Caldwell, ID Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

There is no primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement for short-term rentals in Caldwell, and the city is barred from adopting one. Idaho Code 67-6539 classifies short-term and vacation rentals as a residential land use and prohibits ordinances that have the practical effect of prohibiting them. House Bill 583, signed March 16, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, goes further by expressly prohibiting cities and counties from imposing owner-occupancy requirements, meaning Caldwell cannot require that an STR be the host's primary or full-time residence. As a result, both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied (investor) short-term rentals are permitted on the same footing in residential zones, so long as the dwelling complies with generally applicable building, fire, and nuisance standards. This is a notably permissive posture compared with cities in other states that limit STRs to a host's primary home; in Idaho, and therefore in Caldwell, that kind of restriction is not allowed. Operators do not need to prove residency, homestead status, or days of personal occupancy to run a short-term rental. The property is regulated as a residence regardless of whether the owner lives there.