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
357 Constitution Way, Idaho Falls, ID 83402
Zoning
Bonneville County Planning and Zoning
Zoning ordinance and map, comprehensive plan, and flood ordinance administration for unincorporated Bonneville County
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
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
- 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.
- Apply to Eastern Idaho Public Health for the septic installation permit and site evaluation; the system cannot receive wastewater until the final installation inspection518.
- If you need a well, obtain an IDWR drilling permit before a licensed driller starts work21.
- 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.
- Wait for the written building permit before construction, alteration, reconstruction or moving begins, and confirm the variable fee with the county211.
- Obtain county electrical and plumbing permits and any required HVAC permit before that trade work begins1312.
- 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
- § 156.088 Building Permits Required; Fees, quoted and re-checked
- § 156.088 Building Permits Required; Fees, quoted and re-checked
- Eastern Idaho Public Health (2026 county census)
- Chapter 156: Zoning, quoted and re-checked
- Eastern Idaho Public Health, Environmental Health (eiph.id.gov)
- Wells Overview (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Building Archives - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Building Archives - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Types of Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Idaho Adopted Codes (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- § 156.088 Building Permits Required; Fees, quoted and re-checked
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Bonneville County Planning, Zoning and Building (bonnevillecountyidaho.gov)
- § 156.044 Setbacks from Major County Roads, quoted and re-checked
- Bonneville County Planning and Zoning (bonnevillecountyidaho.gov)
- Idaho DEQ - Uncommon Wastewater Flows (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Septic and Septage (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- IDAPA 58.01.03 Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- Public Use of Department Lands and Access Areas (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Well Construction & Drilling, quoted and re-checked
- Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
- Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
- Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
- Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
- Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
- Population density: Bolthole Index county data
- County population: Bolthole Index county data
- Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
- Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
- 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.