Current Airbnb Laws and Regulations in Idaho- What Hosts Need to Know

New Statewide Standard for ID Short-Term Rental Hosts

Idaho HB 583 Introduces State-Wide Airbnb Laws for Idaho Hosts

Idaho Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 583 into law on March 16, 2026, establishing the broadest state-level preemption of local short-term rental regulations in the country. The law amends Section 67-6539 of the Idaho Code and takes effect July 1, 2026. It builds on Idaho’s 2017 law, which barred cities from outright banning STRs, by closing the loopholes that allowed local governments to impose permits, fees, density caps, and other restrictions that had the practical effect of making STRs unworkable in resort communities across the state.

• Definition of Short-Term Rental: Idaho law defines short-term rentals and vacation rentals as residential land use for all zoning and building code purposes. Under HB 583, they are specifically classified as “nontransient residential use,” which means they are treated the same as a long-term rental or single-family home for zoning purposes.
• Zoning: Cities and counties cannot zone STRs out of existence or restrict them in ways that do not apply equally to other residential uses. STRs are permitted wherever residential uses are permitted. Local governments may not impose caps on the number or proximity of short-term rentals in a jurisdiction.
• Licensing & Registration: Local governments may not require a license, fee, permit, certification, or registration to operate a short-term rental. Any existing city or county STR permit programs that conflict with the new law must be repealed or revised before July 1, 2026. Hosts who rent directly without using a platform must register with the Idaho State Tax Commission and comply with all applicable tax requirements independently.
• What Local Governments Can Still Require: Cities and counties retain authority to require the following, provided the same requirements apply equally to all residential properties: smoke alarms in every sleeping area, a fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector on each floor, removable escape ladders for sleeping areas above ground level, and occupancy limits tied to International Building Code standards. Local governments may not mandate structural modifications, additional parking beyond what applies to all residences, professional property management, additional insurance, sprinkler systems, fire safety inspections specific to STRs, or reporting of rental activity.
• What Local Governments Cannot Do: Under HB 583, no city or county in Idaho may: require a license, fee, permit or registration to operate an STR; impose owner-occupancy requirements; restrict the number of days a property can be rented; cap the number or density of STRs; require additional parking, insurance or structural upgrades beyond what applies to all homes; mandate reporting on rental activity; or impose taxes or fees specifically on the operation of an STR marketplace.
• Taxes: Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo must register with the Idaho State Tax Commission and are responsible for collecting and remitting applicable state and local taxes on all bookings they facilitate. Hosts using platforms have no separate state tax filing obligation for those bookings. Hosts who rent directly to guests without a platform must register and remit taxes independently. Local governments may still impose travel and convention taxes on STR stays. Local governments may not impose additional taxes or fees targeted specifically at STR marketplace operators.
• Noise, Parking & Nuisance: STR guests and operators remain subject to all city and county ordinances that apply to residential properties generally, including noise, parking, nuisance, curfew, and traffic regulations. These rules are enforceable as long as they apply equally to all residents and are not STR-specific.
• Enforcement & Penalties: Enforcement of noise, nuisance, and general residential ordinances remains with local governments. STR-specific penalties, fines, or permit revocations tied to rules that conflict with HB 583 are no longer permissible after July 1, 2026. Local governments that have existing ordinances in conflict with the new law are expected to review and revise them before the effective date.
• More Information: The full text of House Bill 583 is available on the Idaho State Legislature website. Hosts with questions about state tax registration for direct bookings can contact the Idaho State Tax Commission. The Idaho Vacation Rental Association has also published guidance on what the new law means for hosts and property managers.

Boise, Idaho Airbnb Laws

Boise Requires Liability Insurance for STRs 

Boise has recently updated short-term rental requirements in 2022 after much debate on how to best regulate rentals. As of May 1, 2022, short-term rental operators will be required to apply for and obtain a license. The city currently defines short-term rentals as single-family houses, units in a condominium or timeshare, or owner-occupied residential homes that are offered for less than thirty days. The new Airbnb laws and regulations also require safety equipment in rentals like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.  

When applying for a license, hosts must provide the following information:  

• On-site representative contact information  
• Address and type of rental  
• Rental marketplaces where the property is listed (list #s for all marketplaces)  
• Parking availability (on street/off-street)  
• Safety information including the # of:
  • Smoke detectors  
  • Carbon monoxide detector  
  • Fire extinguishers  
• Designate a local representative:
  • All short-term rental licensees must designate and maintain a local representative to respond to all license issues in a timely manner.   
  • The local representative must reside within 20 miles of city limits. Any short-term rental owners who reside outside the State of Idaho must maintain a local representative authorized to accept legal notices on the owner’s behalf.
• Proof of Liability Insurance 
• Proof of liability insurance must be uploaded to your application before a license may be issued  

According to the ordinance that was passed, insurance requirements are as follows: 

• Every short-term rental property licensed pursuant to this chapter shall continuously maintain liability insurance appropriate to cover the short-term rental use, including any necessary policy endorsements, with a limit of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or only conduct all short-term rental lodging transactions through a platform that provides equal or greater liability insurance coverage to cover the short-term rental use. 
•  Evidence Of Insurance: Every applicant shall tender to the City Clerk’s Office the certificates of insurance certifying that insurance of the types and in the amounts required by this chapter are always in full force and effect. (Ord. 7-22, 3-15-2022, eff. 5-1-2022)