Bolthole Index

Franklin County, Idaho

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Franklin County, Idaho

64Index Score / 100
#15 of 44 in Idaho

Franklin County, Idaho requires a building permit for a home, and zoning applies throughout unincorporated Franklin County12. Agricultural buildings have a code exemption, but they still must meet zoning placement rules3. Southeastern Idaho Public Health handles onsite septic permits, and the septic permit must come before the county building permit45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for a home1
Building codes
Adopted by Franklin County6
Zoning
Yes in unincorporated Franklin County; cities maintain their own plans27
Septic permits
Southeastern Idaho Public Health4
Agricultural buildings
Exempt from adopted building codes, but zoning placement still applies3
Manufactured homes outside parks
At least 20 feet wide and 900 square feet, with a narrow older-unit exception8
Septic soil suitability
5.3% of soils avoid a severe conventional drain-field limitation9
Property taxes
0.5% effective rate; $1,512 median annual bill1011

Who to call

Building permits

Franklin County Building Department

Building permits and inspections for Franklin County; the county page says the septic permit must be completed before a building permit can be issued

208-221-6149

randallh@fcidaho.us

561 West Oneida

Zoning

Franklin County Planning & Zoning

Planning, zoning, development-code materials, subdivisions and agricultural building-exemption materials

208-220-2120

pandzadministrator@fcidaho.us

Septic permits

Southeastern Idaho Public Health — Franklin County Office

Local contact for the public health district that administers onsite septic permitting in Franklin County

(208) 852-0478

42 West 1st South, Preston, Idaho 83263

Roads & driveways

Franklin County Road and Bridge

County right-of-way and approach permit materials

208-852-0610

sarahl@fcidaho.us

561 West Oneida Preston, ID 83263

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Franklin County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Franklin County, Idaho?

Yes. Franklin County requires a written building permit from the County Building Inspector before anyone erects or constructs a new building, structure or mobile home, and before remodeling that changes a building's outside dimensions12. The county has adopted official building codes6. The county code sets the building permit fee at 1% of the assessed value of the proposed building, payable when the application is made12. Idaho also requires permits whenever electrical, plumbing or HVAC work is performed, although a local jurisdiction may administer some of those programs13. Agricultural buildings are the important exception: Franklin County exempts them from its adopted building codes, but zoning placement requirements still apply3. Do not treat that agricultural exemption as a general exemption for a farmhouse, cabin or other residence. The county's Building Department publishes the building-permit materials and tells applicants to send permits to that department5.

Who is the Franklin County building department, and how do you reach it?

Franklin County's Building Department is at 561 West Oneida in Preston; call 208-221-6149 or email randallh@fcidaho.us5. The department publishes building, mechanical and agricultural permit materials, along with a residential builders handbook and design criteria5. For land-use questions, contact Franklin County Planning & Zoning at 208-220-2120 or pandzadministrator@fcidaho.us14. The county's page does not publish a complete step-by-step process, and it states that a completed septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued15. The inspection sequence, certificate-of-occupancy process and other fees could not be confirmed. Ask the Building Department for the current application packet, fee total and required inspections before budgeting or scheduling construction.

Does Franklin County have zoning?

Yes. Franklin County zoning applies to land throughout unincorporated Franklin County2. Incorporated cities maintain their own plans, and city plans and zoning apply in an Area of City Impact only after annexation7. A listing described as rural or agricultural therefore does not establish what may be built. Ask Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel's jurisdiction and district and confirm permitted uses, setbacks, minimum lot size, building height and subdivision rules. The county's website lists zoning guidelines, a 2025 comprehensive plan and an amended development code, but the opened page does not give district names or the exact unincorporated boundary16. Franklin County publishes its development code, subdivision application and agricultural building-exemption material through Planning & Zoning14. The agricultural building-code exemption does not waive zoning placement requirements3.

How do septic permits work in Franklin County?

Southeastern Idaho Public Health administers onsite septic permitting for Franklin County under Idaho's district system41718. Start with the district's Franklin County office at 42 West 1st South in Preston, phone (208) 852-047819. Every application needs an onsite evaluation, test holes at least 8-10 feet deep depending on soil type, a plot plan, a deed or tax notice and the fee20. The district's published sewage disposal permit fee is $850 for a basic or complex system, $3,000 for a large soil absorption system and $300 for a tank only; fees may change21. Only 5.3% of county soils avoid a severe limitation for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility a purchase contingency rather than assuming a standard system will work9. The public health district conducts the site evaluations and issues the septic permits, and no system may receive wastewater until the final installation inspection is complete2223. Franklin County requires the septic permit before issuing the building permit5.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Franklin County?

