What are the Specific Plan districts?

Numbered districts covering master-planned areas, with the first covering roughly 1,284 acres. Where they apply, the specific plan governs rather than the citywide district standards.

How much industrial land does Boise have?

Light Industrial covers roughly 9,726 acres, the second largest district in the city, with an industrial technology district at about 1,530 acres and heavy industrial at roughly 940.

Boise Zoning Intelligence

Zoning, permitted uses, and development potential for Boise, Idaho. 22 districts with their permitted uses and building controls.

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City Context

How is Boise zoned?

Boise regulates land through 22 zoning districts, and the framework is unusually legible for a city of its size. Residential districts are named by character rather than by number alone: Residential Large Lot, Residential Suburban, Residential Traditional, Residential Compact and Residential Urban. Residential Traditional is the largest district in the city at roughly 15,429 acres.

Naming the traditional district as the dominant one, rather than a suburban or large lot category, is a meaningful signal about the fabric the city considers standard.

The mixed use family is comprehensive and organised by role: neighborhood, general, active, transit oriented development node, downtown, university and health. Mixed Use Active covers roughly 2,611 acres, making it the seventh largest district in the city, and Mixed Use Downtown covers about 699. Having dedicated university and health mixed use districts is uncommon and reflects two significant institutional anchors.

Open land is handled through two districts, a very low density district at roughly 7,571 acres and a reserve district at about 1,572, together marking the foothills and undeveloped land.

Specific Plan districts are numbered and cover master-planned areas, with the first covering roughly 1,284 acres. Industrial runs light at roughly 9,726 acres, heavy at about 940, and an industrial technology district at roughly 1,530. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.

Zoning Districts

Boise, Idaho Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?

Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type. Boise's ordinance does not state permitted uses as citywide flags, so they are read from each district's own table rather than summarised here.

Zone Code	Zone Type	Area
R-1C Residential Traditional	-	15,429.2 ac
I-1 Light Industrial	-	9,726.2 ac
A-1 Open Land Very Low Density	-	7,571.5 ac
R-1B Residential Suburban	-	3,466.3 ac
R-2 Residential Compact	-	3,163.5 ac
R-1A Residential Large Lot	-	2,900 ac
MX-3 Mixed Use Active	-	2,610.8 ac
A-2 Open Land Reserve	-	1,572.2 ac
I-3 Industrial Technology	-	1,530.4 ac
MX-2 Mixed Use General	-	1,431 ac
SP-01 Specific Plan	-	1,284 ac
MX-1 Mixed Used Neighborhood	-	1,078.5 ac
R-3 Residential Urban	-	1,010.4 ac
I-2 Heavy Industrial	-	940.4 ac
MX-5 Mixed Use Downtown	-	698.6 ac
SP-03 Specific Plan	-	594.1 ac
SP-04 Specific Plan	-	380.3 ac
SP-02 Specific Plan	-	284.7 ac
MX-U Mixed Use University	-	211.2 ac
MX-4 Mixed Use Transit Oriented Development Node	-	130.6 ac

Building Controls

What are the building controls in Boise?

Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Boise zoning districts.

Building height
Coverage
Density
FAR
Front setback
Lot
Lot width
Multi
Pervious
Rear setback
Side setback

Other Idaho cities

Boise zoning: frequently asked questions

How are Boise's residential districts named?: By character rather than number alone: Residential Large Lot, Residential Suburban, Residential Traditional, Residential Compact and Residential Urban. Residential Traditional is the largest district in the city at roughly 15,429 acres.
How does Boise zone for mixed use?: Through seven districts organised by role: neighborhood, general, active, transit oriented development node, downtown, university and health. Mixed Use Active is the largest at roughly 2,611 acres.
What are the Open Land districts?: Two districts, a very low density district at roughly 7,571 acres and a reserve district at about 1,572. Together they mark the foothills and undeveloped land around the city.
What are the Specific Plan districts?: Numbered districts covering master-planned areas, with the first covering roughly 1,284 acres. Where they apply, the specific plan governs rather than the citywide district standards.
How much industrial land does Boise have?: Light Industrial covers roughly 9,726 acres, the second largest district in the city, with an industrial technology district at about 1,530 acres and heavy industrial at roughly 940.

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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Boise planning department before acquisition or design.