Community Planning Division

The Ada County Highway District’s Traffic Division is responsible for planning, designing and managing efficient traffic flow and traffic safety throughout Ada County. The Ada County Development Services Planning & Zoning Division processes land use applications for properties located in unincorporated Ada County.

Each city within Ada County has their own planning departments that process land use applications and manage future growth. Their jurisdictions cover all properties that are within city limits. The Ada County Development Services Planning & Zoning Division processes land use applications for properties located in unincorporated Ada County.

A One-Time Division is an application/process that can divide your property into two parcels through a staff level approval as long as your parcel is eligible.  All properties that meet the following standards are eligible for a one-time division as long as both parcels created would meet the minimum dimensional standards (Size, frontage) for the zoning district they are currently located in.

• If your property is located in a subdivision, the subdivision would need to have been recorded prior to September 29, 1959.
• If your property is not located in a subdivision, it would need to be in the same configuration since January 1, 1985.
  • Exception is properties reduced in size due to governmental action.
• For properties that do not meet the standards listed above, the property may still be able to be divided through a subdivision process.
• For additional information or clarification, please contact us at 208-287-7900.

There are several different options for additional dwellings for family members or employees.

• Secondary Dwelling – For a family member or employee of the property. Limited to 900 square feet.
• Temporary Use – Temporary Living Quarters
  • For manufactured homes on a “standard set” with no permanent foundation.
  • For family members/employees justified by reasons of health, employment, or upkeep on the property.
• Caretakers Dwelling
  • Associated with an existing approved use, such as a Contractor’s Yard.
• Additional Farm Dwelling
  • Must be located on a farm.
  • 75% of the inhabitants income must come from work done on the property.
• For questions on what your specific property may be eligible for, please contact us at 208-287-7900.

The approval process will vary depending on the base zoning district of your property and the type of daycare proposed.  See the definitions below and contact us with any questions.

Family Daycare Home:  A home, place, or facility providing care and supervision for compensation for part of a day, for six (6) or fewer children not related by blood or marriage to the person providing the care, in a place other than the children’s own home.  The occasional care of children by a person not ordinarily in the business of childcare, and the provision of care for children of only one immediate family in addition to the person’s own children are not considered family daycare homes.

Requires an Accessory Use approval through a Zoning Certificate in the following zones: RP, RR, Rural Residence, RUT, RSW, R1, R2, R4, R6, R8, R12, and R20.

Required items for approval of a Family Daycare Home:

• If any children are younger than 7 years old, a criminal history check from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is required for all individuals watching the children.
• Hours of operation are limited to 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• $100 fee and requires the application found here; Family-Daycare-Home-Application.pdf (id.gov)

Group Daycare Facility:   A home, place or facility providing care and supervision for compensation for part of a day, for seven (7) to twelve (12) children not related by blood or marriage to the person(s) providing the care, in a place other than the children’s own home.  The occasional care of children by a person not ordinarily in the business of childcare, and the provision of care for children of only one immediate family in addition to the person’s own children are not considered group daycare facilities.

Requires an Accessory Use approval through a staff level application in the following zones:  RP, RR, Rural Residence, RUT, RSW, R1, R2, R4, R6, R8, R12, and R20.

To obtain approval for a Group Daycare Facility, the following items will need to be documented:

• 35 square feet of net floor area per client/child.
• No overnight parking allowed. On site parking shall not use the parking spaces required for the dwelling.
• Minimum outdoor play area of 100 square feet per child. This may be waived if a park abuts the property.
• Outdoor areas shall be enclosed by a 6’ fence secured against exit or entry by small children.
• Outdoor play equipment shall not be located in the required yard. (Setback requirement)
• Minimum staff required of one staff person per 6 children younger than 18 months and one staff person per 12 children 18 months or older.
• Fire inspection by the local fire district is required. If your property is not located in a fire district, contact the Idaho Fire Marshal.
• If any children are younger than 7 years of age, a criminal history check for all staff is required through the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
• Hours of operation are limited to 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM.
• Any outdoor lighting may require additional applications.

Required applications:

Master Application – Applications, Forms, Templates – Development Services (id.gov)

Accessory Use Checklist – Accessory-Use-Application.pdf (id.gov)

Daycare Centers:  A place or facility providing care and supervision for compensation for part of a day, for thirteen (13) or more children not related by blood or marriage to the person(s) providing the care. Day camps, day programs and religious schools held for more than two (2) weeks during a calendar year or held more often than once a week, are considered daycare centers. The provision of occasional care exclusively for children of parents who are simultaneously in the same building is not considered a daycare center.

Requires a Conditional Use approval in the following zones:  LO, C1, C2, C3, TI, RUT, RSW, R1, R2, R4, R6, R8, R12, and R20.

Conditional Uses require a pre-application meeting with our planning team as a first step.  To set up this free meeting, please call 208-287-7900.

• The home occupation cannot cause the property to differ from its rural or residential character.
• No more than 25% or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less can be devoted to the home occupation.
• Daycare’s and contractor’s yards are not considered home occupations.

There are two (2) types of home occupations: Small and Large

Small home occupation:

• No employees or clients come to the home.
• No more than two (2) deliveries or pick ups per day.
• Requires an Accessory Use approval through a Zoning Certificate.
• See this application form, Small-Home-Occ-Application-Template.pdf (id.gov)

Large home occupation:

• Allows for one (1) nonresident employee.
• Group instruction is limited to no more than five (5) students at one time with a maximum of two (2) classes per day.
• The property shall have no more than twenty (20) additional vehicular trips per day of home occupation traffic.
• Allowed hours are from 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday and 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday.
• Requires an Accessory Use approval through a staff level application.
• Required Applications
  • Master Application – Applications, Forms, Templates – Development Services (id.gov)
  • Accessory Use Checklist – Accessory-Use-Application.pdf (id.gov)

For additional information or clarification, please call 208-287-7900.