Bonner County, ID Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Rural zones cap (Table 4-1)
- 35 percent in F, A/F-20, A/F-10, R-10 and R-5
- Industrial district cap (Table 4-2)
- 50 percent in the I district
- Other Table 4-2 districts
- 35 percent in S, C, RSC, REC and AV
- What counts
- Area occupied by all buildings or other covered structures
- Enforcing office
- Bonner County Planning Director
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to six months jail, fine up to $1,000
Summary
In unincorporated Bonner County, Idaho, Table 4-1 in Revised Code § 12-411 sets maximum lot coverage at 35 percent in all five rural zones: F, A/F-20, A/F-10, R-10 and R-5. The Planning Department enforces the cap under Title 12, which the Board of County Commissioners adopted by ordinance.
12-411: DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS; ... FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL/FORESTRY AND RURAL ZONES: ... TABLE 4-1 DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS Standard Zoning District F A/F-20 A/F-10 R-10 R-5 ... Maximum lot coverage 35 percent 35 percent 35 percent 35 percent 35 percent
Full Breakdown
The cap sits in the Density and Dimensional Standards table printed in section 12-411 of the Bonner County Revised Code. The row labeled Maximum lot coverage prints 35 percent under each of the five columns: F, A/F-20, A/F-10, R-10 and R-5. Section 12-410 explains how to read the matrix: standards run down the left side, zones run across the top, and each cell holds the requirement for that zone.
The Title 12 definitions describe lot coverage as the percentage of the area of a lot which is occupied by all buildings or other covered structures. The measure takes in every building and every other covered structure on the parcel, not just the dwelling.
The same Table 4-1 sets the other dimensions of the rural zones. Minimum lot sizes print as 40 acres in F, 20 in A/F-20, 10 in A/F-10 and R-10, and 5 in R-5, with a minimum street setback of 25 feet and a minimum property line setback of 25 feet in all five zones. Table 4-2 in section 12-412 covers the S, C, I, RSC, REC and AV districts. It prints 35 percent for S, C, RSC, REC and AV and 50 percent for the I district.
Section 12-420 A backs the tables with a flat prohibition: no building or other structure may be erected or altered to occupy a greater percentage of lot area than the title's standards permit. Section 12-420 B adds that no part of a yard, open space, or off street parking or loading space required for one building can be counted toward the same requirement for any other building. Under section 12-130 A, the Planning Director cannot issue a permit unless the intended uses of buildings and land conform in all respects with Title 12, so the percentage is checked before construction starts.
Violations & Fines
A building or structure that pushes a lot past the cap violates Title 12. Under section 12-132 a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. The county can also recover its investigation, abatement and prosecution costs. Under section 12-130, a violation unresolved 45 days after a certified-mail notice can be recorded as a notice to title, and the owner pays a fee to lift it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage in unincorporated Bonner County, Idaho?
What counts toward lot coverage?
Do these limits apply inside Sandpoint or Ponderay?
Who enforces the lot coverage cap and what is the penalty?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bonner County
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