Planning and Zoning

Zoning ordinance and map, comprehensive plan, and flood ordinance administration for unincorporated Bonneville County

(208) 524-7920

[email protected]

357 Constitution Way, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

Septic permits

Eastern Idaho Public Health, Environmental Health

Individual and subsurface sewage disposal (septic) installation permits, site evaluations and inspections for Bonneville County

(208) 523-5382

1250 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401

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 Bonneville County, Idaho?

Yes. In unincorporated Bonneville County, constructing, altering, reconstructing or moving a building or structure requires a written permit from the Zoning Administrator before work begins1. The narrow exception is a barn, corral, coop, pen or other structure used exclusively for agriculture and valued at less than $1001. Permit fees vary under a schedule adopted by the Board of County Commissioners and may be based on the building's value for alteration or reconstruction11. Idaho's adopted building codes include the 2018 International Building, Residential, Energy Conservation and Existing Building codes with the applicable Idaho amendments10. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work also requires trade permits; since January 20, 2026, Bonneville County has processed electrical and plumbing permits and performed the related inspections itself1213.

Who is the Bonneville County building department, and how do you reach them?

Bonneville County Planning, Zoning and Building is at 357 Constitution Way in Idaho Falls and can be reached at (208) 524-7920 or [email protected]13. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays, and its mailing address is 605 N Capital Ave, Idaho Falls, ID 8340213. Submit a building-permit application to the Zoning Administrator with a plat showing the size and location of existing and proposed buildings and the parcel's zone2. The written permit must be issued before construction, alteration, reconstruction or moving begins2. The county's permitting portal also accepts electrical and plumbing applications, which the county has processed and inspected since January 20, 202613.

Does Bonneville County have zoning?

Yes. Bonneville County has zoning districts, zoning permits and a county zone map that the Zoning Administrator keeps available for public inspection4. Buildings along designated major county roads and section-line roads generally must sit at least 80 feet from the road centerline or 55 feet from the right-of-way, whichever is greater; along major roads in or next to platted areas, the setback is 30 feet from the right-of-way14. Temporary fruit stands beside designated major county roads are excepted from that road-setback rule14. Other setbacks, minimum lot sizes and allowed uses depend on the parcel's zoning district, and we could not confirm those district-specific rules; ask Planning and Zoning for the parcel's zone and applicable standards15. Idaho's wastewater guidance lets an accessory dwelling share a septic system with another structure if capacity is sufficient, but that does not establish zoning permission for an accessory dwelling16.

How do septic permits work in Bonneville County?

Septic systems in Bonneville County are permitted by Eastern Idaho Public Health, one of Idaho's seven public health districts, under a memorandum of understanding with the state Department of Environmental Quality317. Idaho law makes it unlawful to construct, modify or repair an individual or subsurface sewage disposal system anywhere in the state without a valid installation permit, with narrow exceptions for temporary portable non-discharging systems and small repairs that don't expand the system5. Eastern Idaho Public Health's Environmental Health section reviews applications, performs onsite evaluations, issues the wastewater permit, and inspects the finished system5. No system may receive wastewater until the district's final installation inspection, and if the site needs to be uncovered for that inspection you generally must give at least 48 hours' notice, excluding weekends and holidays18. On soils, about 28% of Bonneville County's mapped soils rate anything other than 'very limited' for a conventional septic drain field, so budget for a site evaluation and the possibility of an alternative system19. Reach Environmental Health at (208) 523-5382, or Eastern Idaho Public Health's main office at 1250 Hollipark Drive in Idaho Falls, (208) 522-03105.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Bonneville County?

