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

Boise, Idaho

Requires Liability Insurance 

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)