Idaho Legislature: Ask Legislators to VOTE NO on S1166 - Homeless shelters, site (posted 03/14/25)

• Bill: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• Contact Legislators (linked below):

(Check the linked page or use My Bill Tracker for the bill’s current status.)

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S1166 establishes zoning and permitting requirements that impact homeless shelters placed within 300 feet of a residentially zoned area in Idaho cities with populations over 100,000.

Strong Objections:

• S1166 should apply to ALL cities, not just those over 100,000. Homeless shelters can affect every residential area, whether the city is large or small. In essence, this bill spares big cities while potentially hurting smaller ones.

• It’s NOT OK if 2/3 of nearby property owners agree to a homeless shelter that violates the 300 foot rule. No exemptions should be allowed! The potential for bribery or coercion is high, and 1/3 of property owners essentially would lose their rights.

Details:

• "Homeless shelter" is a facility providing temporary sleeping accommodations for individuals or families without a fixed residence, which also may offer additional support services.

• Homeless shelters cannot be located within 300 feet of residentially zoned properties or properties with existing detached residential use in Idaho cities with populations over 100,000.

• Applies to new homeless shelters; existing shelters are grandfathered in but prohibited from expanding if they would violate the new restrictions.

• Local governments must enforce these provisions when considering zoning permits or designations, and they may impose additional conditions to mitigate neighborhood impacts.

• Landowners can obtain an exemption from these restrictions via signed approval from two-thirds of nearby property owners within 300 feet of the proposed shelter site.

• If a homeless shelter permit is denied or withdrawn, the same parcel cannot have a new application for a homeless shelter for ten years.