Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Boise, ID (2026)
2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Boise, Idaho, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Boise makes it unlawful to obstruct, injure or impair any sidewalk, street or alley in the city under Boise City Code section 7-5-1, a rule broad enough to reach sitting, camping gear or anything else blocking pedestrian passage on a public walkway. The only carved-out exception is a City Clerk-permitted sidewalk cafe; violating the section is a misdemeanor under section 7-5-7.
Boise Sidewalk Obstruction Ban
Some RestrictionsBoise City Code § 7-5-1
It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct, injure or impair any of the sidewalks, streets or alleys in the City. This section shall not prohibit the operation of a sidewalk cafe pursuant to a permit issued by the City Clerk. (Ord. 19-19, 5-21-2019)
Encampment Sanitation
Boise makes it unlawful to camp or sleep on any public property, building grounds, road or right-of-way anywhere in the city under the Galloway Law, Boise City Code section 7-3A-1, adopted by Ordinance 24-25 in June 2025. Camping is broadly defined to include sitting, lying or sleeping for a prolonged period, and a violation is a civil infraction on the City's fee schedule.
Boise Bans Public Camping Citywide
Heavy RestrictionsBoise City Code § 7-3A-1
It shall be unlawful for any person to publicly camp or sleep on any public property, public building grounds, or public roads or rights-of-way; provided, that this section shall not prohibit the operation of a sidewalk cafe pursuant to a permit issued by the City Clerk or licensed under title 3, chapter 3 or 4 of this Code; nor shall it prohibit or prevent overnight camping for recreational or...
Looking for Ada County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Boise city rules.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Ada County →