Bolthole Index

Minidoka County, Idaho

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Paul, Idaho

Paul, Idaho adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Title 8 of the city code1. Building permits for land inside Paul are handled by Minidoka County, which serves as the building department for the city2. Septic permits come from South Central Public Health District, which serves Minidoka County3.

At a glance

Zoning
Paul city zoning ordinance, Title 8 of the city code1
Building permits
Minidoka County serves as the building department for Paul2
Septic permits
South Central Public Health District3
Plumbing and electrical permits
State of Idaho2
Residential low density (RL) lot
Minimum 6,100 sq ft; 35 ft height; 30% lot coverage456
Agricultural low (AL) lot
Minimum 1 acre; 35 ft height; 30% lot coverage789
Class A manufactured home in RL
Appears permitted; confirm with City Hall10

Who to call

Zoning

City of Paul City Hall

City government for Paul, including the city clerk who keeps the zoning map and the contact for zoning questions

(208) 438-4101

152 S 600 W, Paul, ID 83347

Building permits

Minidoka County Building and Zoning Department

Building permits for land inside Paul, as the county's building department for the city

208-436-7180

715 G Street, Rupert, ID 83350

Building permits

City of Paul Building Permits & Inspections page

The city's own page for building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy, with a contact line at the county building office

(208) 436-7183

Septic permits

South Central Public Health District - Heyburn Office

Septic permits, septic records, and land and septic questions for Minidoka County

(208) 678-8221

septic@phd5.id.gov

485 22nd Street, Heyburn, ID 83336

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Paul, Idaho have zoning?

Yes. The City of Paul adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Title 8 (Zoning Regulations) of the city code1. Each parcel inside city limits falls in one zone, and that zone decides which uses and dimensions apply1.

Paul's zones are agricultural low, medium and heavy (AL, AM, AH); residential low, medium and high density (RL, RM, RH); commercial local and general (CL, CG); industrial light and heavy (IL, IH); and an outlying zone (O)11. The zoning map is kept on file with the city clerk, so call Paul City Hall at12 to learn which zone a specific lot is in. We could not confirm a parcel-by-parcel zone list.

What are the lot size, setback and height rules in Paul?

Rules differ by zone, so check the lot's zone first. In the RL residential low density zone, the minimum lot area is 6,100 square feet, and when more than 1 dwelling unit sits on a lot the minimum area is required per unit4. Maximum building height in RL is 35 feet5, and maximum lot coverage is 30 percent6. Setbacks in RL are 20 feet in front, 5 feet at the rear and 5 feet on an interior side13.

In the AL agricultural low zone, the minimum lot is 1 acre, and that may drop to 1/2 acre when central water or sewer is provided7. AL setbacks are 30 feet in front, 5 feet at the rear and 5 feet on an interior side14. Height is capped at 35 feet8 and lot coverage at 30 percent9. We have not confirmed a minimum dwelling size inside Paul; ask City Hall.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Paul?

Manufactured homes: Paul's use schedule appears to allow Class A manufactured homes in the RL zone, subject to other city ordinances on buildings built outside the jurisdiction10. Confirm the column reading with City Hall before you buy a home.

RVs and tiny homes: we could not confirm Paul's rule for living in an RV or tiny home on a city lot, so ask City Hall before parking either one. For land outside the city, Minidoka County's rule is different: in unincorporated Minidoka County, an RV on a lot is prohibited except in an approved park, for a visit of up to 14 days by friends or family, or on a permitted construction site for up to 18 months15. Do not assume that county rule governs a lot inside Paul.

Do you need a building permit in Paul, and who issues it?

Minidoka County serves as the building department for Minidoka County and the cities of Acequia, Minidoka, Paul and Rupert216. Inside Paul, a building permit therefore goes through the county's Building and Zoning Department, while zoning applications go through the city of Paul2.

The county's published rule is that anyone who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or reroof a building needs a building permit, with an exemption for one-story residential detached accessory structures of 200 square feet or less17. We could not confirm whether Paul's own code adds or changes anything, so ask City Hall and the county together. Plumbing and electrical permits and inspections come from the State of Idaho, not the county or city218. Paul's own building page lists a certificate of occupancy among its duties19.

