Bolthole Index

Twin Falls County, Idaho

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Kimberly, Idaho

Kimberly, Idaho requires building permits for residential and commercial construction, with applications delivered to City Hall.1 Kimberly sets its own zoning inside city limits; onsite septic permits come from South Central Public Health District under Idaho’s wastewater program.234 For land outside Kimberly in Twin Falls County, use the Twin Falls County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building permit requirements.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required; apply through Kimberly City Hall1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside Kimberly city limits2
Septic permits
South Central Public Health District; required for onsite systems34
Residential lot size
R1: at least 1 acre; AR has a county-ordinance alternative67
Agricultural buildings
Building-code exemption; zoning placement requirements remain8
Owner-builder
Conditional contractor-registration exemption; applicable permits remain9

Who to call

Building permits

Kimberly Planning / Zoning / Building

City building permit applications and zoning questions; ask this department about floodplain requirements and coordinate access approvals with Public Works.

208-423-4151 Ext. 17

242 Highway 30 E

Septic permits

South Central Public Health District — Twin Falls Main Office

Onsite septic permits and land/septic questions for Kimberly in Twin Falls County.

(208) 737-5900

[email protected]

1020 Washington Street North, Twin Falls, ID 83301

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 Kimberly means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Kimberly, ID?

Kimberly requires a building permit for residential and commercial construction, and incomplete applications will not be processed.1 Kimberly adopts the building codes approved by Idaho, with successive state-approved versions taking effect as provided in the city’s adoption provision.10 Agricultural buildings are exempt from those adopted building codes but remain subject to zoning placement requirements.8 An owner doing construction on their own land may qualify for Idaho’s contractor-registration exemption if the owner does not intend to sell within 12 months; that exemption does not remove applicable building permits, trade permits or inspections.9

Who issues building permits in Kimberly, and what do they cost?

Kimberly’s Planning / Zoning / Building department administers the city’s building department and zoning ordinance; contact the municipal office for an address inside city limits.11 Kimberly building permit applications go to City Hall with the required plans and supporting documents, including a deed, site plan, elevations and foundation information.1 The application lists a $150 non-refundable deposit for single- and two-family dwellings and a $100 deposit for additions, alterations, repairs and accessory structures; these deposits are applied to the permit-fee balance.12 Plan-review fees are non-refundable, and impact fees adjust annually for inflation, so ask the city for the current total rather than treating the deposit as the full building permit price.12

Does Kimberly have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Kimberly zoning applies to land and improvements inside city limits, and dimensional requirements vary by zoning district.213 In Kimberly’s R1 Residential-Super Limited district, the minimum lot area per dwelling is 1 acre and the minimum lot width is 100 feet.6 Kimberly’s AR Agricultural-Residential district states a 1-acre minimum or the alternative provided by the Twin Falls County Residential Agricultural ordinance.7 For a single-family dwelling in AR, front, rear and street-side setbacks are 30 feet, while the interior-side setback is 7 feet.14 Ask the city department to identify the parcel’s district before designing a house; the comprehensive plan and map are available at City Hall.11

How do septic permits and water connections work in Kimberly?

Kimberly requires buildings intended for human occupancy to connect to an approved domestic water source and approved wastewater system meeting city and health-authority rules.15 Where an onsite septic system is proposed instead of public sewer, the owner must obtain a public health district permit; South Central Public Health District serves Kimberly’s county.43 Arrange a site evaluation before applying for the septic permit, and direct land/septic questions to the district’s septic email.416 Idaho allows denial of a septic permit when public or central wastewater treatment is reasonably accessible, so septic is not automatically an alternative to sewer service.17 Idaho also requires a well-drilling permit from IDWR before drilling and an IDWR-licensed well driller; city approval of the domestic water source still matters.1815

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Kimberly?

