Ada County, ID Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Primary-residence rule
- Prohibited by state law
- Owner occupancy
- Cannot be required
- Investment STRs
- Allowed
- Statute
- Idaho Code 67-6539(2)(a)(i)
- Applies to
- County and all cities
Summary
Ada County cannot limit short-term rentals to owners' primary residences. Idaho Code 67-6539 expressly bars requiring owner occupation for any amount of time, so non-owner-occupied and investment STRs are allowed.
Requiring owner occupation for any amount of time.
Full Breakdown
Idaho Code 67-6539(2)(a)(i) forbids 'requiring owner occupation for any amount of time' as an STR-specific restriction. That means neither Ada County nor any Idaho city may require an STR to be the host's primary residence or otherwise be owner-occupied. Investment properties and second homes may be rented short-term the same as any dwelling, subject only to generally applicable residential, zoning, safety and tax rules. This preemption applies statewide, so cities inside Ada County cannot add a primary-residence rule either.
Violations & Fines
No primary-residence rule exists to enforce; STRs remain subject only to the generally applicable zoning, safety, nuisance and tax rules that apply to all dwellings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run an STR that isn't my home?
Could a city inside Ada County require owner occupancy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ada County
Compare Ada County to another location·View the Idaho short-term rentals overview
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