Bonner County, ID Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Bonner County Revised Code § 2-401 is the county's on-street parking rule. Subsection A reaches any county street, road or highway within Bonner County and bars parking, or leaving a vehicle parked, in a way that impedes the free flow of vehicle traffic or where official signs prohibit parking. Two triggers are written in: actual obstruction of traffic, or a posted prohibition.

Subsection B repeats the sign rule for stopping, standing and parking: no person can stop, stand or park a motor vehicle, occupied or not, where a posted parking regulation or official sign prohibits it. The only carve-outs are conflict with other traffic in compliance with traffic laws, the directions of a peace officer, and a traffic control device. Subsection C carries the same posted-regulation rule onto property owned by the county or under the regulatory control of the county or any highway district located in the county. Subsection E makes it unlawful to tear down, deface or alter a traffic control device containing a posted parking regulation without previous authorization from an appropriate local authority.

Subsection D is the loading exception: a person can temporarily stop, stand or park to load or unload merchandise or passengers while actually engaged in that activity. The exception is written against subsections B and C, the posted-sign prohibitions.

Subsection F covers sign placement in tight areas. The sheriff and/or a city or fire district chief, with the concurrence of the Bonner County road and bridge director or the independent highway district with maintenance jurisdiction, can request official No Parking signs on county roads with limited or restricted access, to protect public safety vehicle access. The requesting agency furnishes the signs, and the road and bridge department or the highway district installs them. If the agency and the road and bridge director cannot agree on placement, the Board of County Commissioners decides.

Section 2-480 handles who answers for a parked vehicle. Proof that the vehicle was parked in violation, plus proof that the defendant was its registered owner at the time, is prima facie evidence that the owner parked it. The owner can rebut with evidence such as a written lease or rental agreement naming the person who had the vehicle. Streets inside Sandpoint, Ponderay, Priest River and the other incorporated cities are outside this county code.