Boise, ID Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in Boise, ID, covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds, determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Key Facts
- Max size
- 400 square feet
- Allowed use
- Accessory to single-family home only
- Unit cap per lot
- 2 total ADUs/THOWs combined
- Power source
- Generators prohibited
- Certification
- NOAH+ standard required before occupancy
Summary
Boise allows a tiny home on wheels as an accessory unit to a single-family home, capped at 400 square feet and subject to permitted utility hookups.
P. Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW): (1) Maximum density standards shall not apply to THOW. (2) THOW are permitted only as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling (attached or detached). (3) A lot or parcel may contain up to two accessory residential units in any combination of ADUs or tiny homes on wheels (THOW). (4) The THOW structure shall be no larger than 400 square feet in size. (5) A THOW shall not be used as a Short-Term Rental as defined by Title 3 Chapter 22 Section 5 of Boise City Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-31: Code current through: Ord. 20-26, passed 6-9-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Boise City Code § 11-03-03.2.P, a Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) is allowed only as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling and cannot exceed 400 square feet. A lot can hold up to two accessory residential units total, counting any combination of ADUs and THOWs. Each THOW must connect to central water and the municipal sewer system through the primary residence's line, with all water, electrical, and sewer permits obtained and inspected before anyone occupies it. Generators are banned as a power source, and the unit must be NOAH+ certified (or meet another city-approved standard) before occupancy. It also can't be used as a short-term rental.
Violations & Fines
Occupying a THOW without a NOAH+ certification on file, exceeding two accessory residential units, running it on a generator, or renting it short-term can draw code enforcement action and required corrections before occupancy is allowed to continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a tiny home on wheels on any lot in Boise?
Can I rent out my Boise THOW on Airbnb?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boise
Compare Boise to another location·View the Idaho accessory structures overview
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