Bonner County, ID Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Section 12-489 of the Bonner County Revised Code, in Title 12, sorts home businesses into three tiers. Home Occupation I is permitted by right in applicable zoning districts, and no person other than those residing on the premises can be engaged in it. The use must be clearly incidental and secondary to the dwelling, with no outward alteration of the building or premises other than one sign not exceeding four (4) square feet, nonilluminated and meeting applicable setback requirements.

Home Occupation II requires a permit. No home occupation II, home based business can be conducted until an application has been reviewed and approved by the planning director or designee. The application lists the landowner or applicant, the property address, the type of business and activities, the number of employees, the location and area of the business with a site plan, the vehicles used, the expected customer visits per day and at any one time, and a narrative statement of use and impacts to the area. The planning director issues the permit based on conformance with those standards. The applicant can appeal a denial to the board of county commissioners under section 12-261. The business can be carried out by those residing in the dwelling and up to two (2) additional employees, with the same four (4) square foot sign limit.

Home Occupation III is subject to a conditional use permit and the same performance standards as tier II, with exceptions: up to four (4) additional employees, limited activities and outside storage permitted if the Zoning Commission finds the site sufficiently screened from the street and surrounding properties, and traffic up to eighteen (18) vehicle trips per day. Automobile, truck, heavy equipment and small engine repair can be considered only as tier III, with outdoor activity limited to two percent (2%) of the site acreage or an area set by the Zoning Commission or hearing examiner, an accessory structure not to exceed one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet, no more than three (3) vehicles awaiting repair, and an annual written report to the planning department.