Bonner County, ID Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Section 12-131 of the Bonner County Revised Code sets the complaint process for land use violations. When a violation of Title 12 occurs, or is alleged to have occurred, any person can file a written complaint on a form provided by the department. The form can be submitted electronically or in person to the Planning Department. The complaint has to state fully the causes and basis for the complaint and is filed with the planning director. Anonymous or verbal reports are not the process the section describes: it asks for a written form with the basis stated in full.

What happens next is in the planning director's hands. The planning director has the authority to investigate and take actions on the complaint as provided in Title 12, and can also dismiss the complaint based upon a finding that there is insufficient evidence that a violation exists. That makes the quality of the written basis matter, so a complaint with the location, the activity and the dates gives the director something to verify. Under section 12-130 A the Planning Director or a designee holds enforcement authority for Title 12.

The enforcement tools are listed in the same chapter. Section 12-133 lets the planning director issue a stop work order when an activity regulated by Title 12 is performed contrary to the title; it is posted on the premises or given to the owner, agent or person doing the work, and mailed by certified mail to the landowner at the address on the county assessor's tax rolls. Section 12-130 B lets the prosecuting attorney take criminal action, and with the consent of the Board of County Commissioners bring a civil action, including filing a notice to title of a zoning violation that has remained unresolved for forty five days or more after the first notice of violation was sent by certified mail. The notice of violation identifies the violation, location and the actions required to resolve it.

Building-side violations follow Title 11. Section 11-124 lets the county seek voluntary compliance, issue a civil citation, pursue a civil action or pursue criminal prosecution. This complaint form route is the one printed for Title 12, which governs zoning, setbacks and land use in unincorporated Bonner County; cities such as Sandpoint and Ponderay run their own enforcement.