We could not confirm a Bonneville County-specific rule for living in an RV or tiny home on your own land from an accessible copy of the zoning ordinance this session. Idaho's Wildlife Management Area camping rule limits how long you can leave an unattended camp or trailer on state Fish and Game land, and caps camping or parking at 10 days in any 30-day period on a WMA, but that rule governs state wildlife land, not what you can do on private property you own20. A manufactured home has a clearer statewide path: it needs a DOPL installation permit and tag in areas without an approved local building program, and it can't be occupied until it's inspected and approved78. Call Bonneville County Planning and Zoning before you plan to live in an RV or tiny home on land you're considering, since the zoning ordinance and district for your specific parcel will control15.

Building a home in Bonneville County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask Planning and Zoning to identify the parcel's zoning district, allowed use and applicable setbacks; designated major roads and section-line roads have their own road setbacks414.
  2. Apply to Eastern Idaho Public Health for the septic installation permit and site evaluation; the system cannot receive wastewater until the final installation inspection518.
  3. If you need a well, obtain an IDWR drilling permit before a licensed driller starts work21.
  4. Prepare a plat showing the size and location of existing and proposed buildings and the parcel's zone, then submit the building-permit application to the Zoning Administrator2.
  5. Wait for the written building permit before construction, alteration, reconstruction or moving begins, and confirm the variable fee with the county211.
  6. Obtain county electrical and plumbing permits and any required HVAC permit before that trade work begins1312.
  7. If the driveway connects to a state highway, obtain an ITD encroachment permit before work in the highway right-of-way9.

What to check before you buy land in Bonneville County

Bonneville County is high, dry and federally dominated: average annual precipitation is only 21.5 inches, the county has spent about 6% of recent years in severe drought, and 53.7% of the land is federally owned, so confirm your parcel's access doesn't depend on crossing Forest Service or BLM ground222324. About 57.2% of the land sits at 15% slope or less and 41.8% is wooded, so terrain and tree cover vary a lot by parcel2526. Population density is about 70 people per square mile across the county's 131,366 residents, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more people is about 179 miles away in a straight line272829. Typical home value is about $404,732, with a median property tax bill of $1,811 a year at an effective rate around 0.6%, and typical homeowner's insurance runs about $1,309 a year30313233. On soils, about 28% of the county's mapped soils rate anything other than 'very limited' for a conventional septic drain field, so a site evaluation matters even on gentler ground19. Before you drill, remember Idaho requires a state drilling permit for any well or artificial opening more than 18 feet below the surface, built by a licensed driller6. Confirm zoning, flood-ordinance status and any lot-size rules for your specific parcel with Planning and Zoning, since we could not confirm Bonneville County's district-by-district numbers from an accessible source this session15.

Watch-outs

  • Bonneville County took over electrical and plumbing permitting and inspections from the State of Idaho on January 20, 2026; apply for those permits through the county's Planning, Zoning and Building department, not the state13.
  • Designated major county roads and section-line roads have special setbacks, including an 80-foot centerline or 55-foot right-of-way standard in many locations; have Planning and Zoning confirm which rule applies to the parcel1415.
  • About 53.7% of Bonneville County is federal land, so check that your parcel has legal, physical access before you make an offer24.

Sources

  1. § 156.088 Building Permits Required; Fees, quoted and re-checked
  2. § 156.088 Building Permits Required; Fees, quoted and re-checked
  3. Eastern Idaho Public Health (2026 county census)
  4. Chapter 156: Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  5. Eastern Idaho Public Health, Environmental Health (eiph.id.gov)
  6. Wells Overview (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Building Archives - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Archives - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Types of Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Idaho Adopted Codes (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. § 156.088 Building Permits Required; Fees, quoted and re-checked
  12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Bonneville County Planning, Zoning and Building (bonnevillecountyidaho.gov)
  14. § 156.044 Setbacks from Major County Roads, quoted and re-checked
  15. Bonneville County Planning and Zoning (bonnevillecountyidaho.gov)
  16. Idaho DEQ - Uncommon Wastewater Flows (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Septic and Septage (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. IDAPA 58.01.03 Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  20. Public Use of Department Lands and Access Areas (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Well Construction & Drilling, quoted and re-checked
  22. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  28. County population: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Typical home insurance premium: 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.