Franklin County's rules for long-term RV living, temporary camping on private land and tiny-home occupancy could not be confirmed. Zoning applies throughout unincorporated Franklin County, so ask Planning & Zoning whether the parcel permits the proposed dwelling or temporary occupancy214. A manufactured home outside a park must generally be at least 20 feet wide and contain at least 900 square feet; a narrow replacement exception covers qualifying units in place by January 26, 19988. The Building Inspector must inspect and certify the unit's bronze data plate before a building permit can issue, and the unit must meet county setbacks and other applicable rules8. Idaho also requires manufactured-home installation approval before occupancy24.

How do you build a home in Franklin County, step by step?

  1. Ask Franklin County Planning & Zoning to verify the parcel's zoning district, permitted dwelling type and dimensional standards2514.
  2. Have Southeastern Idaho Public Health evaluate the site and issue the septic permit; Franklin County requires that permit before the building permit205.
  3. Confirm water. Before drilling a private well, obtain an Idaho Department of Water Resources drilling permit and use a licensed well driller26.
  4. Apply to the Franklin County Building Department and confirm the current fee, plan requirements and inspection schedule15.
  5. Obtain separate permits for electrical, plumbing or HVAC work through the applicable Idaho or local program13.
  6. If access crosses county right-of-way, ask Road and Bridge about its approach permit; a connection to state-highway right-of-way requires an Idaho Transportation Department encroachment permit2728.
  7. Complete the required septic inspection before putting the system into service29.

What should you check before buying land in Franklin County?

Make septic feasibility the first physical-site check: only 5.3% of Franklin County soils avoid a severe limitation for a conventional drain field9. Confirm zoning and legal access next, including whether the parcel supports the intended dwelling and whether a county approach permit or state-highway encroachment permit is needed22728. Franklin County evaluates all development for its location within the National Flood Insurance Program before approval and may limit density or intensity in floodplain and floodway areas30. For a private well, budget for the required state drilling permit and licensed driller26. Franklin County has about 23.4 people per square mile, and 32.9% of its land is federally owned, so nearby public land does not establish private access or development rights3132.

Watch-outs

  • A Franklin County agricultural building may be exempt from adopted building codes while still remaining subject to zoning placement requirements3.
  • Franklin County requires the septic permit to be completed before it will issue the building permit5.
  • Manufactured homes outside parks generally must be at least 20 feet wide and 900 square feet, and temporary permits last 12 months with one possible renewal8.
  • Long-term RV living, private-land camping, tiny-home occupancy and an owner-builder exemption could not be confirmed; ask Planning & Zoning and the Building Department before relying on any of them33145.

Sources

  1. § 150.015 Building Permit Required (2026 county census)
  2. Franklin County Comprehensive Plan, quoted and re-checked
  3. franklincountyidaho.org, quoted and re-checked
  4. Southeastern Idaho Public Health - Septic Permits (2026 county census)
  5. Franklin County Building Department (franklincountyidaho.org)
  6. franklincountyidaho.org, quoted and re-checked
  7. Franklin County Comprehensive Plan, quoted and re-checked
  8. § 151.06 Manufactured Home Restrictions, quoted and re-checked
  9. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  10. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  11. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  12. § 150.015 Building Permit Required, quoted and re-checked
  13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Franklin County Planning & Zoning (franklincountyidaho.org)
  15. Building Department, quoted and re-checked
  16. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  17. Building Department, quoted and re-checked
  18. Septic and Septage (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Southeastern Idaho Public Health — Franklin County Office (siphidaho.org)
  20. Building Department, quoted and re-checked
  21. Septic Permits, quoted and re-checked
  22. Septic and Septage, quoted and re-checked
  23. IDAPA 58.01.03 – Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules and Rules for Cleaning of Septic Tanks, quoted and re-checked
  24. Building Archives - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Franklin County Comprehensive Plan (2026 county census)
  26. Wells Overview (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Franklin County Road and Bridge (franklincountyidaho.org)
  28. Types of Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. IDAPA 58.01.03 Individual/Subsurface Sewage Disposal Rules (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Franklin County Comprehensive Plan, quoted and re-checked
  31. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Homeowner Plumbing Permit Application (2026 county census)

