Bolthole Index

Twin Falls County, Idaho

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Hollister, Idaho

Hollister, Idaho has city zoning, published building-permit fees and a City Council certificate-of-occupancy requirement, but we could not confirm the general building-permit requirement; ask City Hall before starting construction.1234 Septic permits inside Hollister, in Twin Falls County, follow Idaho rules administered by South Central Public Health District.567

At a glance

Building permits
City publishes fees; confirm the requirement and inspection process with City Hall24
Zoning
City zoning: Residential/Agriculture, Commercial and Industrial districts18
Occupancy approval
City Council certificate required before covered new or altered buildings are occupied3
Septic permits
South Central Public Health District administers Idaho septic rules; installation permits generally required567
RA lot size
At least 1 acre when using City water and individual septic; older parcels may qualify with Council approval9
Manufactured homes
RA homes must be multisectional, at least 1,000 square feet and no more than 10 years old at installation10
Owner-builder
Conditional state contractor-registration exemption; applicable permits still required11

Who to call

Building permits

Hollister City Hall / City Clerk

Starting contact for city building-permit questions, zoning applications, water service and City Council occupancy approval

[email protected]

2392 Main Street

Septic permits

South Central Public Health District — Twin Falls Main Office

Septic permitting and land/septic questions for Twin Falls County, including Hollister

(208) 737-5900

[email protected]

1020 Washington Street North

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Hollister means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Hollister, ID?

Hollister publishes building-permit fees, but we could not confirm the general requirement for a new house or the city inspection workflow; ask the City Clerk to identify the approvals for your proposed work.24 Hollister adopts the latest edition of the Uniform Housing Code as its minimum housing standard, without identifying an edition year in that provision.12

Hollister requires a certificate of occupancy from the City Council before covered newly erected or altered buildings and vacant land are occupied or used, and before a use classification is changed or enlarged.3 Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work also require the applicable trade permits under Idaho rules; local administration can vary by location.13

Who handles building-permit and zoning questions in Hollister?

Start with Hollister City Hall at 2392 Main Street; the published contact email is [email protected].4 City Hall opens from 9 am until noon on Mondays, except holidays.4 Ask the City Clerk where to submit building plans, who performs inspections and how to obtain City Council occupancy approval.43

Hollister requires a written application to the City Council, with the listed fee, for lot-line adjustments, land divisions, subdivisions, special-use permits, zoning changes, variances and street or alley vacations.14 The published special-use application fee is $300, while land-division and subdivision applications carry a $500 fee.2 Building-permit fees use the 1997 Uniform Building Code fee table, with manufactured-home siting assessed at $0.27 per square foot.2

Does Hollister have zoning, and what lot size applies?

Hollister has its own zoning ordinance and identifies Residential/Agriculture (RA), Commercial (C) and Industrial (I) districts.18 The city land-use schedule distinguishes permitted uses, uses requiring a special-use permit and uses that are not allowed.8 Ask City Hall to confirm the district and the proposed use before committing to a parcel.4

In Hollister’s RA district, lots using City water and individual septic disposal must be at least 1 acre and meet the applicable subsurface-sewage standards.9 Parcels established before August 15, 2023 that meet the former 12,500-square-foot requirement may possibly qualify for a dwelling with Council approval; that is a conditional possibility, not an automatic entitlement.9 The RA site must also leave sufficient space for replacement sewage disposal.9

How do septic permits work inside Hollister?

South Central Public Health District serves Twin Falls County, and Idaho assigns administration of its septic rules to the public health district serving the property.75 For a Hollister septic proposal, contact the district at [email protected] or (208) 737-5900.7 Idaho generally requires a valid installation permit to install, modify, expand or repair an individual or subsurface sewage system, subject to specific exceptions for certain repairs and approved temporary nondischarging systems.6

Hollister’s RA provisions recognize that public sewer service may not be reasonably available or feasible throughout the district, and make the larger applicable city or Health Department lot requirement controlling.15 A qualifying lot size therefore does not settle the sewage-design question: the RA lot must also meet health standards and provide replacement-system space.9 Idaho requires a final installation inspection before a septic system receives wastewater.16

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Hollister?

