Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Idaho Falls, Idaho

Idaho Falls’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Idaho Falls city limits under the city building code (International Building Code)

  • Adopted with local amendments in Title 7, Chapter 1 (7-1-2 deletes and replaces some sections).
  • The Title 7 PDF on the city site is the copy opened; its date and whether a newer IBC edition has been adopted were not confirmed.
  • Residential code adoption (International Residential Code) was not confirmed from the opened text.

  “the international building code, 2018 edition, published by the international code council, inc., is hereby adopted as an official code of the city”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Idaho Falls city limits; the city adopts and administers its own Title 11 Comprehensive Zoning ordinance

  • Use and dimensional rules are set by Title 11 and its zone tables; some uses carry administrative or planning-commission conditional use approvals.

  “11-3-3: purposes of residential zones. (a) re residential estate zone. this zone provides a residential zone that permits the continuance of areas which are characterized by lots of sufficient size to accommodate single dwelling units and limited agricultural uses, including animal husbandry.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Idaho Falls city limits: zones established by the city zoning code

  • Zone map is part of the zoning code; zones include RE, RP, R1, R2, TN, R3, R3A and RMH residential zones (per Table 11-3-1 columns) plus mixed-use, commercial, industrial and special-purpose zones.

  “(a) zones established. for the purposes of this code, the city is divided into zones, which have been established in section 11-1-3.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreation vehicle (RV) parks inside Idaho Falls city limits; the individual RV occupancy rule on private lots was not found

  • Each RV park must be held in one ownership and contain at least two acres.
  • RVs must be set back at least 30 feet from any public street and 15 feet from an interior private roadway.
  • Each RV park must conform to state and city health regulations.

  minimum RV park site area: >= 2 acres · RV setback from public street: >= 30 feet

  “(y) recreation vehicle (rv) park. (1) each rv park shall be held in one (1) ownership and shall contain at least two (2) acres of land.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  A manufactured home on its own lot, not within a manufactured home park, inside Idaho Falls city limits

  • The manufactured home must meet all single-unit dwelling requirements, including setbacks, minimum lot size, maximum lot coverage and parking.
  • Manufactured or mobile home parks are a separate use (RMH zone).

  “(u) manufactured home that is not within an established a manufactured home park. (1) the manufactured home shall conform to all requirements of a single-unit dwelling, including but not limited to required setbacks, minimum lot size, maximum lot coverage, parking.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Domestic sewage disposal (septic) facilities inside Idaho Falls city limits that are not connected to a public sewer

  • City public works department and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality must approve the facilities before a building permit is approved (city code 11-4-6).
  • Health-district septic permitting (Eastern Idaho Public Health) is a separate process not verified against a city page in this run.

  “11-4-6: sewage disposal. where domestic sewage disposal facilities are to be used and are not connected to a public sewer, approval of such facilities shall be obtained from the city public works department and the state of idaho department of environmental quality prior to the approval of a building permit.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Domestic sewage disposal (septic) facilities inside Idaho Falls city limits that are not connected to a public sewer

  • Approval must be obtained from the city public works department and the state DEQ before a building permit is approved.
  • The 11-4-6 rule does not state a fee or form; health-district septic permit fees and steps were not verified on an official page.

  “approval of such facilities shall be obtained from the city public works department and the state of idaho department of environmental quality prior to the approval of a building permit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and planned unit developments inside Idaho Falls city limits

  • Separate city subdivision regulations apply; their text was not opened in this run.
  • Planned unit developments need at least two acres and conditional use approval.

  minimum PUD site size: >= 2 acres (smaller acreage may be considered for redeveloping land or public benefit)

  “a pud shall conform to all requirements set forth elsewhere in this code, subdivision regulations, standard specifications and drawings”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals in any zone where residential uses are allowed, inside Idaho Falls city limits

  • Not allowed in an accessory structure not specifically designed for human habitation.
  • Not allowed in an RV or travel trailer, except in an approved travel trailer court.
  • Occupied by no more than one guest party at a time.

  guest parties at one time: <= 1 guest party

  “(2) a short term rental property shall not be occupied by more than one (1) guest party at a time.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Idaho Falls or Bonneville County directly.

• Building permit — New construction inside Idaho Falls city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Idaho Falls city limits
• Inspections — Construction inside Idaho Falls city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Idaho Falls city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Idaho Falls city limits

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.