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Franklin County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleFranklin CountyBear Lake CountyBannock CountyOneida CountyCaribou CountyPower CountyBingham County
Building permitRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsSIPHSoutheastern Idaho Public HealthSoutheastern Idaho Public HealthSoutheastern Idaho Public HealthSIPHSoutheastern Idaho Public HealthSoutheastern Idaho Public Health

County locator

Franklin County in Idaho

64
County map
Franklin County highlighted among the Idaho counties · colored by Index score

How Franklin County scores

Seclusion54100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency47100% ev.
Admin Boringness3890% ev.
Durability62100% ev.
Property Autonomy90100% ev.
Carry Cost77100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$448kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$3,278Land / acre
23.1"Annual rain
13.5% of yrsSevere drought
2.4 / yr (+2.3)Mid-century 100°F days
26.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.1" (+7.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.16×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,297Home insurance / yr
4.8% / yrInsurance growth
1.53%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
32,819People within 30 min
1,971,738People within 2 hr
15,314Radius comparison (15 mi)
23.4People / sq mi
32.9%Federal land
35.2%Land at 15% slope or less
5.3%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
22,085 acWorkable land screen
34.8%Wooded land
21.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
44.6°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Franklin County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Clifton · Dayton · Franklin · Oxford · Preston · Weston

Answers from the rulebook for Franklin County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Franklin County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erecting or constructing a new building, structure, or mobile home, and remodeling an existing building, structure, or mobile home where the outside dimensions are changed, within Franklin County.

    • A written building permit must be obtained first from the County Building Inspector.
    • Agricultural buildings are exempt from the county-adopted building codes but remain subject to zoning placement requirements.
    • Industrial and commercial buildings whose owners certify in advance that they will create and fill five or more full-time positions within the succeeding 24 months may be exempt from International Building Code fees, but remain subject to the county building permit and site inspection fee requirements.
    • The county Building Department states that a septic permit must be completed before a building permit can be issued.

    building permit fee: 1% of assessed value of proposed building USD (payable when application is made for construction defined in § 150.015)

    “No person, firm, or corporation shall here after erect or construct any new building, structure, or mobile home within the county without having first obtained a written building permit to do so from the County Building Inspector.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    International building codes administered by Franklin County.

    • The county page labels the item Adoption of International Codes - Amended June 8, 2026; the specific code editions and amendments were not available in the opened official webpage.
    “Adoption of International Codes - Amended June 8, 2026”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land-use designations and zoning in unincorporated Franklin County.

    • Areas within an adopted Area of City Impact are subject to city plans and zoning only upon annexation pursuant to Idaho Code 67-6529.
    “These future land designations apply to all lands located within unincorporated Franklin County. [...] The Franklin County Zoning and Development Code and zoning designations will be used to implement these land use designations.”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local zoning across unincorporated Franklin County and incorporated-city areas.

    • The county code applies in the unincorporated area; city plans and zoning apply within adopted Areas of City Impact only upon annexation, and incorporated municipalities may administer their own rules.
    “Policies are adopted for the unincorporated county, each city adopts and maintains their own plan.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning-district information and related zoning materials.

    • The official page lists Zoning Guidelines and an amended Development Code but does not provide the district names or the exact unincorporated boundary in the opened webpage.
    “Zoning Guidelines Comprehensive Plan 2025 Development Code - Amended 2026 Manufactured Home Ordinance”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes installed outside manufactured-home parks in Franklin County.

    • A building permit cannot issue until the Building Inspector inspects and certifies the bronze data plate.
    • The unit must satisfy applicable county ordinances, county setbacks and other building ordinances, and Idaho statutes.
    • Units outside parks must be at least 20 feet wide and 900 square feet, except qualifying units in place on or before January 26, 1998.
    • A temporary permit may last 12 months and may be renewed once; the unit must then be removed.

    minimum width: >= 20 feet (Units outside manufactured-home parks.) · minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet (Units outside manufactured-home parks; exception for qualifying pre-January 26, 1998 units.) · temporary permit duration: 12 months (May be renewed once.)

    “All manufactured home units located or installed outside of manufactured home parks must be a minimum of 20 feet wide and contain a minimum of 900 square feet; provided however, such units which were in place on or before January 26, 1998, may be replaced or upgraded with equal or larger sized units that meet the requirements of division (B) above.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Individual and subsurface sewage disposal systems administered through Southeastern Idaho Public Health materials.

