What Kind of Animals can I Keep in Idaho?

Boise, Idaho is a great place to live, with plenty of wonderful communities offering real estate for sale. There are many outdoor options and activities to keep you busy. And, if you're an animal lover, you're in luck! While Boise is an animal friendly city, it is important to understand the types of animals permitted prior to welcoming one into your home.

Within the city limits of Boise, there are certain ground rules about birds. When it comes to chickens, you can keep up to three "pet" hens in your yard, but no roosters. Other types of birds you are NOT allowed to keep include:

• All birds of prey, including owls
• Cassowaries
• Cranes of any kind
• Flamingos
• Herons
• Hornbills
• Ostriches
• Penguins of any type

MAMMALS not allowed to be kept within the Boise city limits include:

• Aardvarks
• All non-human primates
• All members of the insectivora category, with the exception of hedgehogs
• Marine animals, including but not limited to dolphins, whales and seals
• All hoofed animals with the exception of domesticated farm or pack animals
• Marsupials, with the exception of the Virginia opossum, bettongs and sugar gliders
• Rodents, with the exception of domestic mice, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters & squirrels not otherwise prohibited by federal law
• Non-domesticated members of the Felidae (cat) family or Canidae (dog) family
• All members of the Procyonidae family, with the exception of raccoons native to Idaho
• All Mustelidae family members, except for domesticated ferrets
• All members of the order Hyaenidae, including but not limited to aardwolves and hyenas
• All meerkats, civets and members of the Vivirrdae family

INSECTS  that are not allowed include all those which have been listed as agricultural pests by the Idaho Department of Agriculture and the USDA.

REPTILES which are prohibited include:

• Anacondas
• All members of the Crocodilla order
• Sea turtles of any kind; Galapagos or Aldabra tortoises
• Wild-caught beaded lizards and Gila monsters
• Komodo dragons
• Venomous snakes from the Elapids family, with the exception of North American species such as coral snakes, as long as they are housed according to state guidelines
• Venomous snakes of the Viperids family, other than North American species including but not limited to copperheads, rattlesnakes and cottonmouths housed under state guidelines

No animals determined to be vicious may be kept unless under locked/confined conditions and there are signs posted as to their presence.

Your basic domestic house pets are perfectly fine to keep, or if you're in the more rural outskirts of the city, standard farm and pack animals are absolutely acceptable. 

Boise has many laws which protect animals & are designed to prevent animal cruelty. No non-commercial kennels are permitted - these are defined as a lot, premises or portion thereof where 4 or more cats, dogs or any combination of these are harbored, maintained, possessed, bred or cared for.

Should a wild or potentially dangerous animal show up on your property, local Animal Control officers are authorized to place humane animal traps on public or private property with the owner's permission.

So not only can you enjoy the comforts and beauty of Idaho Real Estate by yourself but with the companionship of your favorite animal pal.

The Unique diversity of Idaho varying from Eagle to Nampa coupled with the diversity of the animals that can be found here, provides a great oppurtunity to increase your appreciation for this magnificent area.