Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Boise, ID (2026)
4 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Boise, Idaho, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Specific Plans Overview
Boise replaced its decades-old zoning ordinance with a Modern Zoning Code effective December 2023, simplifying districts, allowing more housing types by right, and aligning with Blueprint Boise comprehensive-plan goals.
Boise Modern Zoning Code
Some RestrictionsDensity Bonus Law
Boise's Modern Zoning Code offers density and height bonuses for projects that include income-restricted units, particularly along priority transit and growth corridors identified in Blueprint Boise.
Affordable Housing Density Bonus
Few RestrictionsTransit-Oriented Communities (TOC)
The Modern Zoning Code creates mixed-use corridor districts along Valley Regional Transit's high-frequency routes, enabling four-to-six-story residential and mixed-use buildings near State Street, Vista, and Fairview.
Transit-Oriented Corridors
Few RestrictionsHillside Overlay Rules
Development on slopes above 15% in Boise's Foothills triggers the Hillside and Foothills overlays, which restrict cuts, fills, building footprints, and landscape choices to protect viewsheds, wildfire safety, and the Boise Foothills Conservation Easement.
Foothills Hillside Overlay
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Ada County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Boise city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Ada County →