    • The Franklin County Building Department links to the SIPH septic permit and requires that permit before a county building permit can be issued.
    • Idaho statewide sewage-disposal rules also apply.
    “Septic Permit must be completed before a Building Permit can be issued.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Onsite sewage disposal systems serving property in Franklin County within the health district.

    • The Franklin County Building Department states that the septic permit must be completed before a county building permit can be issued.
    • An onsite evaluation is required for all applications.
    • The applicant must provide test holes at least 8-10 feet deep depending on soil type.
    • The application requires a completed plot plan, deed or tax notice, and applicable fee.

    speculative site evaluation fee: 300 USD · full site evaluation and permit fee if site is suitable: 925 USD · test-hole depth: 8-10 feet (depending on soil type)

    “INFORMATION REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A SEPTIC PERMIT”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic installations in Franklin County administered by Southeastern Idaho Public Health as the applicable public health district.

    • The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality states that public health districts administer the statewide septic rules under an MOU with DEQ.
    • The DEQ page describes inspections for individual systems by the public health district and for large soil absorption systems by the public health district and DEQ.
    • System type, site conditions, and permit requirements may impose additional requirements.
    “Idaho’s seven public health districts administer these rules under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DEQ. The public health districts conduct site evaluations, issue septic system permits, inspect installations, and assist with property-specific questions about permitting, existing systems, and permit records.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural exemptions from county building permits.

    • The official page identifies an Ag Exemption from Building Permit form; the eligibility conditions were not stated on the opened webpage and require review of the form or ordinance.
    “Ag Exemption from Building Permit Adoption of International Codes - Amended June 8, 2026”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development located in or potentially affected by floodplain or floodway areas in Franklin County.

    • All development is evaluated for location within the National Flood Insurance Program before approval.
    • The county may limit density and intensity within the floodplain and floodway.
    • The county will implement a floodplain/floodway overlay designation.
    “All development will be evaluated as to its location within the National Flood insurance program prior to approval. [...] The County reserves the right to limit the density and intensity of uses within the floodplain and floodway.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Published septic-permit fees in the Southeastern Idaho Public Health materials.

    • The page states that fees are subject to change.

    sewage disposal permit: basic or complex system: 850 USD · sewage disposal permit: large soil absorption system: 3000 USD · sewage disposal permit: tank only: 300 USD · speculative site evaluation: 300 USD · septic permit renewal: 40 USD

    “Sewage Disposal Permit: Basic or Complex System | $850 Sewage Disposal Permit: Large Soil Absorption System | $3,000 Sewage Disposal Permit: Tank Only | $300 Speculative Site Evaluation | $300 Septic Permit Renewal | $40”
  • Permit processPartial

    The Franklin County Building Department's published permit materials and prerequisite for county building permits.

    • The page identifies the Building Department as the recipient for permits and provides its Preston address.
    • The page lists Agricultural, Building, Mechanical, and related permit documents.
    • A completed septic permit is required before a Building Permit can be issued.
    • The page does not publish a complete end-to-end permit process, including all application, review, inspection, fee, or approval steps.
    “Please remit permits to Randy Henrie at the Building Department. [...] Septic Permit must be completed before a Building Permit can be issued.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — County building-permit process and prerequisite documentation.
      “Septic Permit must be completed before a Building Permit can be issued.”

Idaho rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Homeowners personally performing plumbing work on their own residential premises in Idaho.

    • The homeowner must own the residential property and personally perform the permitted work.
    • The homeowner permit is valid only for a primary or secondary residence and associated outbuildings.
    • Associated outbuildings must not be used for commercial purposes or rented by a tenant.
    • The homeowner must accept responsibility for all work performed.
    • All work must be inspected by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.
    • A plumbing permit must be obtained by application to the Division.
    • The application must be submitted with payment.
    • The application form states that an additional $65 fee may be assessed if the location is not clearly provided by directions or an attached map.
    • The application was revised 8/17/2022; this revision date is not treated as an effective date.

    unclear-location fee: 65 USD (May be assessed if the location is not clearly given by directions or an attached map.)