We could not confirm Kimberly’s rules for residential RV occupancy, temporary camping on an ordinary private lot, tiny-home occupancy, accessory dwellings or minimum dwelling floor area; ask Kimberly Planning / Zoning / Building about the proposed use before buying or moving a unit onto the property.11 Kimberly zoning applies inside city limits, so a small footprint does not by itself settle whether a dwelling use is allowed.2 Human-occupancy buildings in Kimberly must have approved water and wastewater connections, including compliance with health-authority rules.15 For a manufactured home, Idaho requires inspection and approval by DOPL or the authority having jurisdiction before occupancy; ask the city which installation approvals apply to the specific unit.1911

Building a home in Kimberly: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Kimberly Planning / Zoning / Building to confirm the zoning district and placement requirements for the site.1113
  2. Confirm approved water and wastewater arrangements; if onsite septic is proposed, arrange the site evaluation and health district permit.154
  3. Submit the city application and supporting documents, with 2 complete hard-copy residential plan sets; builders and contractors must also provide digital plan copies.20
  4. Arrange applicable electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits and construction inspections; Kimberly requires 24-hour notice for inspection calls, with Friday calls normally inspected the following Monday.2122
  5. Complete the state electrical, plumbing and HVAC signoffs before scheduling Kimberly’s final inspection, and keep the inspection cards and an approved hard-copy plan set onsite.22

What should you check before buying land in Kimberly?

Ask Kimberly’s city department about zoning, intended use and floodplain requirements before committing to a parcel or subdivision lot.112 For new residential construction and substantial improvements in the floodplain, Kimberly requires the lowest floor, including the basement, to be elevated to or above the specified base-flood level.23 Kimberly also requires adequate access to a minimum-standard all-weather public trafficway; a private drive needs approval from the Public Works Supervisor, City Engineer and City Fire Marshal and must meet the city’s surfacing requirements.24 If buying a newly subdivided lot, verify that the plat has been recorded with the county recorder: Kimberly prohibits sale of subdivision lots before recording.25

Watch-outs

  • Kimberly’s RV, tiny-home and temporary-camping occupancy rules could not be confirmed; ask the city Planning / Zoning / Building department about the specific parcel and use.11
  • Kimberly’s agricultural building-code exemption leaves zoning placement requirements in force.8
  • Kimberly requires approved water and wastewater arrangements for human-occupancy buildings; an off-grid sanitation proposal still needs to satisfy city and health-authority requirements.26

Sources

  1. Residential-Commercial Application for Building Permit (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  2. Kimberly, ID Laws (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic and Septage (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic and Septage (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  5. Twin Falls County Code 8-17-12 Building Permits (2026 county census)
  6. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  7. 17.04.110: Agricultural - Residential (AR) (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  8. 15.04.010: Adopted (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. 15.04.010: Adopted (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  11. Kimberly Planning / Zoning / Building (cityofkimberly.org)
  12. Residential-Commercial Application for Building Permit (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  13. Kimberly, ID Laws (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  14. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  15. 17.11.070: Water and Sewer (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  16. South Central Public Health District — Twin Falls Main Office (phd5.idaho.gov)
  17. IDAPA 58.01.03 Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Wells Overview (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Building Archives - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Residential-Commercial Application for Building Permit (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  21. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Residential-Commercial Application for Building Permit (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  23. 17.12.050: Special Development Subdivisions (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  24. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  25. 17.12.010: General Subdivision Provisions (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked
  26. 17.11.070: Water and Sewer (Kimberly), quoted and re-checked

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 Kimberly

Kimberly’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential and commercial construction applications handled by Kimberly City Hall.

    • Incomplete building permits will not be processed.
    • Applications require the listed plans, deed, site plan, floor plans, elevations, foundation information, and other supporting documents.
    • Agricultural buildings are exempt from the adopted building codes but remain subject to zoning placement requirements.
    “Incomplete Building Permits will not be processed. Your application delivered to City Hall shall include: Two (2) complete hard copy sets of the building plans.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Buildings inside Kimberly city limits.

    • The adopted versions are superseded by successive versions adopted or approved by the State of Idaho or Idaho Building Code Board when those versions become effective.
    “The editions of the following nationally recognized codes, as adopted by the state of Idaho or the Idaho building code board, are adopted as the official building codes of the city of Kimberly, Idaho:”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction under a Kimberly building permit.

