Boise, ID Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Floor area cap
- 500 sq ft, no ZCR needed
- Employees allowed
- None without ZCR; 1 with ZCR
- Delivery hours
- 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon-Fri, 2/day
- Signage
- One 2 sq ft non-illuminated wall sign
- Residency
- Owner-operator must live on site
Summary
Boise caps home businesses at 500 sq ft and no outside employees before a Zoning Compliance Review is required.
A Home Occupation that is not prohibited by this Code is allowed if it complies with all the standards in Subsection (2) below.
(b) A Home Occupation that does not comply with all the criteria in Subsection (2) below requires filing of an application and approval of a Zoning Compliance Review pursuant to Subsection (3) below.
(c) More than one Home Occupation may be approved for the same property address provided that the combined activities and uses of the Home Occupations do not exceed the approval criteria in this Code. For example, the aggregate total of floor space devoted to one or more Home Occupations at a given address shall not exceed 500 square feet.
(2) Standards for Approval Without Issuance of Zoning Compliance Review:
(a) The use is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the lot or parcel for dwelling purposes.
(b) The use is conducted entirely within a dwelling or permitted accessory structure and the aggregate of all space within any or all buildings devoted to one or more Home Occupations shall not exceed 500 square feet in floor area.
(c) Outdoor storage of materials and supplies is prohibited.
(d) The owner and operator of the Home Occupation shall reside on the premises and shall not employ others to work in the home.
(e) Required off-street parking spaces for the residence shall be maintained.
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
Boise City Code § 11-03-03.2 lets a Home Occupation, Other operate without a permit if it stays incidental to the residence, fits within 500 sq ft of combined floor space across all home occupations at the address, bans outdoor storage, limits deliveries to two per day (8 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon-Fri), and requires the owner-operator to live on site and employ no one else. Exceeding those limits (up to one employee, one extra vehicle) requires a Zoning Compliance Review from the Planning Director under § 11-03-03.3. Retail stores, dispatch centers, taxidermy, and heavy equipment repair are flatly prohibited under § 11-03-03.4.
Violations & Fines
Operating outside these limits without an approved Zoning Compliance Review is a zoning code violation subject to City enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home business in Boise?
Can I have employees come to my home business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boise
How Boise compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Boise to another location·View the Idaho home business overview
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