    “I certify that I am the owner of the residential property and will personally perform the work covered by this permit.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available — An owner performing their own construction work on the owner's own land in Idaho.
      “A: Any person who engages in a construction job with a dollar amount exceeding $2000.00 (materials & labor) and is not otherwise exempt (The exemptions are listed below); [...] Owners: Owners who do their own work on their own land and do not intend to sell the property within 12 months are exempt from registration.”
    • Conditional — An Idaho homeowner undertaking construction or trade work for which a state-administered permit process applies.
      “Public (Homeowners Only) [...] *Public: “Homeowner” is pre-selected. [...] Once payment is processed, you may choose “Request Inspection” and/or “Print Permit””
    • Conditional — Owners performing construction work on their own land in Idaho under the state contractor-registration system.
      “Owners who do their own work on their own land and do not intend to sell the property within 12 months are exempt from registration.”
    • Conditional — Homeowners personally performing electrical work on a primary or secondary residence and related outbuildings in Idaho.
      “Homeowners may purchase a permit only when they themselves are doing electrical work on their primary or secondary residence and/or related outbuildings.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    All manufactured-home installations in Idaho before the manufactured home is occupied.

    • The inspection and approval are performed by DOPL or the authority having jurisdiction.
    • Inspection and approval must occur before occupancy.
    “All installations must be inspected and approved by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses or the authority having jurisdiction before the manufactured home is occupied.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping or parking a vehicle or trailer on Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Management Areas and access sites separate from a WMA.

    • The restriction applies in areas posted against camping or parking.
    • Leaving an unattended camp, vehicle, or trailer for more than 48 hours is prohibited without authorization.
    • Camping or parking for more than 10 days during any 30-day period on one WMA or one separate access site is prohibited without authorization.
    • The rule permits authorization by the Commission, Director, Regional Supervisor, or designee.

    unattended duration: > 48 hours (Unless specifically authorized by the Commission, Director, Regional Supervisor, or designee.) · camping or parking duration: > 10 days during any 30-day period per WMA or separate access site (Unless specifically authorized by the Commission, Director, Regional Supervisor, or designee.)

    “camp or park a vehicle or trailer for more than ten (10) days during any thirty (30) day period”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units for Idaho DEQ wastewater-flow and septic-system sizing purposes; this claim does not establish statewide zoning permission.

    • An ADU is sized as a single-family dwelling for the cited wastewater-flow guidance.
    • An ADU may combine flows with another structure into one system.
    • Any common septic tank must be large enough to hold the required capacity from both structures.
    • Local land-use, building, and septic authorities may impose additional requirements.

    wastewater flow basis: single-family dwelling

    “Size as a single family dwelling. Can combine with another structure's flows into one system”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction or drilling of wells in Idaho, including domestic wells.

    • Before drilling, the well owner or driller must obtain a drilling permit from IDWR.
    • All wells must be constructed by a well driller with a valid IDWR license.
    • The separate water-right permit exemption for domestic purposes does not eliminate the drilling-permit requirement.
    • For new diversions in qualifying subdivisions filed on or after July 1, 2025, a water-right permit is required in a moratorium area, critical groundwater area, or groundwater management area, except for in-home uses and watering livestock.
    • Well construction rules apply to wells and other artificial openings more than 18 vertical feet below land surface.

    well depth threshold: > 18 vertical feet below land surface (The cited well-construction rules describe covered wells and artificial openings.) · subdivision application date: >= 2025-07-01 (Applies to qualifying new diversions described in Idaho Code § 42-227(4).)

    “Prior to drilling a well, the well owner or well driller must first obtain a drilling permit from IDWR.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Proposed individual or subsurface sewage disposal systems where public or central wastewater treatment facilities may be available.

    • The Director may deny a septic permit when public or central wastewater treatment facilities are reasonably accessible.
    • The cited rule does not establish a universal statewide requirement to connect every property to public sewer.
    • Subsurface septic discharge remains an identified onsite disposal method.
    “Public or central wastewater treatment facilities are reasonably accessible.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Private and public driveways or streets connecting to Idaho state highway right-of-way.

    • An ITD encroachment permit is required for private and public approaches, including driveways and streets.
    • No activity may occur on state highway rights-of-way until the Department or a delegated local highway agency issues an approved permit, except emergency approval affecting highway operations and motorist safety may precede processing.
    • A Traffic Impact Study may be required for new or expanded development seeking direct access to a state highway when the stated thresholds are met, unless waived by the District Engineer.

    peak-hour trips for possible TIS requirement: >= 100 new trips (unless waived by the District Engineer) · daily traffic for possible TIS requirement: >= 1000 vehicles per day (unless waived by the District Engineer)

    “Encroachment permits approved by the Department are required for private and public approaches (driveways and streets), utilities and other miscellaneous encroachments.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Temporary camping in Idaho State Parks administered by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

