Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Albion, Idaho

Albion’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction on a parcel inside Albion city limits; permits are issued by the Cassia County building inspector appointed for the city

  • A survey prepared by a licensed land surveyor must be submitted before the permit issues (section 4-1-7).
  • Fees follow county rates (section 4-1-6).
  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from the adopted building codes but remain subject to zoning placement requirements and permits (section 4-1-8).

  “no building permit shall be issued for construction on a parcel of land within the city, until the applicant has submitted to the building inspector, a copy of a survey of the parcel”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Albion city limits

  • Adopts 2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, 2018 IEBC, 2018 IECC, 2018 IFC, Idaho manufactured home installation standard and 1997 UCADB by reference (Title 4 Chapter 1, sections 4-1-1 and 4-1-4).
  • Section 4-1-2 says successive state code editions supersede these automatically; the 2021 ordinance recital says the state adopted a new code in 2020. Confirm the current edition before relying on the 2018 editions.

  “the adopted versions of the foregoing codes shall be effective january 1, 2021.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Water and sewer service connections inside Albion city limits (city inspection before service starts)

  • Covers new service and changed service connections only.
  • General building inspection requirements (inspection stages for new homes) were not stated in the city code sections opened; the county building inspector is appointed under section 4-1-6.

  “all new services and changes in services must be inspected prior to the city turning on the water.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Albion city limits: the city's own zoning regulations in Albion City Code Title 5, Chapter 1

  • Title 5 Chapter 1 is 73 pages in the 2015 adopting exhibit; the full zoning chart (section 5-1-9a-2) and district map were not opened in this pass.
  • Title 5 Chapter 3 (area of city impact) was repealed by Ordinance 2026-02-01 per the city code page; the area-of-city-impact PDF was not relied on.

  “the albion city code title 5, as revised and as setting forth zoning regulations for a city of albion”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts inside Albion city limits

  • Only district names and dimensional standards from the city's 2024 setback summary sheet were read; the full zoning chart in section 5-1-9a-2 was not opened.
  • Districts named in the summary sheet: residential agricultural zone, R-1 single family zone, commercial zone, and I-L light industrial use.

  “residential agricultural zone: maximum height: 20 feet, unless greater height approved by conditional use permit.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 single family zone inside Albion city limits (main single-family residential district)

  • Taken from the city's 2024 setback summary sheet, not the codified district text.
  • R-1 substandard-lot provisions appear on the same sheet and do not apply to lots that are part of a planned development.

  minimum lot area: >= 7000 square feet

  “minimum lot width: 50 feet. minimum lot area: 7,000 square feet. maximum area coverage: 35%.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential agricultural zone inside Albion city limits (agricultural / rural-residential district)

    “rear setback: 25 feet. minimum lot area: 43,560 square feet. minimum lot width: 50 feet.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific

  R-1 single family zone inside Albion city limits

  • Front setback is 25 feet from the right-of-way line; on R-1 substandard lots the front setback must be within five feet of the adjoining-building average but not less than ten feet (summary sheet).
  • Corner lots: side yard 20 feet adjacent to the street that the building fronts (summary sheet).

  front setback: 25 feet (R-1 substandard lots: within five feet of adjoining average, not less than 10 feet) · side setback: 5 feet (corner lot adjacent to street: 20 feet) · rear setback: 15 feet

  “front setback 25 feet is standard from right-of-way line of the street. side setback: 5 feet, from the side property line, except corner lots must have 20 foot side yard if adjacent to street which intersects the street upon which the building fronts. rear setback: 15 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific — Residential agricultural zone inside Albion city limits

    “front setback: 30 feet, from right-of-way line of the street. side setback: 15 feet, from the side property line, except corner lots shall maintain a 30 foot side yard adjacent to street which intersects the street upon which the building fronts. rear setback: 25 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 single family zone inside Albion city limits

  • Lot coverage limit for the residential agricultural zone was not stated on the summary sheet and is not claimed here.

