Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-05
1 of Idaho's 44 counties — 2% — allow living in an RV on private land. That is the 25th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Elmore County (55/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 456 counties nationwide → Idaho: no building codes → Idaho: owner-builder → Idaho: tiny homes → Idaho: no minimum home size → Full Idaho profile →
From the Idaho guide
Idaho has recorded RV answers for 19 counties and no county-level answer for 25, but some recorded answers concern public camping, street parking or RV parks rather than residential use of a private parcel.6 We could not confirm statewide permission for long-term RV occupancy on private land; ask the county planning office about the proposed address, duration and wastewater arrangement. Elmore County has an allowed RV answer with conditions, while Bannock County has a temporary-only answer tied to specified circumstances.6 Use the Idaho RV-living county list to reach the local details.
Tiny-home answers cover 12 counties: 2 allow qualifying uses and 10 have limited answers; the remaining 32 have no county-level answer.7 Idaho County and Valley County have allowed answers subject to applicable rules, including Valley County’s code and permitting conditions.7 Compare the tiny-home county list and the minimum-home-size list, then ask the local building and planning offices how the proposed structure is classified.
From the Idaho guide, written from the cited official sources and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: confirm with the office before you buy or build.
1 of 44 Idaho counties · sorted by Index score
Permanent living in an RV, converted vehicle, or converted shed on land regulated by Elmore County. Permanent RV/CV living is defined as actively living in an RV/CV for more tha…
Living in Recreational Vehicles (RVs) or Converted Vehicles (CV) or Converted Sheds (CS) ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Idaho state page for all 44 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Idaho counties? The kit we'd start with:
These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
