THIS IS OUR FUTURE

Bannock County Planning & Development Services is drafting a comprehensive Land Use & Development Ordinance to replace current zoning code.

Land Use & Development Ordinance

What is a Land Use & Development Ordinance?

A Land Use & Development Ordinance is a local rule that tells people how land in a community can be used, built on, or divided. It helps guide growth and follows the community’s comprehensive plan (see ours).

Right now, Bannock County has eight different ordinances that cover different parts of land use and development.

Planning & Development Services is suggesting a new update. They want to combine all eight ordinances into one clear and simple rule. This change would make the rules easier to understand, save time, and remove any parts that are confusing or redundant.

Current Ordinance and Code

View the current ordinances and codes that a comprehensive Land Use & Development Ordinance will replace.

Zoning Ordinance
Subdivision Ordinance
Building Code Ordinance
Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance
Flood Zone Ordinance
Solid Waste Ordinance
Illicit Discharge and Stormwater Sewer Connection Ordinance
Stormwater Management Ordinance

What's Next?

Projected Project Timeline

Phase 1: Draft Refinement & Analysis
January – Mid-February

Refine the initial draft
Incorporate public input and technical data
Conduct mapping and data coordination
Prepare a revised working draft

Phase 2: Legal Review & Advisory Workshops
Mid-February – March

Legal review and revisions
Advisory Committee, Planning Council, and Commission workshops
Prepare an updated draft based on feedback

Phase 3: Post-Workshop Revisions
Late March – Early April

Incorporate direction from workshops
Complete required legal and policy analyses

Phase 4: Public Hearing Draft Preparation
Mid-April

Finalize draft for public hearings
Complete maps and supporting materials

Phase 5: Public Hearings
Late April – Early June

Planning Council public hearing
Commission public hearing
Additional hearings if significant changes are required

Phase 6: Adoption & Publication
Mid-June – Early July

Final edits and legal review
Formal adoption
Publication and effective date

What changes are being proposed?

Planning & Development aims to consolidate and modernize eight existing ordinances into a comprehensive Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO) for Bannock County. This ordinance will regulate zoning, land use, subdivision, and other key aspects of county planning.

Goals:

Enhance clarity, consistency, and enforceability
Align with state and federal regulations
Use the Comprehensive Plan to guide the ordinance

Proposed Changes:

Type of Land	Current Zoning Requirements	Proposed Zoning Requirements
AGRICULTURAL (AG):	40 Acres	40 Acres
COMMERCIAL GENERAL (CG):	1 Acre	1 Acre
INDUSTRIAL (I):	1 Acre	2 Acres
LIGHT INDUSTRIAL (LI):	1 Acre	1 Acre
MULTIPLE USE (MU):	1 Acre; lacks clarity when proposing use	Acreage will be dependent on proposed use. Section will provide framework for requesting uses.
RECREATIONAL (R):	1 Acre	5 Acres
RESIDENTIAL RURAL (RR):	5 Acres	5 Acres
RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN (RS):	5 Acres	1 Acre
SPECIAL LANDS (SL): (federal, state, and public lands)	No clarity	Provide framework for requesting special use zoning.

Zoning Definitions

AGRICULTURAL (AG): Agricultural zoning should preserve farmland, protect natural resources, and maintain the rural character of a community by preventing urban sprawl. It should support sustainable farming practices, local economies, and provide buffers between urban and rural areas. This zone should ensure long-term agricultural use while promoting environmental protection and food security.

COMMERCIAL GENERAL (CG): Commercial General zoning should allow for a broad range of commercial uses that meet community and regional needs. It should support economic growth by concentrating businesses in areas with suitable infrastructure and access. This zone should help manage land use by separating intensive commercial activity from residential and industrial zones.

INDUSTRIAL (I): Industrial zoning should accommodate manufacturing, processing, warehousing, and other intensive industrial uses. It should ensure these activities are located in areas with appropriate infrastructure, access, and separation from residential or commercial zones to minimize land use conflicts. This zone should support economic development while protecting public health, safety, and the environment.

LIGHT INDUSTRIAL (LI): Light Industrial zoning should allow for low- to moderate-impact industrial uses such as light manufacturing, assembly, warehousing, and distribution. It should support economic activity while maintaining compatibility with nearby commercial or residential areas through performance standards that limit noise, emissions, and heavy traffic. This zone should provide space for industrial growth with less intensive impacts on surrounding land uses.

MULTIPLE USE (MU): Multiple Use zoning should apply to areas with existing mixed residential and non-residential development and allows uses otherwise permitted according to the surrounding uses. It is intended to be transitional and may be rezoned over time to districts reflecting the predominant land use as development occurs. Development shall be compatible with surrounding uses through buffering and control of external effects. Uses that are incompatible with surrounding uses or whose impacts cannot be adequately mitigated shall not be permitted.

RECREATIONAL (R): Recreational zoning should provide space for outdoor and indoor recreational uses, including parks, campgrounds, trails, and public or private recreational facilities. It should support community health, tourism, and quality of life by preserving areas for leisure, sports, and natural enjoyment. This zone should help to manage land use to ensure recreational activities are compatible with surrounding development and environmental resources.

RESIDENTIAL RURAL (RR): Residential Rural zoning should allow for low-density residential development in a rural setting, often with larger lots and limited infrastructure. It should support a quiet, countryside lifestyle while accommodating some agricultural or home-based activities. This zone should preserve a rural character, serving as a buffer between more urbanized areas and agricultural or natural lands.

RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN (RS): Residential Suburban zoning should support medium-density residential development with a suburban character, typically including single-family homes on moderate-sized lots. It should be intended to accommodate growth near urban areas while providing a balance between rural and more compact residential neighborhoods. This zone should promote orderly development with access to essential services and infrastructure.

SPECIAL LANDS (SL): Special Lands zoning should identify and regulate land subject to federal, tribal, or state jurisdiction where ownership, management, and permitted uses differ from standard county zoning districts. This includes, but is not limited to: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, U.S. Forest Service lands, State of Idaho Department of Fish and Game lands, Fort Hall Indian Reservation lands held in fee simple (privately owned, not held in trust), or other lands under special jurisdiction or cooperative management. The intent of this district is to recognize and coordinate with applicable managing agencies or jurisdictions, ensure uses are consistent with county land use policy while respecting the authority of the managing entity, and provide a process for review and approval of new or changed uses.

Bannock County currently has “Open Space” requirements. We are proposing removing all open space requirements from the ordinance. Open Space: Land restricted from development, as defined in Bannock County Subdivision Ordinance 1997-4.

Open Space: Land restricted from development, as defined in Bannock County Subdivision Ordinance 1997-4.

Current Code	Proposed Changes
Requires property owners to maintain 50% of their land as “open space”	No longer required
Allows only one contiguous piece of land to fulfill open space requirement	No longer required
Required to have open space in all areas of wildlife habitat areas (based of Fish & Game maps)	No longer required

Currently, Bannock County allows a Minor Land Division (MLD) for developers and property owners who want to divide their property into four or fewer parcels. Planning & Development is proposing changing the MLD system for a Short Plat system.

Minor Land Division (MLD) – Current System	Short Plat – Proposed System
Requires a “record of survey” to create four (4) or fewer parcels	Would require a pre-development application to be reviewed by Planning & Development staf
“Record of Survey” is a map created by a licensed land surveyor that provides a record of a property’s boundary lines, easements, and other features as determined by a survey	A pre-development application would include a conceptual plan of the proposed subdivision, agency review, an on-site review of the property, and a pre-development meeting with Bannock County Staff.
Planning & Development staff review and approve MLD requests	Board of County Commissioners would review and approve the final plat request
Does not create an official division and does not codify any easement or deed restrictions set during MLD process	Would create a legally binding land division, easement, or deed restrictions set during the application process

Alternative Energy

Bannock County’s current ordinance bans all large-scale solar, wind, and nuclear energy projects.

Background: In 2024, Bannock County Commissioners banned large-scale solar and wind projects in the county following the expiration of a temporary moratorium on these types of projects. Watch the public hearing and vote on the ordinance. Since the ordinance was enacted, Planning & Development has been investigating other county ordinances that allow certain alternative energy projects while protecting the natural environment, property owners rights, and taxpayer interests.

What is Being Proposed:

Allow wind, solar, and nuclear energy as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), with extensive requirements
- Requirements: Emergency Plan; Erosion and Sediment Control Plan; Fire Protection Plan; Fish, Wildlife, and Native Plant Protection Plan; Visual Impact Analysis; Extensive Setback Requirements; Termination and Decommissioning Plan; Public Hearing as Conditional Use Permit; Wildlife Studies; Transportation Plan; Weed Control Plan

Allow a CUP for wind and solar in the following zones:
- Agricultural, Commercial General, Industrial, and Light Industrial

Allow a CUP for nuclear in the following zones:
- Commercial General, Industrial, and Light Industrial

Public Input Opportunities

Previous Input Opportunities

Several Opportunities have been held throughout the years to gather input from the public about what they desire from county development, zoning, and land use ordinances. For each of these efforts, we promoted the surveys through county social media channels, press releases, our news release distribution list, and other outreach methods.

In 2022, we conducted a public survey titled “Open Space/Subdivision Ordinance,” which focused on open space requirements. The survey was open from February 7 through March 21, 2022, and received 707 responses.

View Summary of Responses

View Individual Responses

In 2023, we gathered additional public input through the “Land Use Ordinance” survey, which solicited feedback related to zoning. This survey was open from January 26 through March 6, 2023, and received 186 responses.

View Summary of Responses

View Individual Responses

In 2025, we conducted a broader outreach effort titled “Land Use & Development Ordinance Update.” This survey addressed all ordinances and was open from September 17 through October 23, 2025. We received 638 responses during this period.

View Summary of Responses

View Individual Responses

Upcoming Input Opportunities

Public Hearings
Late April – Early June

Public hearings are your chance to share feedback on the proposed ordinance draft. Testimony can be shared in person or via email. More details will be published when the hearings are scheduled.

Planning Council public hearing
Commission public hearing
Additional hearings if significant changes are required

Hearing dates will be posted here when they are scheduled. Hearings may be broadcast live on our YouTube page.

Comprehensive Plan

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

Bannock County’s Comprehensive Plan outlines a 20-year vision to be economically vibrant, encourage sustainable development, and enhance our rural, recreational, and agricultural character. The plan helps us make decisions about future projects and determine the location and extent of future development.

The comprehensive plan encompasses the entire county, including those lands managed by Tribes and federal and State agencies. Areas within a city’s limits are not included in the Bannock County Comprehensive Plan.