Summary of Garden City Code Title 8 ADU provisions (THOWs explicitly permitted; owner-occupancy not required).
Code evolves continuously. Verify at the official source before any development decision.
Applicable code
Code references active as of publication. Verify current standards at the official source before any development decision.
ADUs may not exceed 800 square feet or 50% of the primary dwelling's finished floor area, whichever is less.
Investor implication: Garden City's 800 sqft cap is 100 sqft smaller than Boise's post-ZOA25-000013 standard (900 sqft). On parcels with primary dwellings under 1,600 sqft, the 50% rule becomes the binding constraint — verify primary dwelling size before acquisition.
Verify at Garden City Code (CodePublishing) →Garden City Code Title 8 does not require owner-occupancy of either the primary dwelling or the ADU.
Investor implication: Garden City already permits investor-owned ADU parcels without owner-occupancy — Idaho SB 1354 (effective July 1, 2026) supersedes any remaining local owner-occupancy requirements statewide, but Garden City's code already runs more permissive than the state floor.
Verify at Garden City Code (CodePublishing) →Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOWs) are explicitly permitted as ADUs in Garden City under Title 8 ADU provisions.
Investor implication: Garden City is one of the few Treasure Valley jurisdictions that explicitly permits THOWs as ADUs. This opens a lower-cost ADU delivery path (typical THOW delivered cost $60K-$90K vs. $120K-$180K for site-built detached ADU). Verify foundation and utility connection requirements at permit stage.
Verify at Garden City Code (CodePublishing) →ADU setback standards follow the base zoning district requirements for accessory structures.
Investor implication: Garden City does not have a blanket alley-facing setback reduction like Boise's 3-foot alley standard under ZOA25-000013. Setbacks are district-specific — verify the base zone before acquisition. Old Garden City R-1 parcels typically require 5-foot side/rear setbacks for accessory structures.
Verify at Garden City Code (CodePublishing) →Renew analysis
Garden City's 800 sqft cap is 100 sqft smaller than Boise's post-ZOA25-000013 standard (900 sqft). On parcels with primary dwellings under 1,600 sqft, the 50% rule becomes the binding constraint — verify primary dwelling size before acquisition.
Garden City already permits investor-owned ADU parcels without owner-occupancy — Idaho SB 1354 (effective July 1, 2026) supersedes any remaining local owner-occupancy requirements statewide, but Garden City's code already runs more permissive than the state floor.
Garden City is one of the few Treasure Valley jurisdictions that explicitly permits THOWs as ADUs. This opens a lower-cost ADU delivery path (typical THOW delivered cost $60K-$90K vs. $120K-$180K for site-built detached ADU). Verify foundation and utility connection requirements at permit stage.
Garden City does not have a blanket alley-facing setback reduction like Boise's 3-foot alley standard under ZOA25-000013. Setbacks are district-specific — verify the base zone before acquisition. Garden City R-1 parcels typically require 5-foot side/rear setbacks for accessory structures.