The embodiments of the present invention disclose a CID (Compact Intracloud Discharge) positioning method and device. The method includes the following steps that: the signal amplitude, noise level, and waveform parameter of electromagnetic pulse signals generated by lightning are acquired; the discharge type of the electromagnetic pulse signals is determined according to a preset waveform parameter threshold, a preset parameter weight value and the waveform parameter; if the discharge type is determined as CID, the azimuth of the CID is calculated according to the magnetic declination of thegeographical position of an observation station and an induced voltage generated by the electromagnetic pulse signals in an orthogonal loop magnetic antenna; a horizontal distance and relative heightbetween the CID and the observation station are calculated according to transmission time for the electromagnetic pulse signals to be transmitted to the observation station from an Earth-ionosphere cavity; and the geographic location of the CID is determined according to the azimuth of the CID as well as the horizontal distance and relative height between the CID and the observation station. Withthe method and device adopted, the CID can be positioned by constructing the single observation station, and therefore, the construction cost and operation and maintenance difficulty of the observation station can be decreased.