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County locator

Bonneville County in Idaho

62
County map
Bonneville County highlighted among the Idaho counties · colored by Index score

How Bonneville County scores

Seclusion57100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency44100% ev.
Admin Boringness3890% ev.
Durability56100% ev.
Property Autonomy90100% ev.
Carry Cost75100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$405kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$4,884Land / acre
21.5"Annual rain
6% of yrsSevere drought
1.1 / yr (+1)Mid-century 100°F days
23.4 daysMid-century dry spell
0.88" (+7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.18×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,309Home insurance / yr
4.7% / yrInsurance growth
1.16%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
35,524People within 2 hr
105,376Radius comparison (15 mi)
70.4People / sq mi
53.7%Federal land
57.2%Land at 15% slope or less
27.9%Septic soil without severe limits
299,530 acWorkable land screen
41.8%Wooded land
30.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
42.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Bonneville County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Bonneville County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, reconstruction, or moving of a building or structure in unincorporated Bonneville County.

    • A written permit from the Zoning Administrator must be issued first.
    • A permit exception exists for a barn, corral, coop, pen, or other structure used exclusively for agricultural purposes having a value of less than $100.

    permit-trigger value: >= 100 USD (Agricultural structures exclusively used for agricultural purposes and valued below $100 are excepted.)

    “Erection, alteration, reconstruction or moving of any building or structure, or any part thereof, without the prior issuance of a written permit for the same by the Zoning Administrator is prohibited.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Bonneville County zoning, primarily for unincorporated county territory.

    • The county code contains zoning districts, zoning administration, zoning permits, and a county zone map.
    “The Zoning Administrator shall at all times maintain a zone map of the county. Said zone map shall be located at the office of the Zoning Administrator and shall be available for examination and inspection by any member of the public during regular business hours.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings along designated major county roads and section-line roads.

    • Temporary fruit stands abutting county roads designated as major roads are excepted.
    • Major roads in or adjacent to platted areas use a 30-foot setback from the right-of-way line.

    setback from centerline: >= 80 feet (or at least 55 feet from the right-of-way, whichever is greater) · setback from right-of-way: >= 55 feet (or 30 feet from right-of-way for major roads in or adjacent to platted areas)

    “Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, all buildings, except temporary fruit stands abutting upon county roads which have been designated as major roads, as shown on the county master plan of roads, and all section line roads shall be set back at least 80 feet from the centerline, or at least 55 feet from the right-of-way of such roads, whichever is the greater; except major roads in/or adjacent to platted areas shall be set back 30 feet from the right-of-way line of said roads.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Bonneville County building permits.

    • The Board of County Commissioners may adopt a fee schedule.
    • Fees may be based on the value of the building or structure for alteration or reconstruction.
    “The Board of County Commissioners is authorized to adopt a schedule of fees to be charged for the issuance of permits required by this section. The amount of such fees may be based on the value of the building or structure for the alteration or reconstruction of the same for which the permit is issued.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit process in unincorporated Bonneville County.

    • Applications must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator.
    • Applications must include a plat showing existing and proposed building size and location and the parcel zone.
    • Written permit issuance is required before construction, alteration, reconstruction, or moving.
    “Any person, firm or corporation desiring to construct a building in the unincorporated territory of the county, which will have a value when completed of $100 or more, shall first apply for a permit therefor to the Zoning Administrator. All applications for building permits shall be accompanied by a plat showing the size and location of the existing buildings and buildings to be erected. The plat shall also show the zone in which a lot or parcel of land is located.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Bonneville County administers zoning through its Planning and Zoning Department, including a published zoning map and zoning regulations.

    Bonneville County Planning and Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Idaho rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction in Idaho subject to the Idaho Building Code Act and the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses building-code program.

