(Bannock County Press Release, October 6, 2026; Cover photo credit: Bannock County)
BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho – Bannock County residents will soon have the opportunity to participate in upcoming public hearings regarding a proposed update to the county’s land use regulations.
The proposed draft consolidates eight existing county land-use codes into a single, updated document titled the Land Use & Development Ordinance (LUDO). The effort aims to eliminate overlapping regulations, clarify planning procedures, and update land-use requirements. The proposed ordinance applies strictly to unincorporated areas of Bannock County and does not impact municipal building or zoning codes within city limits.
“We’ve spent several years going line by line to clean up decades of outdated land-use rules,” said Tristan Bourquin, Assistant Planning Director for Bannock County. “When property owners come into our office, they shouldn’t have to dig through eight different books just to figure out what they can do with their land. Making these rules clear, fair, and easy to follow is really what drove this whole effort.”
In addition to consolidating current code sections, key proposed changes in the LUDO draft include:
- Adjusting minimum lot size requirements in certain zones to align with their intended use.
- Removing open space requirements to allow property owners full use of their land.
- Transitioning from the Minor Land Division process to a Short Plat framework, requiring staff review and final approval by the Board of Commissioners to establish legally recorded divisions.
- Moving from an outright prohibition on large-scale solar, wind, and nuclear energy to a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process, which requires public hearings and strict safeguards.
Residents are invited to review the complete draft text and share their input. To ensure an efficient and fairprocess, public comment is limited to one submission per person per hearing—either through advance written comment or three minutes of in-person testimony. Additionally, written comments gathered during the County’s July 2026 public comment period have already been submitted into the official record for the Planning & Development Council’s review, so those contributors will not need to re-submit testimony for the October 29 hearing.
Planning & Development Council Hearing
- Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Chubbuck City Hall, Council Chambers (290 E. Linden Ave., Chubbuck)
- The Advisory Council will review the draft, accept public testimony, and issue a formal recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.
- Written testimony of less than two pages must be received by the Planning & Development Office by Oct. 21, 2026. Comments can be emailed to development@bannockcounty.gov or mailed to Planning & Development Services, 5500 S 5th Avenue, Pocatello ID 83204.
Board of County Commissioners Hearing
- Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Bannock County Courthouse, Room 119 (624 E. Center St., Pocatello)
- The Board will review the ordinance draft and Council recommendation, accept public testimony, and evaluate the draft for potential adoption, revision, or denial.
- Written testimony must be received by the Board by 5 p.m. Nov. 17,2026. Comments can be emailed to commission@bannockcounty.gov or mailed to Bannock County Commissioners, 624 E Center Street, Room 101, Pocatello ID 83201.
Full text of the proposed LUDO and more information is available at bannockcounty.gov/ourfuture.