    • Camping is permitted only in designated areas.
    • Stays are limited to 14 nights in a 30-day period; the same page's FAQ separately states a 15-day limit, creating an unresolved internal discrepancy.
    • Individual-site occupancy is limited to one family unit or no more than 8 persons unless otherwise specified; companion-site and site-design restrictions apply.
    • Camping is not permitted on beaches, parking lots, or day-use facilities.
    • Check-in is at 2 p.m. for campsites and checkout is at 1 p.m.; late checkouts may incur additional fees unless prior arrangements have been made.

    state-park stay limit: 14 nights in 30 days (FAQ on the same page states 15 days in any 30-day period) · individual-site people limit: <= 8 people (one family unit or site-specific limits may apply)

    “Camping is permitted only in designated areas. [...] Stays are limited to 14 nights in a 30-day period.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Idaho counties adopting zoning for unincorporated areas through their boards of county commissioners.

    • A board of county commissioners is a governing board and may exercise the powers authorized by the Local Land Use Planning Act.
    • The county board's powers under the chapter apply to the unincorporated area of the county.
    • Zoning must be adopted, amended, or repealed by ordinance using the notice and hearing procedures in Idaho Code § 67-6509.
    • Zoning districts must conform to the adopted comprehensive plan.
    • Within zoning districts, standards may regulate or restrict building height, number of stories, size, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or use of buildings and structures; lot occupancy; courts, yards and open spaces; population density; and building and structure location and use.
    • Standards must be uniform for each class or kind of building throughout each district, but may differ between districts.
    • Overlay zoning districts require clear and objective standards and must not constitute a regulatory taking under Idaho or federal law.
    “The powers of the board of county commissioners conferred by this chapter shall apply to the unincorporated area of the county.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Idaho counties' authority to adopt and enforce building codes and require permits for residential construction in unincorporated areas when the county operates a building-code enforcement program.

    • The statute defines local government as any city or county of Idaho.
    • A local government that had not previously implemented a code-enforcement program may elect to implement one by ordinance evidencing its intent to do so.
    • Construction in a local-government jurisdiction enforcing building codes requires a permit under the applicable local ordinance.
    • A local government issuing permits and performing enforcement must adopt the specified state-adopted codes and may amend them only within the limits stated in Idaho Code § 39-4116(4).
    • Local amendments must generally provide at least an equivalent level of protection; accessibility amendments are restricted, and additional residential-code amendments require the statutory good-cause, necessity, ordinance, public-hearing, publication, and notice procedures.
    • Single-family homes and multiple-family dwellings up to two units are exempt from automatic fire-sprinkler requirements in the enumerated codes.
    • Agricultural buildings must be exempted; a county may issue farm-building permits only for road setbacks and utility easements, at no more than actual issuance cost.
    • Permits are governed by the laws in effect when the application is received.
    • The state division retains jurisdiction for in-plant inspections and installation standards for manufactured or mobile homes and for in-plant inspections and enforcement of modular-building and commercial-coach construction standards.
    “"Local government" means any city or county of this state.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Franklin County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area or minimum dwelling size for dwellings in unincorporated Franklin County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements.
  • Setbacks — Building and use setbacks.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements.
6 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Subdividing land
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Water rights & wells in Franklin County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Idaho’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Groundwater for domestic purposes up to 13,000 gpd is exempt from permitting; critical-area and moratorium closures generally target new PERMITTED (non-exempt) appropriations, so a household can still drill a domestic-exempt well even inside a critical groundwater area.

Limit: 13,000 gpd (homes, stockwater, irrigation of ≤0.5 acre) under Idaho Code 42-227

Idaho Dept of Water Resources — Domestic Exemption ↗

Prior-appropriation state (first in time, first in right). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Idaho state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Franklin County, Idaho

Is Franklin County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Franklin County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: more administrative friction around building and land use.

Do you need a building permit in Franklin County, Idaho?

Franklin County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SIPH). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Franklin County, Idaho?

Land in Franklin County runs about $3,278 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Franklin County?

Franklin County gets about 23.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 13.5% of years. On water rights, Franklin County lies in the Bear River Ground Water Management Area — Designated 2001; new appropriations must demonstrate sufficient supply without injuring senior rights. Domestic-exempt wells allowed..

How remote is Franklin County?

A representative private-land location has about 32,819 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,971,738 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Franklin compares in Idaho

Compare side-by-side →See all 44 Idaho counties ranked →