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Bonneville County, ID Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Noise ceiling
70 dBa in LNC Zone
Governing section
Bonneville County Code Section 156.350
Light spillover limit
0.5 foot-candles increase max
Zone size cap
2 acres per LNC parcel
Penalty
$100 fine per day, Section 156.999

Summary

In Bonneville County's Limited Neighborhood Commercial (LNC) Zone, unincorporated area businesses cannot generate noise above 70 dBa. The cap sits in the zone's performance standards alongside limits on dust, odor and glare, and it applies to every use permitted in that zone.

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.

No noise allowed above 70 dBa; no offensive dust or odors shall be allowed; all lighting shall be directed away from adjacent properties and shielded to avoid any direct glare; illumination on adjacent properties will not be increased by more than 0.5 foot-candles; building heights will not exceed maximum in adjacent zone; setbacks shall match those of the adjacent zone.

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

350, titled Other Standards, sets the numeric ceiling for any property operating in the LNC Zone: no noise allowed above 70 dBa, and no offensive dust or odors are permitted either. 5 foot-candles) and requires that building heights and setbacks in the LNC Zone track whatever the adjacent zone allows, so a noisy or bright use cannot hide behind looser LNC standards. The LNC Zone itself is capped at two acres per parcel, must sit at the intersection of an arterial and a collector street in a residentially zoned or planned area, and is limited to one per intersection, which keeps the zone's uses, and their noise output, concentrated rather than scattered through the unincorporated county.

Because the 70 dBa figure lives inside the zone's performance standards rather than a countywide noise chapter, it governs commercial and neighborhood-service uses sited in an LNC Zone specifically; it does not by its terms extend to the county's residential, agricultural or industrial zones, which are governed by their own chapters of Title 156. Enforcement runs through the County Zoning Administrator, who reviews compliance as part of ordinary zoning administration for the district.

Violations & Fines

Section 156.350 cross-references the general zoning penalty at Section 156.999. A person who violates the zoning provisions governing an LNC Zone use, including exceeding the 70 dBa limit, is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of $100, with no imprisonment. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense, and the court may also issue an injunction or restraining order to stop the noise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the noise limit in Bonneville County's LNC Zone?
Section 156.350 of the county code caps noise at 70 dBa for any use operating in the Limited Neighborhood Commercial Zone. The limit applies alongside restrictions on dust, odor and light spillover onto adjacent properties, and it is enforced as part of routine zoning compliance in the unincorporated area.
Does the 70 dBa limit apply countywide?
No. It is a performance standard specific to the LNC Zone under Section 156.350. Other zones in Title 156, including residential and industrial districts, are not covered by this particular decibel figure and would need to be checked under their own chapters.
What happens if a business in the LNC Zone exceeds 70 dBa?
It is treated as a zoning violation under Section 156.999, an infraction punishable by a $100 fine with each day of continued violation counted separately. A judge can also order an injunction or restraining order requiring the noise to stop.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bonneville County

All Bonneville County rules

Compare Bonneville County to another location·View the Idaho noise ordinances overview

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