We could not confirm Hollister’s rules for living in an RV on a private lot, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwellings; ask City Hall about the proposed dwelling and intended duration before buying or moving onto the land.4 Hollister’s zoning districts and land-use schedule govern allowed uses, so obtain a city answer for the actual parcel and use.8

Hollister does have specific manufactured-home conditions in the RA district: the home must be multisectional, enclose at least 1,000 square feet and be no more than 10 years old at installation.10 Foundation, perimeter enclosure, roof and exterior-material conditions also apply.10 The 1,000-square-foot minimum is a manufactured-home rule in RA, not a confirmed minimum for every dwelling type.17 Manufactured homes in Commercial and Industrial districts require a special-use permit.10

What are the steps before building a home in Hollister?

First, ask City Hall to confirm the parcel’s district, allowed dwelling type and building-permit submission and inspection requirements; Hollister has city zoning and a published building-permit fee structure.412 Next, resolve City water and sewer availability, or septic feasibility with South Central Public Health District, before treating an RA parcel as buildable.1597

Arrange applicable electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits before the trade work, and obtain the City Council certificate of occupancy before covered buildings are occupied.133 Idaho’s contractor-registration exemption for owners doing their own work on their own land requires no intent to sell within 12 months; applicable permits and inspections still apply.11

For property outside Hollister city limits, use the Twin Falls County guide: the county building-permit and zoning requirements apply to unincorporated land.1819

Watch-outs

  • Hollister’s possible allowance for older RA parcels requires Council approval; the former 12,500-square-foot lot size is not a blanket exemption.9
  • We could not confirm Hollister’s setbacks, floodplain development requirements or private-lot RV occupancy rules; ask City Hall about the parcel before purchasing.4
  • An owner-builder’s state contractor-registration exemption does not waive applicable building or trade permits and inspections.11

Sources

  1. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  2. § 153.12 Zoning Permits (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  3. § 153.13 Building Permits (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  4. Hollister City Hall / City Clerk (hollisteridaho.com)
  5. Septic and Septage (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. IDAPA 58.01.03 – Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules and Rules for Cleaning of Septic Tanks (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. South Central Public Health District — Twin Falls Main Office (phd5.idaho.gov)
  8. § 153.06 Use Districts (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 153.07 Residential/Agriculture Zone (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  10. § 153.07 Residential/Agriculture Zone (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. § 151.01 Uniform Housing Code Adopted (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. § 153.12 Zoning Permits (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  15. § 153.07 Residential/Agriculture Zone (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  16. IDAPA 58.01.03 Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. § 153.07 Residential/Agriculture Zone (Hollister), quoted and re-checked
  18. Twin Falls County Code 8-17-12 Building Permits (2026 county census)
  19. Twin Falls County Zoning Code 2022 (2026 county census)

Written October 12, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Hollister

Hollister’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Housing structures inside Hollister city limits.

    • The cited provision adopts the latest edition of the Uniform Housing Code as the minimum housing standard; it does not identify the edition year.
    “The Uniform Housing Code, latest edition as copyrighted by the International Conference of Building Officials, shall be adopted by the city and shall be the minimum standard for all structures within the city for housing.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Vacant land and buildings erected or altered, and changes or enlargements of use, inside Hollister city limits.

    • The certificate must be obtained from the City Council before the land or building is occupied or used, or before the use classification is changed or enlarged.
    “No vacant land and buildings hereafter erected or altered shall be occupied or used in whole or in part nor shall any owner or tenant of any land or building hereafter change the use classification or enlarge the use in any building or on any premises without a certificate of occupancy from the City Council.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hollister city limits.

    “This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the City of Hollister."”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside Hollister city limits.

    • The code identifies RA Residential/Agriculture, C Commercial, and I Industrial zones.
    • The land-use schedule uses P for permitted use, S for special-use permit required, and blank space for use not allowed.
    “The City of Hollister, Idaho, is hereby divided into three use districts which shall be known, in order of restrictiveness as:”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings in the RA Zone inside Hollister city limits.

