Boise requires every short-term rental (any dwelling rented for 30 days or less) to obtain an annual license from the City Clerk under Boise City Code Title 3, Chapter 22. The license fee is $85 plus a $2.00 processing fee, and operators must designate a local representative who lives within 20 miles of the city limits.
Boise's short-term rental ordinance is codified in Boise City Code Title 3 (Licenses & Permits), Chapter 22, originally adopted in 2017 and substantially revised effective May 2022. Section 3-22-5 defines a short-term rental as a dwelling unit, or any portion thereof, offered for a fee for overnight lodging for thirty (30) days or less. Section 3-22-6 makes a license mandatory and non-transferable; Section 3-22-7 governs the application. The City Clerk's Office issues the license for $85 per year plus a $2.00 processing fee and renews it annually online. Applicants must provide owner and on-site representative contacts, the property address and rental type, marketplace listing numbers (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.), parking availability, smoke/CO detector and fire-extinguisher counts, and proof of liability insurance with coverage dates, limits, and deductibles. The local representative must reside within 20 miles of the city limits and be reachable for complaints. Idaho Code Section 63-1808 (HB 216, 2017) preempts cities from prohibiting STRs but expressly permits registration and general-welfare regulation. Confirm any 2026 changes with the City Clerk at (208) 972-8150 because Idaho HB 583 (signed March 2026) further preempts local STR licensing effective July 1, 2026.
Operating an STR without a current Boise license, failing to designate a qualifying local representative, or omitting required insurance and safety information violates Title 3, Chapter 22 and can result in license denial, revocation, and code-enforcement penalties through the City Clerk's Office.
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