    • All inspection calls require 24-hour notice.
    • Kimberly final inspection is not scheduled until Idaho electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspectors have signed off.
    • Inspection cards and one approved hard-copy construction plan set must remain on site.

    inspection notice: 24 hours (Calls on Friday will normally be inspected the following Monday)

    “ALL CALLS FOR INSPECTIONS SHALL REQUIRE A 24 HOUR NOTICE - MONDAY – THURSDAY – INSPECTIONS CALLS ON FRIDAY WILL NORMALLY BE INSPECTED ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All lands and improvements inside Kimberly city limits.

    • The code also applies in specified areas outside the corporate limits, but this claim is limited to land inside Kimberly city limits.
    “TITLE 15 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION TITLE 16 SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS1 TITLE 17 ZONING REGULATIONS”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts governing land inside Kimberly city limits.

    • The code publishes R1, R2, R3, MH, CB, RP, CG, CI, LI, S, AR, and AG district chapters and a dimensional table.
    • The table includes district-specific exceptions for certain R2 and R3 tracts shown on the revised village map.
    “District | Maximum Building Height | Front | Rear | Interior Side | Street Side | Minimum Lot Area Per DU | Minimum Lot Width”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwelling in the R1 Residential-Super Limited district.

    • The table also specifies a 100-foot minimum lot width.
    • Special revised-village-map exceptions apply to listed R2 and R3 tracts, not to the R1 row.

    minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 1 acre · minimum lot width: >= 100 feet

    “R1 | 35' | 25' | 10' | 7' | 25' | Not less than 1 acre | 100'”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the AR Agricultural-Residential district.
      “The purpose of this district is to permit the establishment of low density single-family dwellings in an agricultural setting with a minimum lot size of one acre or as provided in Twin Falls County zoning ordinance now existing or as hereafter to exist for Residential Agricultural District.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family dwelling in the AR Agricultural-Residential district.

    front setback: 30 feet · rear setback: 30 feet · interior side setback: 7 feet · street side setback: 30 feet

    “AR | 35' | 30' | 30' | 7' | 30' | 1 acre | 60'”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Planned zero-lot-line subdivisions in Kimberly city limits.

    • The rule applies specifically to planned zero-lot-line developments.
    • No dwelling, including its accessory building, may occupy more than 60 percent of the lot.

    maximum lot occupancy: <= 60 percent (planned zero-lot-line subdivision)

    “No dwelling, including its accessory building, shall occupy more than sixty percent (60%) of the lot.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the AR district.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “AR | 35' | 30' | 30' | 7' | 30' | 1 acre | 60'”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitation for human-occupancy buildings inside Kimberly city limits.

    • Sanitation must use an approved wastewater system conforming to city wastewater regulations and health-authority regulations.
    • The code does not establish that an unapproved or wholly unregulated off-grid system is lawful.
    “Such facilities shall be connected to an approved domestic water source conforming to the water regulations of the City and to an approved wastewater system conforming to the wastewater regulations of the City and health authority.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    All buildings intended for human occupancy inside Kimberly city limits.

    • Facilities must connect to an approved domestic water source conforming to city water regulations and an approved wastewater system conforming to city wastewater regulations and health-authority regulations.
    • The rule applies to buildings inside the City of Kimberly or requesting annexation.
    “Such facilities shall be connected to an approved domestic water source conforming to the water regulations of the City and to an approved wastewater system conforming to the wastewater regulations of the City and health authority.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings inside Kimberly city limits.

    • Agricultural buildings are exempt from the adopted building codes.
    • They remain subject to placement requirements established by zoning regulations.
    “Agricultural buildings are exempt from the building codes adopted herein but shall remain subject to placement requirements established by zoning regulations.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Kimberly city limits.

    • Applications go to the City Administrator.
    • No final plat may be filed or improvements made until health-authority approval of water and sewer systems, required hearings, and city council action.
    • No lots may be sold until the plat is recorded with the county recorder.
    • A preliminary-plat fee is established by council resolution; the preapplication fee is none.

    preapplication fee: 0 USD · administrator response to acceptable preapplication: 15 days

    “All subdivisions as defined shall be submitted for approval by the Council and shall comply with the provisions of these regulations.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Buildings on lots in a Kimberly zoning district.

