Homesteading in Idaho
Explore 44 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in Idaho.
Idaho uses a Prior Appropriation water rights system , allows county-level building code enforcement , and has constitutional carry. The effective property tax rate is 0.63%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Prior Appropriation
Strict prior appropriation system. All water rights must be acquired through the Department of Water Resources permit process.
Statute: Idaho Code § 42-101 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: No (county-level)
No mandatory statewide residential building code for unincorporated areas. Cities with building departments enforce locally adopted codes.
Statute: Idaho Code § 39-4109
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: Yes
Permitless concealed carry for Idaho residents 18 and older. Open carry legal without a permit.
Statute: Idaho Code § 18-3302; Idaho Code § 18-3302K
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from nuisance claims when the operation was not a nuisance at inception. Coming to the nuisance provisions protect farms from complaints by new neighbors.
Statute: Idaho Code § 22-4501 et seq.
Counties in Idaho
44 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada County | 497,494 | $423,500 | $2,504 | 73 | Relatively Moderate |
| Adams County | 4,464 | $284,300 | $1,262 | 68 | Very Low |
| Bannock County | 87,434 | $233,500 | $1,843 | 76 | Relatively Low |
| Bear Lake County | 6,436 | $194,700 | $994 | 77 | Very Low |
| Benewah County | 9,731 | $241,700 | $1,380 | 59 | Very Low |
| Bingham County | 48,253 | $230,500 | $1,298 | 74 | Relatively Low |
| Blaine County | 24,248 | $558,600 | $2,319 | 73 | Relatively Low |
| Boise County | 7,809 | $369,300 | $1,544 | 71 | Relatively Low |
| Bonner County | 47,976 | $378,200 | $1,568 | 56 | Relatively Low |
| Bonneville County | 124,490 | $288,300 | $1,691 | 73 | Relatively Moderate |
| Boundary County | 12,335 | $318,600 | $1,411 | 54 | Very Low |
| Butte County | 2,605 | $194,700 | $998 | 72 | Very Low |
| Camas County | 1,133 | $225,000 | $1,210 | 73 | Very Low |
| Canyon County | 235,006 | $306,200 | $1,879 | 72 | Relatively Low |
| Caribou County | 7,058 | $204,400 | $1,320 | 76 | Very Low |
| Cassia County | 24,859 | $227,100 | $1,091 | 77 | Relatively Low |
| Clark County | 756 | $172,500 | $686 | 70 | Very Low |
| Clearwater County | 8,810 | $213,000 | $1,393 | 62 | Relatively Low |
| Custer County | 4,344 | $282,000 | $946 | 70 | Relatively Low |
| Elmore County | 28,752 | $235,200 | $1,495 | 73 | Relatively Low |
| Franklin County | 14,376 | $269,100 | $1,453 | 78 | Very Low |
| Fremont County | 13,519 | $243,700 | $1,274 | 70 | Very Low |
| Gem County | 19,250 | $324,700 | $1,374 | 71 | Very Low |
| Gooding County | 15,520 | $197,800 | $1,072 | 75 | Very Low |
| Idaho County | 16,787 | $258,900 | $929 | 65 | Relatively Low |
| Jefferson County | 31,383 | $284,700 | $1,596 | 72 | Very Low |
| Jerome County | 24,474 | $234,300 | $1,468 | 76 | Very Low |
| Kootenai County | 173,396 | $407,000 | $2,022 | 58 | Relatively Low |
| Latah County | 39,872 | $309,300 | $2,147 | 61 | Very Low |
| Lemhi County | 8,043 | $254,800 | $1,091 | 68 | Very Low |
| Lewis County | 3,630 | $184,800 | $1,295 | 63 | Very Low |
| Lincoln County | 5,203 | $183,400 | $974 | 75 | Very Low |
| Madison County | 52,487 | $324,300 | $1,729 | 72 | Relatively Low |
| Minidoka County | 21,626 | $198,400 | $1,091 | 75 | Very Low |
| Nez Perce County | 42,200 | $259,600 | $2,127 | 63 | Very Low |
| Oneida County | 4,572 | $226,000 | $1,149 | 78 | Very Low |
| Owyhee County | 12,043 | $247,200 | $1,232 | 76 | Relatively Low |
| Payette County | 25,571 | $265,500 | $1,323 | 71 | Very Low |
| Power County | 7,918 | $174,200 | $1,526 | 76 | Very Low |
| Shoshone County | 13,399 | $183,200 | $1,236 | 59 | Relatively Low |
| Teton County | 11,813 | $479,800 | $1,985 | 72 | Very Low |
| Twin Falls County | 90,592 | $262,200 | $1,829 | 77 | Relatively Low |
| Valley County | 11,830 | $471,000 | $1,672 | 68 | Relatively Low |
| Washington County | 10,612 | $212,000 | $1,338 | 70 | Very Low |
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