How do septic permits work inside Paul?

Idaho's seven public health districts administer the state's septic rules20. For Minidoka County that district is South Central Public Health District, whose Environmental Health Specialists review applications and issue permits for new and repaired septic systems2122. Septic and land questions go to septic@phd5.id.gov or the Heyburn office22.

The AL zone allows a smaller lot when central water or sewer is provided7, so ask City Hall whether a lot can connect to city sewer before you plan a septic system. We could not confirm the rule for off-grid sanitation or septic inspection inside city limits.

How do you build a home in Paul? The steps, in order

  1. Call Paul City Hall at12 and ask which zone the lot is in; the zoning map is kept with the city clerk11.
  2. Check the lot against that zone's minimum lot area, setbacks, height and lot coverage4.
  3. Ask City Hall whether the lot can use city sewer, or contact South Central Public Health District for a septic permit22.
  4. Apply for the building permit through the Minidoka County Building and Zoning Department2.
  5. Expect plan review to take 5-10 business days once all information is received, according to the county's residential application guide23.
  6. Pull plumbing and electrical permits from the State of Idaho2.
  7. Schedule inspections as work proceeds, and get a certificate of occupancy before the building is used24.

What stays with Minidoka County, and what to check before you buy in Paul?

Minidoka County provides Paul's building permit service2, and septic permits for all of Minidoka County come from South Central Public Health District3. For land outside city limits, use the Minidoka County page, because the county's zoning and RV rules apply only to unincorporated land15.

Check flood risk, sewer connection, and the lot's zone before you buy; we could not confirm Paul's floodplain, well or driveway permit rules. Minidoka County's effective property tax rate is 0.5%25, with a median property tax bill of $1,218 a year26.

Watch-outs

  • The city of Paul and Minidoka County each play a part in building and zoning, so ask both offices which one handles your project2.
  • Paul's zoning map is kept on file with the city clerk, so confirm a lot's zone with City Hall before you buy11.
  • We could not confirm Paul's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, floodplain development, wells or driveway permits; call City Hall at12.

Sources

  1. Paul City Code Title 8 Chapter 3, Establishment of Zones (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  2. Minidoka County, Permitting With Other Agencies (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  3. phd5.idaho.gov, quoted and re-checked
  4. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  5. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  6. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  7. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  8. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  9. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  10. Paul City Code Title 8 Chapter 5, Regulations Within Zones (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  11. Paul City Code Title 8 Chapter 3, Establishment of Zones (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Paul City Hall (cityofpaul.org)
  13. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  14. Paul City Code 8-5-3, Official Schedule of Height and Area Regulations (Paul), quoted and re-checked
  15. Recreational Vehicles in Minidoka County, quoted and re-checked
  16. Minidoka County Building and Zoning Department (minidoka.id.us)
  17. Building Permits Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  18. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. City of Paul Building Permits & Inspections page (cityofpaul.org)
  20. Septic and Septage (Idaho statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Septic Records — SCPHD, quoted and re-checked
  22. South Central Public Health District - Heyburn Office (phd5.idaho.gov)
  23. Residential Building Packet, quoted and re-checked
  24. Residential Building Packet, quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Paul

Paul’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Paul city limits only. Paul city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Title 8 (Zoning Regulations).

    • Each parcel's use and dimensions are governed by the zone it falls in (AL, AM, AH, RL, RM, RH, CL, CG, IL, IH, O).
    • Zone regulations are minimums that apply uniformly, except as the title provides.
    “the regulations of each zone set forth by this title shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zone list and use schedule for land inside Paul city limits.

    • The zoning map is kept on file with the city clerk per 8-3-2; the map itself was not opened, so parcel-level zone assignment is not established here.
    • Zones: AL agricultural low, AM agricultural medium, AH agricultural heavy, RL residential low density, RM residential medium density, RH residential high density, CL commercial local, CG commercial general, IL industrial light, IH industrial heavy, O outlying.
    “al agricultural low p = permitted use am agricultural medium s = special use ah agricultural heavy n = not permitted”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Agricultural low, AL zone, inside Paul city limits. Minimum lot area 1 acre.