    • Adequate access must be to a 50-foot-wide minimum-standard all-weather public trafficway.
    • A private drive may be used only if it conforms to the code chart and is approved by the Public Works Supervisor, City Engineer, and City Fire Marshal.
    • Private drives must be surfaced with Portland concrete or asphaltic concrete.
    • No zoning subdistrict may lack direct access to a 50-foot-wide minimum-standard all-weather paved public trafficway.

    minimum public trafficway width: >= 50 feet

    “No building shall be constructed or erected on a lot in a zoning district unless adequate access to a fifty foot (50') wide minimum standard all weather public trafficway is provided.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Proposed subdivisions and substantial improvements in floodplain areas inside Kimberly city limits.

    • A floodplain subdivision requires a development plan showing improvements, floodway and fringe, water channels, drainageways, flooding areas, floodproofing, loan-insurance means, stormwater drainage, and specified base-flood data for larger developments.
    • Residential new construction and substantial improvements must elevate the lowest floor, including basement, to or above the 100-year flood level.
    • Nonresidential structures must be elevated to or above the 100-year flood level or floodproofed to that level with attendant utilities and sanitary facilities.
    • Necessary state and federal permits must be received; development may not significantly increase flood flows, heights, or damages.

    base flood threshold: 100 years (For subdivisions of 50 or more lots or 5 acres or more, whichever is less, generate base flood elevations when unavailable)

    “New construction and substantial improvements of residential structures within the floodplain shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the level of the 100-year flood”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Kimberly residential-commercial building permit applications.

    • The form states that the $150 single- and two-family deposit and $100 addition/alteration/repair/accessory-structure deposit are non-refundable deposits applied to the permit-fee balance.
    • Plan-review fees are not refundable.
    • The form also states that fees and impact fees are governed by Ordinance 671, effective March 28, 2022, and Ordinance 689, effective February 9, 2026; impact fees are automatically adjusted annually for inflation beginning January 1, 2023.

    single- and two-family dwelling deposit: 150 USD (non-refundable permit deposit applied to balance of permit fee) · addition/alteration/repair/accessory-structure deposit: 100 USD (non-refundable permit deposit applied to balance of permit fee)

    “NON-REFUNDABLE PERMIT DEPOSIT – applied to balance of permit fee:”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Kimberly building permit applications and inspections.

    • Submit the application to City Hall with the required documents and hard-copy plan sets; digital plan copies are also required for builders and contractors effective February 9, 2026.
    • The applicant consents to inspections during normal business hours.
    • A 24-hour notice is required for inspection calls.
    • Kimberly final inspection waits for state electrical, plumbing, and HVAC signoffs.

    hard-copy plan sets: 2 sets (Commercial plans require 3 sets sized 24 by 36 inches) · inspection notice: 24 hours (Friday calls normally inspected the following Monday)

    “APPLICATIONS ARE NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT THE FOLLOWING”

Rules another office applies inside Kimberly

Kimberly does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater systems inside Kimberly city limits: Idaho rules are administered by the public health district under an MOU with DEQ; South Central Public Health District serves Twin Falls County.

    • Idaho DEQ establishes the statewide minimum rules and program framework.
    • South Central Public Health District is the local district serving Twin Falls County.
    “Idaho’s seven public health districts administer these rules under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DEQ.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of an onsite wastewater system inside Kimberly city limits when public sewer is not used.

    • The property owner must obtain a permit from the public health district.
    • A site evaluation should be performed before applying.
    • Large soil absorption systems also require an NP evaluation, professional-engineer design, DEQ plan/specification review, and a licensed complex installer.
    “To have a septic system installed, the property owner must obtain a permit from a public health district.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Kimberly city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential occupancy of an RV on private land inside Kimberly city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping outside an approved RV facility or campground inside Kimberly city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Kimberly city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Kimberly city limits.
1 more unanswered
  • 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 Kimberly 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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