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

Some Restrictions

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

FEMA flood zone rules in Bonner 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

Permit required: Floodplain Development Permit before any development in a Special Flood Hazard Area (§ 14-303)
Maps adopted: FEMA Flood Insurance Study dated July 7, 2014, with FIRM or DFIRM
Issuing office: Planning Director or designee, 1500 US Highway 2, Sandpoint
Maximum criminal penalty: Fine up to $1000, jail up to 180 days, or both
Continuing violations: Each day the violation continues is a separate offense
Floodproofing paperwork: FEMA Form 086-0-33 with supporting data

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 Bonner 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 Bonner County, ID on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

In unincorporated Bonner County, Idaho, no one starts development inside a Special Flood Hazard Area without a Floodplain Development Permit from the Planning Department. The Board of County Commissioners adopted the 2014 FEMA flood study and maps by reference, and violations are misdemeanors.

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

A Floodplain Development Permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this title prior to the commencement of any development activities within Special Flood Hazard Areas determined in accordance with the provisions of BCRC 14-402.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Title 14 of the Bonner County Revised Code applies to all Special Flood Hazard Areas within the jurisdiction of Bonner County, Idaho (§ 14-301). It does not unlock anything the zoning ordinance prohibits, so a flood permit never replaces Title 12 approval. The Special Flood Hazard Areas are the ones FEMA identified in its Flood Insurance Study for Bonner County, Idaho & Incorporated Areas, dated July 7, 2014, with the accompanying FIRM or DFIRM maps, which § 14-302 adopts by reference. Those documents are on file at the Planning Department, 1500 US Highway 2, Sandpoint.

Section 14-303 requires the permit before the commencement of any development activities in those areas. The Planning Director or designee administers the title (§ 14-401) and reviews every application (§ 14-402). An applicant submits a stamped plot plan drawn to engineering scale showing the development area, existing and proposed structures, fill, the Special Flood Hazard Area boundary, the flood zone designation, the floodway boundary and the Base Flood Elevation where provided. A licensed land surveyor, architect, landscape architect or professional engineer certifies the plan. The application also lists the proposed elevation of the lowest floor in relation to mean sea level, and floodproofing requires a Floodproofing Certificate (FEMA Form 086-0-33) with supporting data (§ 14-403.A).

Before a watercourse is altered or relocated, the county notifies adjacent communities and the Idaho Department of Water Resources State Coordinator for the National Flood Insurance Program (§ 14-402.C). A structure only partly inside a Special Flood Hazard Area must meet the whole title for the entire structure (§ 14-501.P). New solid waste disposal facilities, hazardous waste facilities, salvage yards and chemical storage facilities are not permitted there except by variance (§ 14-501.K). Section 14-307 states that the county takes on no liability for flood damage that results from reliance on the title.

Violations & Fines

Under § 14-308, a violation of Title 14 or of a variance condition is a misdemeanor. On conviction the fine is not more than $1000, the jail term is not more than 180 days, or both. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense, and the county keeps its other lawful remedies. The Planning Director can issue a written stop-work order, and violating that order is itself a misdemeanor (§ 14-402.O). Permits can be revoked for substantial departure from the approved plans or for false statements (§ 14-402.P).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build on land in a Bonner County flood zone?

Yes. Section 14-303 requires a Floodplain Development Permit before the commencement of any development activities within a Special Flood Hazard Area in unincorporated Bonner County, Idaho. You apply to the Planning Director or designee with a stamped, certified plot plan showing the flood zone, floodway and Base Flood Elevation where provided.

Which flood maps does Bonner County use?

Section 14-302 adopts by reference the Special Flood Hazard Areas FEMA identified in its Flood Insurance Study for Bonner County, Idaho & Incorporated Areas, dated July 7, 2014, with the FIRM or DFIRM maps. The study and maps are on file at the Planning Department, 1500 US Highway 2, Sandpoint, Idaho.

What happens if I build in a flood area without a permit?

Section 14-308 makes a violation a misdemeanor, punishable on conviction by a fine of not more than $1000, imprisonment of not more than 180 days, or both. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. The Planning Director can also order the work stopped in writing.

Does the flood title override Bonner County zoning rules?

No. Section 14-301 says nothing in Title 14 is intended to allow uses, development or structures that the zoning ordinance otherwise prohibits. Section 14-305 adds that where this title and another law conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent or greater restrictions controls.

Sources & Official References

[1]Bonner County Revised Code, Title 14 Flood Damage Prevention (American Legal)

Other rules in Bonner County

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All Bonner County rules

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