    • Note 4: if central water or sewer is provided, the minimum lot size may be reduced to 1 / 2 acre.
    • Note 3: when more than 1 dwelling unit is placed on the same lot, parcel or tract, the minimum lot area will be required per unit.

    minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (1/2 acre where central water or sewer is provided (note 4))

    “if central water or sewer is provided then the minimum lot size may be reduced to 1 / 2 acre.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family residential, RL residential low density zone, inside Paul city limits. Front 20 ft, rear 5 ft, interior side 5 ft, side street 20 ft.

    • Setbacks are measured from property lines unless a property line is in the center of the road or street, in which case from the road or street right of way.
    • Setbacks are measured to the wall of a structure with projections of 24 inches or less; for greater projections, to the projection.
    • Note 2: garage doors opening toward the rear alley require a 20 foot rear setback unless the alley-facing doors are permanently posted for no parking.
    • Note 6: side street setback may be reduced to 10 feet within city limits or platted subdivisions when the side street is not a front street for more than 50 percent of the lots in the block.
    • Note 7: interior side setbacks may be reduced to 1 foot for noncombustible detached carports that contain roof storm runoff on the same property.

    front setback: >= 20 feet · rear setback: >= 5 feet (20 feet where garage doors open toward the alley (note 2)) · interior side setback: >= 5 feet (1 foot for noncombustible detached carports (note 7)) · side street setback: >= 20 feet (10 feet within city limits or platted subdivisions in the case described in note 6)

    “rl 35 20 5 5 20 30 6,100 rm 35 20 5 5 20 40 3,000 rh 45 20 5 5 20 50 1,500”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Agricultural low, AL zone, inside Paul city limits. Front 30 ft, rear 5 ft, interior side 5 ft, side street 30 ft.
      “front and side street setbacks from streets located within an approved rural subdivision may be reduced to 20 feet from the applicable street right of way.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Agricultural low, AL zone, inside Paul city limits. Maximum lot coverage 30 percent.

    • Coverage is the schedule column 'maximum lot coverage (percent)'; the schedule does not define the calculation further on this page.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “al 35 30 5 5 30 30 1 acre 4 am 45 30 5 5 30 10 1 acre ah 45 30 5 5 30 10 1 acre”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Agricultural low, AL zone, inside Paul city limits. Maximum building height 35 feet.

    • Note 1 of the schedule: the height limit does not apply to silos, granaries, windmills and elevator legs.
    • AM and AH zones (agricultural medium and heavy) are listed at 45 feet in the same schedule and are not covered by this claim.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (silos, granaries, windmills and elevator legs (note 1))

    “al 35 30 5 5 30 30 1 acre 4 am 45 30 5 5 30 10 1 acre ah 45 30 5 5 30 10 1 acre”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Class A manufactured homes on a lot in the RL residential low density zone inside Paul city limits (schedule row 'manufactured home, class a').

    • Footnote 7: the applicable classes of manufactured homes are permitted, but may be subject to other ordinances adopted by governing body dealing with buildings or structures built outside of the jurisdiction.
    • Column assignment is inferred from the 11-column order of the published row; verify against the printed schedule.
    “manufactured home, class a p p p p 7 p 7 p 7 p 7 p 7 p 7 s p”

Rules another office applies inside Paul

Paul does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Permit processPartial

    Building and zoning permit routing for land inside Paul city limits.

    • Minidoka County serves as the building department for Paul, per the county page.
    • Zoning applications go through the city of Paul; the county page lists Paul city contacts.
    • Plumbing and electrical are handled by the State of Idaho, per the county page.
    • The county page does not state the permit fees, forms, or steps.
    “minidoka county serves as the building department for minidoka county and the cities of acequia, minidoka, paul and rupert.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Paul or Minidoka County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Paul city limits
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Paul city limits
  • Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Paul city limits
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Paul city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Paul city limits
13 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Paul publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Minidoka County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Minidoka County: county rules, score and offices