FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Does my property fall within the limits of the City of Sandpoint?
Property that lies generally east of Chuck
Slough and the Union Pacific Railroad, south
of the Bonner County Fairgrounds, west of
Sand Creek and Lake Pend Oreille and north
of the Pend Oreille River are likely within
the City's boundaries. The Planning
Department can only provide zoning
information for properties within our
boundaries. Property outside of the
City may fall under the authority of Bonner
County or one of our neighboring cities.
Click
here if you have the parcel number
assigned to your property by the County
available to see who you need to contact.
Still not sure? Give us a call or contact us by e-mail and we would be happy to help.
Q. Does the City have zoning requirements? Yes. The City is divided up into many different zoning categories, each with its own set of requirements. Whether you are remodeling a structure, building a new one or adding on to an existing structure you should check in with us to make sure you meet requirements. When you contact us be sure to have either a legal description of the property, tax parcel number, or address. This will help us find the property quickly and give you the information you need.
Click
on the tab in the top menu to go to City Code. Click
here to access some general zoning information.
Q. Does the City require building permits? Yes. The City requires building permits for most types of construction within our boundaries. The City has a fully functioning building department with a full-time building inspector. For more information, contact the Building Department at 263-3407.
Construction of new or additions to existing
multi-family or nonresidential structures
require additional review through the Site
Plan Review process before a building permit
can be issued.
Q. Do I need a permit for a commercial sign? A sign permit is required anytime you want to
erect, construct, reconstruct, or alter any sign,
or to allow the use of a portable sign or
banner. Certain size and location
restrictions apply. Review of permit requests are done by administrative staff and usually can be issued in a week or less. You can contact us if you need a permit or have questions about what types of signs are allowed.
Q. Does the City require business licenses? The City requires registration of all businesses
(including home businesses). Please click on "Business Registration
Application" under the New Business tab in
the top menu for a copy of the registration form. Annual registration fee is $25. Additional licenses are also required for pawn shops, taxi cab operations, tourist homes, and for any business selling beer, wine or alcohol. For information regarding these licenses, please call the City Clerk's office at 263-3317.
Q. How do I find my property line? The best way to determine the location of your property lines is to have the property professionally surveyed. However, before hiring a surveyor check around property corners to see if any stakes or pins are in the ground. If you find pins or stakes they most often delineate the corners of your property. If no pins exist and you haven't hired a surveyor, you can visit the Bonner County Assessors office which maintains copies of property maps including the size of property and surrounding lots.
Do not assume that fence lines and street curbs follow property lines. |
|
