What does RE zoning mean in Pocatello?

RE is Residential Estate, Pocatello's large-lot single-family district, designed primarily for detached single-family homes and explicitly permitting accessory dwelling units.

How do I find the zoning for a parcel in Pocatello?

Use the City of Pocatello's GIS zoning map or contact the Planning Division; zoning districts are established under Title 17 of the municipal code.

Why is there more R-3 multifamily zoning near Idaho State University?

Neighborhoods adjacent to campus carry more R-3 (Multiple-Family Residential) zoning to accommodate student housing demand, compared to the single-family R-1 zoning that predominates elsewhere in the city.

Pocatello, Idaho · city zoning districts · 14 districts

Pocatello, ID zoning map & districts

Pocatello, southeastern Idaho's university and rail city, zones under Title 17 of its municipal code (the Pocatello Zoning Ordinance), administered by the city's Planning Division. Residential districts run from large-lot Residential Estate (RE), which is designed primarily to accommodate detached single-family dwellings and permits accessory dwelling units, through numbered single-family and multifamily districts (R-1 through R-3).

The code Pocatello Zoning Ordinance (Pocatello Municipal Code, Title 17)

Pocatello zoning map

The Pocatello Planning Division publishes the zoning ordinance (Municipal Code Title 17) and zoning maps; parcel zoning is confirmed via the city's GIS zoning map or by contacting Planning directly.

There is no link to the official map here yet — confirm current district boundaries directly with the Pocatello planning or zoning department.

A published summary is never the authority. The adopted ordinance and the city's official zoning map govern, and both change — verify the district and every standard on your parcel before you rely on it.

How zoning works in Pocatello

Commercial zoning follows a standard three-tier hierarchy (C-1, C-2, C-3) from neighborhood-scale to downtown/central commercial, and industrial development is split between light (M-1) and heavy (M-2) districts. Idaho State University's presence shapes development patterns in neighborhoods adjacent to campus, where multifamily R-3 zoning is more prevalent to serve student housing demand.

Pocatello zoning districts by family

The 14 district codes below are the ones that decide most projects in Pocatello, grouped by what they are for rather than by the order the ordinance prints them.

Key districts in the Pocatello Zoning Ordinance (Pocatello Municipal Code, Title 17) — a curated reference, not the exhaustive list. Confirm against the current adopted code.
Code	District	What it is for
Residential 5 districts
RE	Residential Estate	Large-lot single-family district.
RL	Residential Low Density	Current code; the old 'R-1' numbered label no longer exists in city zoning.
RMS	Residential Medium Density Single Family	Current code; replaces the old 'R-2' label.
RMM	Residential Medium Density Multi Family	Multifamily apartment development; replaces the old 'R-3' label.
RH	Residential High Density	Highest-density residential district.
Mixed-use 1 district
RCP	Residential Commercial Professional	Office/commercial transition district.
Commercial 2 districts
OP	Office Park	Standalone office park development.
CG	Commercial General	General commercial corridor district; replaces the old 'C-2' label.
Downtown / core 1 district
CC	Central Commercial	Pocatello's downtown commercial core; replaces the old 'C-3' label.
Industrial 2 districts
LI	Light Industrial	Light industrial and warehouse uses.
I	Industrial	General/heavy industrial uses; replaces the old 'M-2' label.
Special purpose 3 districts
A	Airport	Airport-related land use district; was missing from prior list.
U	University	Idaho State University campus district.
PLF	Public Land Facility	Public and institutional facilities; was missing from prior list.

Pocatello zoning — common questions

What does RE zoning mean in Pocatello?: RE is Residential Estate, Pocatello's large-lot single-family district, designed primarily for detached single-family homes and explicitly permitting accessory dwelling units.
How do I find the zoning for a parcel in Pocatello?: Use the City of Pocatello's GIS zoning map or contact the Planning Division; zoning districts are established under Title 17 of the municipal code.
Why is there more R-3 multifamily zoning near Idaho State University?: Neighborhoods adjacent to campus carry more R-3 (Multiple-Family Residential) zoning to accommodate student housing demand, compared to the single-family R-1 zoning that predominates elsewhere in the city.

Working in Idaho? Get on the list.

The parcel layer lands in the order demand does. Illinois went first because that's where the deals were; the next state is decided by who tells us what they're trying to underwrite. Tell us where you're building and what you wanted to run — you'll hear from us when Idaho opens, and sooner if we need a test parcel.

Keep reading

← Idaho zoning — who holds the zoning power in Idaho, under which enabling statute, and the reforms that override local rules.

Other Idaho cities

The zoning reference → — every state, plus city-level district guides like this one.

Pocatello zoning summaries on this page are provided for information, not legal advice. Confirm every project against the current adopted code for the jurisdiction.