    • The adopted codes include amendments identified by Idaho; local-government application is subject to the Idaho Building Code Act.
    • The reference to the 2020 Edition is an identifier to the legislative session in which amendments were adopted.
    • Amendments can be made in any legislative cycle regardless of code cycle.
    • The cited DOPL page states that existing rules remain in effect for 2026–2027.

    International Building Code: 2018 edition, with amendments · International Residential Code: 2018 edition, parts I, II, III and IX, with Idaho amendments; collectively named Idaho Residential Code (2020 Edition) · International Energy Conservation Code: 2018 edition, with amendments; collectively named Idaho Energy Conservation Code (2020 Edition) · International Existing Building Code: 2018 edition

    “Building Codes: 2018 International Building Code, with amendments 2018 International Residential Code (parts I, II, III and IX), with Idaho amendments collectively named the Idaho Residential Code (2020 Edition) 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, with amendments collectively named the Idaho Energy Conservation Code (2020 Edition) 2018 International Existing Building Code”
  • InspectionsRequired

    All manufactured-home installations in Idaho before the manufactured home is occupied.

    • The inspection and approval are performed by DOPL or the authority having jurisdiction.
    • Inspection and approval must occur before occupancy.
    “All installations must be inspected and approved by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses or the authority having jurisdiction before the manufactured home is occupied.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping or parking a vehicle or trailer on Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Management Areas and access sites separate from a WMA.

    • The restriction applies in areas posted against camping or parking.
    • Leaving an unattended camp, vehicle, or trailer for more than 48 hours is prohibited without authorization.
    • Camping or parking for more than 10 days during any 30-day period on one WMA or one separate access site is prohibited without authorization.
    • The rule permits authorization by the Commission, Director, Regional Supervisor, or designee.

    unattended duration: > 48 hours (Unless specifically authorized by the Commission, Director, Regional Supervisor, or designee.) · camping or parking duration: > 10 days during any 30-day period per WMA or separate access site (Unless specifically authorized by the Commission, Director, Regional Supervisor, or designee.)

    “camp or park a vehicle or trailer for more than ten (10) days during any thirty (30) day period”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units for Idaho DEQ wastewater-flow and septic-system sizing purposes; this claim does not establish statewide zoning permission.

    • An ADU is sized as a single-family dwelling for the cited wastewater-flow guidance.
    • An ADU may combine flows with another structure into one system.
    • Any common septic tank must be large enough to hold the required capacity from both structures.
    • Local land-use, building, and septic authorities may impose additional requirements.

    wastewater flow basis: single-family dwelling

    “Size as a single family dwelling. Can combine with another structure's flows into one system”
  • Who permits septicMixed

    Statewide regulation and administration of individual, subsurface, large soil absorption, and alternative septic systems in Idaho.

    • DEQ establishes the statewide Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules.
    • Idaho’s seven public health districts administer those rules under an MOU with DEQ.
    • The applicable public health district is the district serving the county where the property is located.
    “Idaho’s seven public health districts administer these rules under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DEQ.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Individual and subsurface sewage disposal systems constructed or installed under Idaho’s onsite wastewater rules.

    • The Director requires one or more inspections necessary to determine compliance.
    • The permittee must uncover or make available for inspection any portion covered or concealed in violation of the rules.
    • If preparation is required, the applicant or permittee must provide at least 48 hours’ advance notice, excluding weekends and holidays.
    • For individual systems, the public health district inspects the installation.
    • Large soil absorption systems are inspected by the public health district and DEQ.

    advance inspection notice: >= 48 hours (Excludes weekends and holidays.)

    “No system may receive wastewater until the Director conducts a final installation inspection”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction or drilling of wells in Idaho, including domestic wells.

