Bonners Ferry City Zoning Code

   Zoning districts are hereby established for all real property lying within the corporate city limits of Bonners Ferry. The official zoning map adopted by the city creates the zoning district boundaries and zones, rezones, and re-establishes zoning district classifications and the boundaries for each zoning district for all real property lying within the city. The regulations established by this title for each district shall be the minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land use, as set forth by this title. The zoning district descriptions and map symbols are established as follows.

(Ord. 621, 5-20-2025)

 

(Ord. 621, 5-20-2025)

   A.   Residential A (RES-A) Residential Single-Family. Purpose: The purpose of this zone is to provide for single-family residences, accessory dwelling units, residential accessory structures, home occupations, and other uses and structures generally associated with moderate- to larger-sized residential lots, consistent with the specific standards of this title. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as Residential Single-Family on the city's adopted comprehensive plan future land use map. The following general standards shall apply to the Residential A zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Residential A:

 

 

   B.   Residential B (RES-B) Residential Low Density. Purpose: The purpose of this zone is to provide for single- and two-family residences, accessory dwelling units, residential accessory structures, and home occupations. Opportunities for townhomes and cottage housing developments that are appropriately scaled for the neighborhood are provided, subject to the specific standards of this title for these uses. Public and community uses could include schools, churches, and public utility services. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as Residential Low Density on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map. The following general standards shall apply to the Residential B zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Residential B:

 

 

      2.   Specific Standards. The Residential B zone:

         a.   Permits the keeping of up to twelve (12) chickens (hens only) and up to six (6) rabbits, regardless of acreage. The buildings or enclosures for housing such animals and housekeeping measures shall meet the sanitary standards of section 5-3A-6 of city code.

         b.   Prohibits the keeping of roosters and any other domestic livestock or poultry other than those listed in subsection 11-4-3 B2a.

   C.   Residential AB (RES-AB) Residential Medium Density. Purpose: The purpose of this zone is to provide a variety of housing options, appropriately scaled for the neighborhoods, to include one- and two-family residences, accessory dwelling units, accessory residential structures, townhomes, smaller-scaled multi-family residences, cottage-style housing, and townhomes, subject to the specific standards of this title. Included in this district are opportunities for home occupations, schools, churches, parks, assisted living facilities, and public service utilities. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as Residential Medium Density or Neighborhood Transition on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map. Those areas designated on the adopted comprehensive plan as Neighborhood Transition have opportunities for certain commercial-like uses as specified in this title. The Neighborhood Transition also indicates an opportunity for future growth and rezoning of lands as the city grows and transitions toward more intense land uses. The following general standards shall apply to the Residential AB zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Residential AB:

 

 

   D.   Mixed Use (MX) Purpose: This zone provides for a variety of housing options, small-scale, low-impact retail, dining, and entertainment uses, public recreational and gathering amenities, parks, public utilities, and churches. This zone is designed to encourage the development of mixed use and public and recreational amenities through the planned unit development concept. Incentives for clustered, more intense development and a wider array of uses are offered through the mixed use planned unit development approach. In return, the city requires walkable and bikeable public streets, corridors to recreational opportunities, public gathering places, and other amenities to be created as part of the planned unit development. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as Masterplan Mixed Use on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map. The following general standards shall apply to the Mixed Use zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Mixed Use:

 

 

      2.   Mixed Use Planned Unit Development: This zone allows an administrative site plan review of a proposed mixed use planned unit development, subject to the application requirements and procedures of Chapter 12 of this title.

      3.   Mixed-Use Opportunities And Variations: A mixed-use planned unit development that meets the minimum standards of Chapter 12 shall be allowed to vary from the zoning standards, including setbacks, density, parking, lot sizes, and coverage, subject to the review and approval set forth at the mixed-use PUD section of chapter 12.

