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Bannock County, ID Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Bannock County, ID, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Governing section: Bannock County Code § 14.04.090
Permit needed for: Any development in special flood hazard area
Administered by: Planning and Development Services
Penalty: Misdemeanor, up to $300 and 180 days
Flood maps source: July 22, 2020 FIS and FIRM
Adopted: Ord. No. 2020-01, effective 6-9-20

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Bannock County, ID.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Bannock County, ID on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

In unincorporated Bannock County, any development activity within a special flood hazard area requires a floodplain development permit before work begins. Chapter 14.04 of the Bannock County Municipal Code, the county's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, applies countywide to those mapped flood zones and is administered by the Planning and Development Services floodplain administrator.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Bannock County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

This chapter shall apply to all special flood hazard areas within the jurisdiction of Bannock County, Idaho. Nothing in this chapter is intended to allow uses or structures that are otherwise prohibited by the zoning ordinance. ... A floodplain development permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this chapter prior to the commencement of any development activities within special flood hazard areas determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.04.160. ... Violation of the provisions of this chapter or failure to comply with any of its requirements, including violation of conditions and safeguards established in connection with grants of variance or special exceptions, shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this chapter or fails to comply with any of its requirements shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than three hundred dollars ($300.00) or imprisoned for not more than one hundred eighty (180) days, or both. Each day the violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Chapter 14.04 of the Bannock County Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2020-01 on June 9, 2020, is the Bannock County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. Section 14.04.070 states that the chapter applies to all special flood hazard areas within the jurisdiction of Bannock County, and it does not excuse a project from the zoning ordinance's separate use or structure restrictions. Section 14.04.090 requires a floodplain development permit prior to the commencement of any development activities within special flood hazard areas, with those areas identified under Section 14.04.160.

Under Section 14.04.170, an applicant must submit a scaled plot plan showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevations of the proposed work, the special flood hazard area boundary from the FIRM, the applicable flood zone designation, the floodway boundary, the base flood elevation where one has been set, and the proposed elevation of the lowest floor and any utility equipment. The special flood hazard areas themselves come from the July 22, 2020 Flood Insurance Study and accompanying FIRM maps for Bannock County, kept on file at the Planning and Development Services office at 5500 South 5th Avenue in Pocatello, per Section 14.04.080.

Violating the chapter, including building without the required permit, is a misdemeanor under Section 14.04.140, punishable by up to $300 and up to 180 days in jail, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

Violations & Fines

Developing in a special flood hazard area in unincorporated Bannock County without the Section 14.04.090 floodplain development permit is a misdemeanor under Section 14.04.140, punishable by a fine of up to $300, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The county can also pursue other lawful remedies to stop or correct the violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a Bannock County flood zone?

Yes. Section 14.04.090 requires a floodplain development permit before any development activity begins within a mapped special flood hazard area, and Section 14.04.170 lists the plot plan and elevation data you must submit to get one.

Where are Bannock County's flood hazard areas mapped?

They come from the July 22, 2020 Flood Insurance Study and its FIRM maps, adopted by reference in Section 14.04.080 and kept on file with Planning and Development Services at 5500 South 5th Avenue in Pocatello.

What happens if I build without the permit?

It is a misdemeanor under Section 14.04.140, carrying a fine of up to $300, up to 180 days in jail, or both, and each day the unpermitted structure remains counts as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

[1]Bannock County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, Ch. 14.04

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All Bannock County rules

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