Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Menan, Idaho

Menan’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, enlargement, or moving of any building, fence or structure, and change of land use, inside Menan city limits

  • Permit is issued by the city (Title 8, Chapter 3 zoning administration); construction may proceed after the permit is obtained.
  • Permit application is filed with the city clerk and must include applicant, owner, property, existing and proposed use, zoning district, and a site plan.

  “(1) no person shall construct, enlarge, or move any building, fence or structure, or change the use of any land without obtaining a building permit from the city.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Menan city limits

  • The code says the international building codes were adopted by the city in Title 8, Chapter 6, Section 2; the edition and the specific codes (IBC, IRC, IPC, etc.) were not opened and are not stated in the excerpt.
  • The code's ordinance index lists 'international building code 8-6-2'.

  “all grease interceptors must meet the requirements of the international building codes adopted by the city of menan in title 8, chapter 6, section 2.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Menan city limits: the city adopts and administers its own zoning districts under Title 7, Chapter 3 of the Menan City Code.

  • Zoning districts and dimensional standards are set by Title 7, Chapter 3 of the city code, which the code says applies to districts established in that chapter.
  • Lands in the city's area of impact are also addressed by county rules (see zoning-districts claim); this claim covers only land inside city limits.

  “(e) lot area: the minimum lot area requirements are as follows: (1) the minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling is 17,000 square feet.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts established by the city for land inside Menan city limits

  • Districts whose district regulations were read: city district, traditional residential (residential-2), agricultural residential, and light industrial.
  • The full district list, the district map and the use tables were not fully read.

  “setbacks: the following are minimum setbacks in the agricultural residential district:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the city district (main residential district) inside Menan city limits

  • Maximum density is two dwellings per acre.
  • Lot size can be an average of one-half acre.
  • Non-residential uses: minimum lot area is set by the land needed for buildings, setbacks, parking, landscaping and screening.
  • Amended by ordinance 2021-2, enacted December 9, 2021.

  minimum lot area, single-family dwelling: >= 17000 square feet (lot size may be an average of 1/2 acre per the district text)

  “(e) lot area: the minimum lot area requirements are as follows: (1) the minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling is 17,000 square feet. maximum density is two (2) dwellings per acre. lot size can be an average of ½ acre.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the traditional residential (residential-2) district inside Menan city limits

    “(1) the minimum lot area for a single family dwelling is 22,000 square feet. maximum density is two (2) units per acre.”

  • Specified — Single-family residence in the agricultural residential district inside Menan city limits

    “(e) lot area: the minimum lot area requirement for single family residences is five (5) acres. there shall be no minimum lot areas for other uses permitted.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Main building front setback in the agricultural residential district inside Menan city limits

  • Rear setback is 50 feet from the rear property line for the main building; side setback for dwellings is 25 feet from the interior side property line (as read in the same text block).
  • Front setback is measured to centerline of street as written in the code.

  front setback: >= 80 feet (measured to centerline of street)

  “(1) front: the front building line shall not be closer than eighty feet (80') feet to centerline of street. (2) rear: the rear building line of the main building shall not be closer than fifty feet (50') from the rear property line. (3) side: for dwellings the side building line shall not be closer than twenty-five feet (25') to the interior side property line.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Main building front setback in the city district inside Menan city limits

    “(g) setbacks: the following are minimum setbacks in the city district: (1) front: the front building line shall not be closer than twenty feet (20') to the front property line on a platted right-of-way or closer than sixty feet (60') feet to centerline of an unplatted public road.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the city district inside Menan city limits

  • The same thirty-five-foot limit is stated in the traditional residential and agricultural residential text; those were not separately cited.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “(f) building height: the height of any building shall not exceed thirty-five feet (35').”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A new connection to the city sanitary sewer for a lot abutting a street or right-of-way that contains a main sewer line, inside Menan city limits

  • Connection fee is set by resolution and the city fee schedule; the code says special connections, including users outside the city, get fees set by the mayor and council.
  • The applicant must obtain all permits and pay permit fees for a sewer connection and pay for the connection work.
  • The general mandatory-connection section (5-1-2, 'connection to sanitary sewer required') and the distance rule were not opened, so a mandatory connection requirement is not confirmed here.
  • Water connection rules were not located in the code excerpts reviewed.

  “such person shall obtain all permits and pay all permit fees required for a sewer connection.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Menan city limits

  • Subdivision regulations are in Title 8, Chapter 3 of the city code; the subdivision procedures (permits, variances, conditional use permits) are applied through that chapter.
  • The subdivision standards themselves were not opened.

  “title 7 land development and use title 8 subdivision regulations”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development inside an area of special flood hazard inside Menan city limits

  • Application and approval follow section 3-1-12 of the Jefferson County zoning ordinance, as amended, per the city code.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit and elevation certificate are obtained.

  “a building permit and elevation certificate shall be required before any construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard. application and approval of the building permit shall be in accordance with the standards of section 3-1-12 of the zoning ordinance of jefferson county as amended.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning and building permit application process inside Menan city limits

  • The application contents are published; review steps, timelines and fee payment steps were not confirmed.
  • Permit issuance and the certificate of occupancy steps are referenced but not read.

  “to apply for a permit, the applicant shall file an application with the city clerk which contains the following information:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Menan city limits
• Inspections — Inspections of new construction inside Menan city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Menan city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Menan city limits
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage inside Menan 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.