Ada County, ID Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Ada County, ID, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- STR permit required
- No, barred by state law
- Conditional use permit
- Prohibited in residential zones
- Governing statute
- Idaho Code 67-6539
- County zoning code
- Ada County Title 8
- Unincorporated contact
- Ada County Development Services
Summary
Idaho law bars Ada County and its cities from requiring a short-term-rental permit or conditional use permit in a residential zone. STRs are treated as ordinary residential uses, so no special STR license is mandated countywide.
Neither a county nor a city shall enact or enforce any ordinance that has the express or practical effect of prohibiting any type of short-term rentals in the county or city.
Full Breakdown
Under Idaho Code 67-6539, no county or city may require a permit, license, or conditional use permit specifically because a home is used as a short-term rental. Ada County regulates unincorporated land through its Title 8 Zoning Code (adopted Jan. 2025) and Development Services, but STR use itself cannot be permit-gated beyond what applies to any dwelling. Cities such as Boise, Meridian and Eagle set their own rules within the same statutory limits. Standard building, safety and business-registration requirements that apply to all homes still apply. Confirm zone-specific rules with Ada County Development Services for unincorporated parcels.
Violations & Fines
No STR-specific permit exists to violate; enforcement is via the applicable zoning, nuisance, noise and building codes that apply to all dwellings, handled by Development Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in unincorporated Ada County?
Can a city inside Ada County require a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ada County
How Ada County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Ada County to another location·View the Idaho short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.