Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tetonia, Idaho

Tetonia’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Tetonia city limits: the city adopts and administers its own zoning districts (Title 9 Land Use Code, Chapter 10 Zoning Regulations).

  • Zoning map is Attachment A to Chapter 10, titled 'city of tetonia zoning map 5-11-2009' (map date, not an effective date).
  • Amendments follow the procedures in Title 9; annexed areas receive zoning by council amendment of the official map (9-10-02-4).
  • Chapter 10 Article 10 covers an impact area; this record does not verify impact-area zoning.

  “the following zoning districts are hereby established. for the interpretation of this title, the zoning districts have been formulated to realize the general purposes as set forth.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Tetonia city limits: A, TA, R1, R2, R2T, R3, MU, OS, CD, C1, C2, C3, BP, M1, M2 plus overlays (scenic corridor, natural open space).

  • District descriptions are in 9-10-02-1; the land use schedule is in 9-10-04-1; dimensional table in 9-10-04-2.
  • Official zoning map is attached to Chapter 10 (dated 5-11-2009 on its face). Confirm current map with the city before relying on parcel-level district.

  “the following zoning districts are hereby established. for the interpretation of this title, the zoning districts have been formulated to realize the general purposes as set forth.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Family residential dwellings (site-built homes and manufactured homes placed on individual lots) inside Tetonia city limits.

  • Applies to family residential dwellings under 9-10-06-3(a); manufactured homes not meeting residential standards in approved manufactured home subdivisions and parks have a separate 600 sq ft minimum (9-10-06-3(c)(1)).
  • Also requires a pitched roof, excavated and backfilled permanent foundation, and residential-character siding (9-10-06-3(a)(2)-(3)).

  minimum enclosed floor area: >= 1000 sq ft (manufactured homes not meeting residential standards in approved MH subdivisions/parks: 600 sq ft minimum) · minimum enclosed width: >= 20 feet

  “the dwellings shall enclose a space of not less than one thousand (1,000) square feet with a width of not less than twenty feet (20')”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Parcels inside the Tetonia scenic corridor overlay (land visible from Highway 33 easterly into the city).

  • Overlay standards govern where they conflict with the base district (9-10-03-3).
  • Design review is required for all development in the overlay (9-10-03-5).

  setback from outer edge of Highway 33 right-of-way (no permanent structure): >= 100 feet

  “no permanent structure shall be constructed within one hundred (100) feet of the outer edge of highway 33 road right-of-way.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Accessory buildings in R1, R2 and R3 districts inside Tetonia city limits.

    “accessory buildings shall meet the same interior side and street side requirements as principal buildings. the back setback shall be at least five (5') feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Accessory buildings in R1, R2 and R3 districts inside Tetonia city limits. No whole-lot coverage percentage was found.

  • Limit is measured against the rear yard excluding side yards.

  accessory building coverage of rear yard (maximum): <= 20 percent (measured against rear yard excluding side yards)

  “an accessory building or group of buildings shall not cover more than twenty percent (20%) of the rear yard (excluding side yards).”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal buildings in all districts inside Tetonia city limits, subject to the district maximum in the 9-10-04-2 schedule.

  • Height is measured from the average contact ground level at the front wall to the highest point of the roof line (9-10-04-2(b)(e)(1)).
  • Height may be increased by variance under chapter 8.
  • District maxima (R1 read as 35 ft) are in the garbled table and were not reliably verified.

  maximum stories: <= 3 stories (district maximum in feet also applies; see schedule)

  “building height shall not exceed three stories.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Accessory buildings in R1, R2 and R3 districts inside Tetonia city limits.

    “accessory structures are permitted in r1, r2 and r3 districts, but they shall not be placed in the front yard or front setback. 1. accessory buildings shall meet the same interior side and street side requirements as principal buildings. the back setback shall be at least five (5') feet. 2. an accessory building or group of buildings shall not cover more than twenty percent (20%) of the rear yard (excluding side yards). 3. maximum height shall be 20 feet.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes that do not meet residential dwelling standards, only inside established and approved manufactured home subdivisions and manufactured home parks in Tetonia city limits.

  • Minimum 600 sq ft.
  • Skirting placed within 30 days of placement.
  • Separate sanitary sewer and water hook-up available for the home.

  minimum floor area: >= 600 sq ft

  “manufactured homes not meeting residential dwelling standards are permitted in established and approved manufactured home subdivisions and manufactured home parks.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Allowed (with conditions) — Manufactured homes placed on individual lots inside Tetonia city limits as family residential dwellings.

    “manufactured homes that are placed on individual lots shall meet the standards for a family-residential dwelling and the following standards:”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Tetonia city limits (attached or detached).

  • One additional off-street parking space required.
  • Heated floor area cap: 1,200 sq ft in A and TA; 1,000 sq ft in R1, R2, R3 and MU; 700 sq ft in CD, C1, C2, C3, BP and M1.
  • ADU must be less than 50% of the heated floor area of the whole dwelling or building.
  • Attached ADU entrance from rear or side.
  • In M1 the ADU must be owner- or employee-occupied.
  • Detached ADU: attached to a permanent foundation, independent connection to city water and sewer, height no greater than the district schedule.
  • ADUs are subject to Title 7 water and sewer regulations (9-10-06-4(b)(8)).

  ADUs per lot: <= 1 dwelling · heated floor area cap (R1/R2/R3/MU): <= 1000 sq ft (A/TA 1,200; CD/C/BP/M1 700)

  “only one accessory dwelling, either attached or detached, is allowed per lot.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions (plats) inside Tetonia city limits.

  • Planning & Zoning Commission reviews plat applications and makes recommendations to council.
  • Subdivision regulations are in Title 9 Chapter 11 (Subdivision), which was not opened; its standards are not recorded here.

  “the planning & zoning commission reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction inside Tetonia city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits inside Tetonia city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Tetonia city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Tetonia city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Tetonia 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.