Off-grid site report
Boundary County, ID
48.7255, -116.1090 · 2,494 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Boundary County, ID, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesBoundary County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedBoundary County has a countywide Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance covering all unincorporated land (adopted under the state Local Land Use Planning Act); it doesn't apply inside Bonners Ferry or Moyie Springs city limits. A parcel must conform to the ordinance before the county will issue a build permit, so check parcel zoning before buying. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyStatewide, RV and tiny-home placement/occupancy is set by local zoning, not a single state rule, but the specific Boundary County ordinance provisions on this were not confirmed in official text reviewed. Call Planning & Zoning to check the county's use tables directly. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe State of Idaho requires the Idaho Building Code, but Boundary County adds no extra restrictions and runs no additional local inspection program; the county describes its process as straightforward with lower fees than most places. A zoning/parcel check with Planning & Zoning before building is recommended. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedPanhandle Health District, a regional agency covering five northern Idaho counties including Boundary, issues septic permits, including a specific composting/incinerator toilet permit category. Permits are valid for a set period and owners must file an annual report to PHD. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo distinct Boundary County greywater ordinance was found; greywater appears to fall under Panhandle Health District's subsurface sewage disposal permitting alongside septic, following the state DEQ baseline. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Boundary County or Panhandle Health District page addressing residential rooftop rainwater collection was found; this is not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are permitted through the state Idaho Department of Water Resources; no distinct Boundary County well ordinance was found. Panhandle Health District's site evaluations factor in surface-water and aquifer-perimeter setbacks when reviewing septic and well siting together.
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedThe county's own zoning ordinance preface acknowledges that conventional services aren't always available in Boundary County and frames the ordinance around that rural reality; no explicit utility-connection mandate was found, with septic and well permitting serving as the practical checkpoints instead. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 1.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,165 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 20 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 52 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,833 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 11 to Sep 25
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Boundary Community Hospital - 9.8 mi
- Fire station
Paradise Valley Fire - Cow Creek Station - 7.4 mi
- Hardware store
Gambles - 20.6 mi
- Grocery
Yoder's Market - 8.8 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 83845).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Boundary County, ID?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.