Boundary County
Planning & Zoning
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Boundary County Planning & Zoning |
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BUILDING A HOME IN BOUNDARY COUNTY There are relatively few administrative requirements for building a home in Boundary County and Boundary County does not require building inspections or permits beyond what the state requires to build a home or set up a modular or mobile home.
Before beginning construction or installation of a
residential structure, however, it is necessary to obtain a residential
zoning certificate (see Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter 5;
Section 5), which requires completion of an application, a copy of
deed of ownership and a $35 If you are building within the incorporated city limits of Bonners Ferry or Moyie Springs, separate city regulations apply; in Bonners Ferry, call City Hall at (208) 267-3105, in Moyie Springs, call the City Office at (208) 267-2598. Before purchasing a parcel in the county on which you intend to build a home, it is a good idea to contact the Planning and Zoning office at (208) 267-7212 with the parcel number of the property you are interested in to find out what the zoning of that parcel is and whether a zoning certificate to allow construction can be approved. If the parcel does not meet the standards established in the Boundary County Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, no certificate will be issued and residential construction on that parcel will be in violation of the ordinance, subjecting the owner to the possibility of prosecution and removal of the structure (See Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter 2, Sections 3-4). If the property is located in a flood zone identified by FEMA, a National Flood Insurance Program Certificate of Elevation is required, which must be completed by an engineer or surveyor licensed in Idaho to determine base flood elevation and to ensure that the first floor elevation of the structure is above base flood level. Failure to obtain a valid Certificate of Elevation when building in a flood zone is not only a violation of the zoning and subdivision ordinance, but can result in Boundary County being excluded from participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, meaning that flood insurance, most often required for financing a home or land, will not be available to anyone in the county. In addition to these County requirements, the State of Idaho requires an electrical inspection and a plumbing inspection, administered through the Idaho Department of Labor and Industrial Services. If you are installing a septic system, a permit is required from Panhandle Health; if you are drilling a well, a permit is required from the Idaho Department of Water Resources; and if you are building a new driveway connecting to a county road, a permit from County Road and Bridge is required. Information on each agency is provided below. While there are no building inspections other than those required by the state, the minimum recommended construction standards call for a snow load of 40 pounds per square foot (60 to 75 pounds recommended) and a minimum wind load of 70 miles per hour. These are generalizations only and vary in different areas of the county; for specific standards, it is recommended that an engineer or construction contractor be contacted.
MULTIPLE RESIDENCES ON A SINGLE PARCEL In all zone districts except Industrial and on legal non-conforming lots of record, only one single-family residential structure is allowed on parcels meeting the minimum lot size established for that zone district. Minimum lot sizes and setback requirements are:
Agriculture/Forestry: 10 acres - setbacks 25' front yard, 10' side yard, 25' rear yard, flanking street on corner lot 15' Agriculture/Suburban: 5 acres - setbacks 25' front yard, 10' side yard, 25' rear yard, flanking street on corner lot 15' Rural Residential: 1 acre - setbacks 25' front yard, 10' side yard, 20' rear yard, flanking street on corner lot 15' Residential: Bonners Ferry, none: Moyie Springs, 1 acre - setbacks 25' front yard, 10' side yard, 20' rear yard, flanking street on corner lot 15' (residential zoning is located only in areas of impact with incorporated cities) Rural Community/Commercial: 1/4 acre - setbacks 25' front yard, 10' side yard, 20' rear yard, flanking street on corner lot 15'
More than one single family residence or a duplex are allowed (with approved zoning certificates) providing the parcel contains the minimum lot size specified in the zone district for each residential unit (ie: a duplex or two single family residences would be allowed on a 20 acre parcel in the Agriculture/Forestry zone district, or on a two acre parcel located in the Rural Residential zone district.) If multiple single-family residences are requested on parcels that do not meet the zone district minimums for the purpose of generating income (ie: rental units, apartments or mobile home parks), a special use permit application must be processed and approved prior to the onset of construction (see Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 6; Chapter 7, Section 7 and Chapter 13). If multiple single-family residences are requested on parcels that do not meet the zone district minimums for the purpose of providing housing for the landowner's spouse, parent, grandparent, child, step-child, sibling or grandchild, a certificate of exemption for family residential units must be obtained prior to the onset of construction, and a zoning certificate obtained for each such residential structure (See Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter 6; Section 2).
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Upon receipt of an application for a residential zoning certificate, the
zoning administrator will ensure that the parcel meets the minimum lot
size for the zone district in which construction is taking place or that the
parcel is a legal non-conforming lot of record, that set-back requirements are
met and that the property where the home is being placed does not lie
within flood zones identified by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. In most cases, an application can be completed in a few
minutes; however, the zoning administrator may take up to three days to
approve or deny an application or provide an explanation as to why this
deadline can't be met.