Short-term rentals now allowed in Idaho Falls

Short-term rentals are now allowed in Idaho Falls. After the city council unanimously passed an ordinance Thursday night.

The city went through a long public hearing process that started in January. The final public hearing was held Thursday.

The ordinance allows short-term rentals anywhere where there is a residential dwelling in the city. However, there are a couple of restrictions.

“We restrict that it has to be within a habitable structure. So, you can’t rent out your garage or your shed that wasn’t built for human habitation. And then the only other real restriction is just renting to one guest booking at a time,” said Kerry Beutler, Idaho Falls assistant planning director.

The one -guest-at-a-time restriction refers to the number of parties booking the space. If a home has several bedrooms that can be rented out, the owner can rent to only one family, or one booking, at a time.

The ordinance went into effect after it was passed Thursday night.