   E.   Commercial (C) Purpose: The purpose of this zone is to provide for a wide variety of commercial, large- and small-scale retail, general service, professional office, housing, mixed commercial and housing structures, dining, and entertainment. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as General Commercial & Mixed Use and Neighborhood Transition on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map. The following general standards apply to this zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Commercial:

 

 

   F.   Downtown (D) Purpose: The purpose of this zone is to provide for uses in the city's downtown core, to include small-scale retail and general service uses, entertainment, eating and drinking establishments, residential apartments and dwellings above the ground floor, small instructional/educational uses, public gathering and parking spaces. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as Downtown on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map. The following general standards apply to this zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Downtown:

 

 

   G.   Medical (M) Purpose: The purpose of this zone is to provide a variety of medical, health care, emergency services, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and residential care facilities. Uses may include residential opportunities to support the medical community to include one- and two-family residences, cottage-style housing, and townhomes. Parks, churches, and public service utilities may be considered in this district. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as Medical Commercial on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map. The following general standards apply to this zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Medical:

 

 

   H.   Light Industrial (LI) Purpose: The purpose of this zone is to provide for light-and medium-industrial uses, warehouses, public utilities, fairgrounds, and parks. Residential uses are prohibited. This zoning district is generally appropriate for lands designated as Industrial & Public on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map or where mapped Neighborhood Transition and adjoins the Industrial mapped area on the future land use map. The following general standards apply to this zone:

      1.   General Standards Table For Light Industrial:

 

 

(Ord. 621, 5-20-2025)

   A.   Map Adopted: The official zoning map is made a part of this title by reference and shall be signed by the mayor and clerk upon adoption and shall be kept on file with the city clerk as the official record of the city. The official map shall constitute legal evidence of the existing zoning districts within the city.

   B.   Districts: The districts established in section 11-4-1 and 11-4-2 of this chapter are shown on the official zoning map, as now existing or as may hereafter be amended, together with all explanatory material thereon, are hereby incorporated into this title as if set forth in full within this title.

   C.   Boundaries Of Districts: Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any of the zoning districts as shown on the official zoning map, the following shall apply:

      1.   Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately following the centerline of street lines, highway right-of-way lines, streams, lakes or other bodies of water, the centerline shall be construed to be such boundary;

      2.   Where district boundaries are indicated that they approximately follow the lot lines, such lot lines shall be construed to be said boundaries; and

      3.   Where district boundaries indicate a single lot or parcel is split by two (2) or more different zones, the zone assigned to the majority of the lot or parcel shall be considered the effective zone.

   D.   Amendments. Any amendments to the official zoning map approved in accord with this title shall be noted by the city on the official zoning map.

   E.   Replacement Map: The City Council may adopt by resolution a replacement official zoning map if the official map:

      1.   Is difficult to read due to multiple noted zoning amendments;

      2.   Contains outdated mapping technology, aerial or parcel information;

      3.   Is lost, damaged, or destroyed; or

      4.   Contains drafting errors.

   F.   A replacement map shall not be used to amend any zoning district boundaries approved by the city council.

(Ord. 621, 5-20-2025)

   Appendix A provides the official schedule of zoning district uses and is based upon the following:

   A.   Determining Uses: To determine in which district a specific use is allowed:

   B.   Find the use within the use table in appendix A of this title; and

   C.   Read across the chart's row and find where the use intersects the applicable zoning district.

   D.   Determine whether a "P", "S" "(blank)", or "asterisks," appear in the district column the property is located; and

   E.   Apply the follow rule to the use:

      1.   "P" means the use is a permitted use;

      2.   "S" means the use is only allowed upon the issuance of a special use permit;

      3.   A blank cell means the use is not allowed;

      4.   An asterisk means a site plan review is required;

      5.   A double asterisk means only allowed where the site is mapped as Transition on the adopted future land use map (comprehensive plan map).

(Ord. 621, 5-20-2025)

   Classification Of New Uses Within Zone Districts: New or unanticipated types of land uses may be proposed within the city. In order to provide for such changes and contingencies, when a use is proposed that is not listed as a permitted, special or prohibited use in a zone district, the administrator shall make a determination that:

   A.   The use falls within the same standard classification pursuant to the North American Industry Classification System, as amended, modified or superseded, as a listed permitted or conditional use in a current zone district and that it may be processed in the same fashion as the listed use; or

   B.   The use does not fall within the same standard classification pursuant to the North American Industry Classification System, as amended, modified or superseded, as a listed permitted or conditional use in a particular zone district, and thus is a prohibited use in that district; or

   C.   The use is unique in nature and an amendment to this title is necessary in order to allow for its placement within the appropriate zone district.

(Ord. 621, 5-20-2025)