    • The 1,000-square-foot minimum applies to manufactured homes, not necessarily to all dwelling types.
    • Additional foundation, roof, exterior-material, addition, and age conditions apply.

    minimum enclosed area: >= 1000 square feet (manufactured homes in the RA Zone)

    “The manufactured home shall be multisectional and enclose a space of not less than 1,000 square feet;”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots per dwelling unit and other uses dependent on City water and individual septic disposal in the RA Zone inside Hollister city limits.

    • Lots must also comply with Idaho Department of Health subsurface-sewage standards.
    • Parcels established before August 15, 2023 that meet the previous 12,500-square-foot requirement may possibly be allowed to build a dwelling unit pending Council approval.
    • The site must have sufficient space for future replacement sewage disposal.

    minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (pre-August 15, 2023 parcels may possibly qualify under the former 12,500-square-foot requirement pending Council approval)

    “The lot per dwelling unit and for all uses in an RA zone dependent on City water supply and individual septic disposal systems in accordance with Idaho Department of Health standards for subsurface sewage are to be used, lots shall not be less than one acre. Parcels established prior to August 15, 2023 that meet the previous requirement of 12,500 square feet may possibly be allowed to build a dwelling unit pending council approval.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in the RA Zone inside Hollister city limits.

    • The home must be multisectional and enclose at least 1,000 square feet.
    • It must be placed on an excavated and backfilled foundation and enclosed at the perimeter so it is not more than 12 inches above grade.
    • It must have a pitched roof, subject to the stated slope limitation.
    • Exterior siding and roofing must meet the stated similarity or comparability standard.
    • Additions must use compatible construction and like materials.
    • The home must be no more than 10 years old at installation.
    • A special use permit is required for manufactured homes in the Commercial and Industrial Zones according to the land-use schedule.

    minimum enclosed area: >= 1000 square feet · maximum age at installation: <= 10 years · maximum height above grade: <= 12 inches

    “The manufactured home shall be multisectional and enclose a space of not less than 1,000 square feet;”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Residential/agricultural-zone development inside Hollister city limits.

    • The code says public sewer service is desirable for structures in the RA Zone, but may not be reasonably available or feasible throughout the zone.
    • Where City water and individual septic disposal are used, the lot must comply with Idaho Department of Health subsurface-sewage standards.
    • The cited provision does not state a universal mandatory connection distance.
    “It is desirable that in this zone the principal designated uses involving structures, be serviced from public sewer facilities. However, since such public facilities might not be reasonably available or feasible throughout the zone then the minimum lot requirement will be controlled by the specific requirements as stated on paragraph below or the requirements of the Health Department, whichever is greater.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning applications and building permits inside Hollister city limits.

    • Zoning application fees include $500 for lot-line adjustment, land division, or subdivision; $300 for a special-use permit; $500 for zoning designation change; $500 for zoning variance; and $500 plus $0.20 per square foot for street or alley vacation.
    • Building permit fees use the 1997 Uniform Building Code Table 1-A fee structure, with a manufactured-home siting fee of $0.27 per square foot.
    • Residential valuation figures include carports $19.50 per square foot, roofed decks $17 per square foot, finished basements $34.41 per square foot, and unfinished basements $25.97 per square foot.

    lot line adjustment/land division/subdivision application fee: 500 USD · special use permit fee: 300 USD · change of zoning designation fee: 500 USD · zoning variance fee: 500 USD · manufactured-home siting building permit fee: 0.27 USD per square foot

    “Building permit fees shall be based on the fee structure set forth in Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code, except for the siting of manufacture homes the building permit fee shall be assessed at $0.27 per square foot.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Land-use changes inside Hollister city limits.

    • A written application to the City Council is required for lot-line adjustment, land division, subdivision, special-use permit, zoning-designation change, zoning variance, and street or alley vacation.
    • The listed fee must accompany the application.
    • The opened sources did not provide a complete building-permit submission or inspection workflow.
    “The following land use changes shall require a written application to the City Council, accompanied by the listed fees:”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building construction inside Hollister city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Hollister city limits.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Hollister city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Hollister city limits.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Hollister city limits.
12 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Hollister publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Twin Falls County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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