    • Before drilling, the well owner or driller must obtain a drilling permit from IDWR.
    • All wells must be constructed by a well driller with a valid IDWR license.
    • The separate water-right permit exemption for domestic purposes does not eliminate the drilling-permit requirement.
    • For new diversions in qualifying subdivisions filed on or after July 1, 2025, a water-right permit is required in a moratorium area, critical groundwater area, or groundwater management area, except for in-home uses and watering livestock.
    • Well construction rules apply to wells and other artificial openings more than 18 vertical feet below land surface.

    well depth threshold: > 18 vertical feet below land surface (The cited well-construction rules describe covered wells and artificial openings.) · subdivision application date: >= 2025-07-01 (Applies to qualifying new diversions described in Idaho Code § 42-227(4).)

    “Prior to drilling a well, the well owner or well driller must first obtain a drilling permit from IDWR.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Well drilling in Bonneville County.
      “Prior to drilling a well, the well owner or well driller must first obtain a drilling permit from IDWR. All wells must be constructed by a well driller with a valid license from IDWR.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Proposed individual or subsurface sewage disposal systems where public or central wastewater treatment facilities may be available.

    • The Director may deny a septic permit when public or central wastewater treatment facilities are reasonably accessible.
    • The cited rule does not establish a universal statewide requirement to connect every property to public sewer.
    • Subsurface septic discharge remains an identified onsite disposal method.
    “Public or central wastewater treatment facilities are reasonably accessible.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Private and public driveways or streets connecting to Idaho state highway right-of-way.

    • An ITD encroachment permit is required for private and public approaches, including driveways and streets.
    • No activity may occur on state highway rights-of-way until the Department or a delegated local highway agency issues an approved permit, except emergency approval affecting highway operations and motorist safety may precede processing.
    • A Traffic Impact Study may be required for new or expanded development seeking direct access to a state highway when the stated thresholds are met, unless waived by the District Engineer.

    peak-hour trips for possible TIS requirement: >= 100 new trips (unless waived by the District Engineer) · daily traffic for possible TIS requirement: >= 1000 vehicles per day (unless waived by the District Engineer)

    “Encroachment permits approved by the Department are required for private and public approaches (driveways and streets), utilities and other miscellaneous encroachments.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions in Bonneville County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Bonneville County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Bonneville County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Bonneville County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in unincorporated Bonneville County.
6 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Water rights & wells in Bonneville County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Idaho’s water agency.

Over-appropriated / declining

The aquifer here is over-appropriated and declining. A domestic well is usually still permit-exempt, but long-term supply is a genuine risk.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Groundwater for domestic purposes up to 13,000 gpd is exempt from permitting; critical-area and moratorium closures generally target new PERMITTED (non-exempt) appropriations, so a household can still drill a domestic-exempt well even inside a critical groundwater area.

Limit: 13,000 gpd (homes, stockwater, irrigation of ≤0.5 acre) under Idaho Code 42-227

Idaho Dept of Water Resources — Domestic Exemption ↗
  • Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) Ground Water Management Areamajority of county

    Designated a GWMA (2016); the Snake River Basin Moratorium (2022, amended 2024) bars new/pending permit applications above Swan Falls Dam, effectively closing new appropriative groundwater rights — domestic-exempt wells excepted.

    Idaho Dept of Water Resources — ESPA GWMA Order ↗

Prior-appropriation state (first in time, first in right). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Idaho state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Bonneville County, Idaho

Is Bonneville County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Bonneville County scores 62/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: more administrative friction around building and land use.

Do you need a building permit in Bonneville County, Idaho?

Bonneville County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Eastern Idaho Public Health (EIPH). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Bonneville County, Idaho?

Land in Bonneville County runs about $4,884 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Bonneville County?

Bonneville County gets about 21.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6% of years. On water rights, Bonneville County lies in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) Ground Water Management Area — Designated a GWMA (2016); the Snake River Basin Moratorium (2022, amended 2024) bars new/pending permit applications above Swan Falls Dam, effectively closing new appropriative groundwater rights — domestic-exempt wells excepted..

How remote is Bonneville County?

A typical private-land location has about 105,376 people within 15 miles and 476,141 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bonneville County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Bonneville compares in Idaho

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