Zoning 101

1. What is Zoning?

Zoning is a set of ordinances that dictate how land can be used in a city or, simply put, what can go where. It determines the look and feel of changes and developments and offers other requirements for construction. 

2. Why Rewrite the Zoning Code?

Boise’s current zoning code was created in the 1960s to exclude certain types of homes from being built in neighborhoods. Many of the historic neighborhoods in Boise that we know and love were built prior to our current exclusionary zoning code. The status quo that so many of us are frustrated with (increasing traffic and congestion, inversions, skyrocketing rent) was created under our outdated zoning code. An updated code - inspired by early Boise - aims to help us be a sustainable, affordable modern city.

3. What Changes are Being Proposed?

The process to rewrite the zoning code has been years in the making, taking in feedback from residents all across the city. The new zoning code would incentivize affordable, sustainable development along our major transit corridors (like State Street, Vista, and Fairview) while also legalizing the kind of small-scale, missing middle housing (like ADUs, triplexes, bungalow courts) that was outlawed by our current 1960s zoning code. The new code would also legalize small neighborhood businesses, like coffee shops and restaurants, making the kind of development we see in Hyde Park or Bown Crossing within reach for more neighborhoods.

Get the facts about Boise’s Modern Zoning Code

  • Taking on dozens of community conversations, contact with over 150,000 residents, and building on the vision created in Blueprint Boise, the Modern Zoning Code has been created with feedback from the public from the beginning.

  • For small-scale homes like ADUs up to fourplexes, the new zoning code removes red tape and bureaucracy allowing for these types of homes to come online sooner. For large-scale projects, there will now be a mandatory neighborhood meeting at the start of new projects to get feedback to developers earlier in the process.

  • Existing neighborhoods won’t see a lot of change. The Modern Zoning Code will allow for more homes along key transit corridors to put housing closer to amenities and public transportation. You can see a map of the proposed changes here.

  • Under our old zoning code, only the big developers with the largest projects could navigate the system. Now the process will be more straightforward and predictable and will allow developments to move more quickly in exchange for affordability and sustainability improvements.

  • The City has an upgraded, modernized, real-time system for tracking new developments called the Community Development Tracker. This new tool allows neighbors to know immediately what’s going on in their neighborhood and subscribe for updates in their area.

  • The people opposed to the Modern Zoning Code have presented all kinds of misleading claims about demolition and high-rise buildings in your neighborhood. Our existing exclusionary zoning code has contributed to our current affordability crisis. We need more kinds of homes for all kinds of people. The Modern Zoning Code will help make the kinds of small-scale, people-sized homes we need.