  maximum area coverage: <= 35 percent

  “minimum lot width: 50 feet. minimum lot area: 7,000 square feet. maximum area coverage: 35%.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential agricultural zone inside Albion city limits

  • Greater height may be approved by conditional use permit (summary sheet).

  maximum building height: <= 20 feet (greater height approved by conditional use permit)

  “residential agricultural zone: maximum height: 20 feet, unless greater height approved by conditional use permit.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single family zone inside Albion city limits

    “r-1 single family zone: maximum height: 25 feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles, park models and tiny houses on wheels used for any residential purpose inside Albion city limits

  • Must be located in an approved recreational vehicle park (cross-reference in the ordinance: 5-1-16-26).
  • Park models in an RV park require two parking spaces per unit (section 5-1-4-3(5)).

  “recreational vehicles, park models or tiny houses on wheels, that are used for any residential purpose, must be located in an approved recreational vehicle park.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny houses (400 square feet or less in floor area, excluding lofts) inside Albion city limits

  • Allowed in zoning districts where single family dwellings are permitted, only with a conditional use permit from the city.
  • Each tiny house must be on its own individual lot, on a permanent foundation, with building permits under residential building code standards.
  • Must comply with setbacks, off-street parking, adopted International Fire Code, and city utility-easement standards.
  • Recreational vehicles, park models, or tiny houses on wheels used residentially must be in an approved RV park (see rv_occupancy claim).
  • The scanned PDF text is partly garbled; quotations are from the legible exhibit text.

  “tiny houses can be allowed in zoning districts where single family dwellings are permitted, if a conditional use permit is obtained from the city.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  New service connections to the City of Albion water and sewer systems inside city limits

  • Connection is made by city application; the city installs the tap and meter at the customer's expense.
  • Each lot needs its own water service line, meter and permit.
  • Private sewer line connection requires notice to the city for inspection before connection.
  • The application form's text is labeled February 2020 although the file name is dated 8-2024; fees shown may be out of date.
  • No ordinance was found that requires existing or new single-family homes to connect when service is available; that point is unknown.

  water connection fee: 1500 USD (standard connection; form also lists $2,250.00 total line item) · sewer connection fee: 200 USD (standard connection)

  “connection fee of $1500.00 for a standard connection.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Water and sewer (with conditions) — Tiny houses inside Albion city limits

    “all tiny houses must be installed on a permanent foundation, and will be connected to city water, sewer and electrical utilities.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural buildings (as defined by the International Building Code) inside Albion city limits

  • Exempt only from the adopted building codes; they remain subject to placement requirements and permits under zoning regulations.

  “agricultural buildings, as defined by the international building code, are exempt from the building codes adopted herein but shall remain subject to placement requirements and permits established by zoning regulations.”

• Subdividing landRegulated

  Land inside Albion city limits (subdivision of land within the city)

  • Lot line adjustments are separately addressed by Ordinance 2024-09-02 per the city code page.
  • The city code page states Title 5 Chapter 3 (area of city impact) was repealed by Ordinance 2026-02-01, so county subdivision authority in the area of city impact is not stated here.

  “title 5 chapter 2 of the city code establishes subdivision regulations to promote the health, safety, convenience, and general welfare of albion's inhabitants.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for construction inside Albion city limits

  • Building permit fees are set by reference to Cassia County's rates, not a city schedule (section 4-1-6).
  • The county fee schedule was not opened; utility connection fees above are separate.

  “shall charge fees therefor based upon the same rates as charged by the county of cassia for such permits.”

• Permit processPartial

  Utility connection permit process inside Albion city limits; building permits follow county inspector process

  • Utility applications go to City Hall; the form says work is scheduled once the application is complete.
  • Building permits: county building inspector issues them, requires a licensed surveyor's survey (section 4-1-7).
  • Utility permits expire after one year if work is not completed (form text).

  “once the application has been determined to be complete, work to make the requested connection will be scheduled.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Albion or Cassia County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Albion city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Albion city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Albion city limits
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Albion city limits
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Albion 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.