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

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

Key Facts

Building cap, 1 acre or less
1,000 sq ft accessory building
Building cap, over 1 acre
2,000 sq ft accessory building
Staffing limit
Resident family members only
Vehicle limit
1 vehicle, 1-ton max, plus trailer
Zone
A-1 Agricultural Zone

Summary

In the A-1 Agricultural Zone, Bonneville County caps a home occupation's accessory building at 1,000 square feet on parcels of one acre or less (2,000 square feet on larger parcels), restricts staffing to family members living in the home, and bans junkyards, towing, and hazardous-material storage.

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

Home occupation: (1) Where the home occupation is to be conducted on a parcel of land of one acre or less in size, all activities in connection with the occupation are to be conducted within an occupied dwelling or else within a building which is accessory to an occupied dwelling, which building will have a floor area of not to exceed 1,000 square feet and the home occupation will be conducted by family members residing in the dwelling only; (2) Where the home occupation is to be conducted on a parcel of land greater than one acre in size... which building will have a floor area of not to exceed 2,000 square feet and the home occupation will be conducted only by family members residing in the dwelling... (7) The home occupation does not include the storage or sale of flammable, explosive or hazardous materials, junkyards, salvage yards, automotive body work or painting, towing operations or cabinet shops.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-1: Ordinance 280-26, passed 1-20-2026).

Full Breakdown

126(F) sets the standards for "Home occupation" within the A-1 Agricultural Zone, the district covering most unincorporated land outside town growth areas. On a parcel of one acre or less, all home-occupation activity must stay inside the dwelling or an accessory building capped at 1,000 square feet, and only family members residing there may run the business. On parcels larger than one acre, the accessory building cap rises to 2,000 square feet, but staffing is still limited to resident family members. All storage of materials, supplies, merchandise, and products must stay inside buildings, with parked business vehicles in running order the only allowed outdoor element.

The business may use only one motorized vehicle, capped at one-ton rated capacity, plus one trailer no longer than 24 feet, and off-street parking must be provided for that vehicle and for any visiting clientele. The operation cannot generate odors, smoke, dust, heat, fumes, light, glare, sound, vibration, or radio or television interference beyond what ordinary residential use would produce. Flatly prohibited uses include storage or sale of flammable, explosive, or hazardous materials, junkyards, salvage yards, automotive body work or painting, towing operations, and cabinet shops.

A licensed group daycare for up to 12 children can also operate under the home-occupation rules. These standards sit inside the permitted-use list for the A-1 Zone, so a home occupation that fits them is allowed outright rather than needing a conditional use permit.

Violations & Fines

Operating a home occupation that exceeds the accessory building size cap, employs non-family staff, stores materials outdoors, or engages in a flatly prohibited use like a junkyard or towing operation violates Section 156.126(F) and is enforceable as a zoning infraction under the county's general penalty provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big can a home business building be in Bonneville County?
Section 156.126(F) caps the accessory building used for a home occupation at 1,000 square feet on parcels of one acre or less, rising to 2,000 square feet on parcels larger than one acre. All activity and storage must stay inside the dwelling or that accessory building.
Can I hire employees for my home business?
No. Section 156.126(F)(1)-(2) limits home occupation staffing to family members who reside in the dwelling, regardless of parcel size.
What businesses are banned as home occupations?
Section 156.126(F)(7) bars storage or sale of flammable, explosive, or hazardous materials, junkyards, salvage yards, automotive body work or painting, towing operations, and cabinet shops from operating as home occupations.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bonneville County

All Bonneville County rules

How Bonneville County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Bonneville County to another location·View the Idaho home business overview

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