The City of Boise’s quest to build a zoning code that balances its goals of affordability and a dense, modern city continues.
On Tuesday, the Boise City Council unanimously approved the latest round of proposed edits to the city’s zoning code rewrite, first passed in 2023. This raft of changes includes reducing requirements for bike parking in apartment buildings, further cutting regulations on accessory dwelling units, and removing rules requiring electric vehicle infrastructure. Another proposed change would increase the density of housing allowed in the city’s airport influence area along Maple Grove Road.
This crop of changes also includes a shakeup to the city’s affordability and environmental incentives for developers in exchange for density discussed in the fall of 2025. The City of Boise said early analysis showed fewer developers were taking advantage of the city’s rules allowing developers to build triplexes and fourplexes in neighborhoods in exchange for twenty years of restricted rents or environmentally friendly development. This change would increase the level of affordability required to 80% of the area median income while also extending the requirements of these deed restrictions to 50 years.
How is affordable housing defined?
Affordable housing refers to housing set aside specifically for residents making at or below income levels established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Based on area median income, family size, and rents in the area, the agency sets rent levels for affordable housing projects with the goal of housing costs not exceeding 30% of household income…