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🗳️ Get Ready to Vote, Lava Hot Springs! 🗳️
Election season is here, and it’s time to meet the candidates running for City Council! These are the neighbors and community members who have stepped up to put their names on the ballot and serve our city.
Your vote will help shape the future of Lava Hot Springs—so take a look, get to know the candidates, and mark your calendars for Election Day.
📌 Candidates for City Council:
City of Lava Hot Springs Council Members (Vote for Two)
Diane Beckstead
Mark Oyler
Wendy Prather
Official Consolidated Election Ballot
✨ Whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned pro, every vote matters. Together, we keep Lava strong, vibrant, and full of hometown pride.
The Lava Hot Springs City Council will conduct a special public hearing on the 3rd day of November 2025. The Commission meeting will begin at 6:00 PM at the Lava City Hall meeting room located at 115 W. Elm Street, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. At that time and place the Commission will hold multiple public hearings at the times designated on the Commission agenda which will be posted prior to the meeting. The public hearings will be for the purpose of:
Public Hearing Notice published
1) The City of Lava Hot Springs has submitted a petition to amend Title 18 – Land Use. As part of this update, the city is introducing a new ordinance: Title 3, Chapter 5 – Short-Term Rentals. This proposed ordinance establishes: Clear and updated definitions related to short-term rental operations, new regulatory standards governing the use and management of short-term rental properties, Supplemental provisions to ensure consistency with broader land use policies. The ordinance is intended to enhance clarity, promote responsible property use, and align with community priorities.
Resolution 2025-004
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAVA HOT SPRINGS, IDAHO, IMPOSING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON ACCEPTING OR PROCESSING BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATIONS FOR BED AND BREAKFAST OR VACATION RENTAL/TOURIST HOMES, OR ISSUING ANY BUSINESS LICENSES THEREFORE, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
LAVA HOT SPRINGS CITY – VACATION
(SHORT TERM) RENTAL
June 30, 2025
What Happened In The Court Case?
Lava City was sued by some property owners who disagreed with the City’s short-term vacation rental
regulations, as outlined in City Ordinance 2006-5. Ordinance 2006-5 allowed short-term vacation rentals (e.g.
Airbnb type rentals) in commercial zones, subject to a few restrictions. Ordinance 2006-5 only allowed short-term
vacation rentals in the City’s residential neighborhoods if they were occupied by the property owner or
manager. In other words, a “Bed and Breakfast” type of establishment was allowed in residential
neighborhoods, but a short-term vacation rental without any on-site owner or property manager was not
allowed.
The property owners argued that Ordinance 2006-5 violated Idaho law, namely Idaho Code 67-6539,
which says a City cannot enforce any ordinance “that has the express or practical effect of prohibiting short-term
rentals or vacation rentals in the city.” The City vigorously defended the lawsuit, arguing that the City
code was not a prohibition, but instead was a “reasonable regulation” of short-term rentals, and necessary to
safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare in order to protect the integrity of residential
neighborhoods, which is allowed under Idaho law. (I.C. 67-6539).
The District Court agreed with the City. The property owners appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court,
which overturned the District Court’s ruling. According to the Idaho Supreme Court, Lava City’s code
violated Idaho law by completely banning, in residential zones, short-term rentals that are not owner-occupied.
The Supreme Court’s ruling invalidated City Ordinance 2006-5 in its entirety.
What Did the Idaho Supreme Court Say?
The Supreme Court struck down City Ordinance 2006-5. However, the Court’s ruling reaffirmed that a
City is allowed to impose “reasonable regulations” on short-term vacation rentals, so long as it doesn’t go too
far and impose regulations that have the express effect, or practical effect, of prohibiting them. In other words,
the Supreme Court decided that in this particular case, Ordinance 2006-5 went too far. But the City can still
have reasonable regulations on short-term vacation rentals. The Court’s opinion did not establish any rules or
guidelines about what would constitute a “reasonable regulation” that a City might impose, that would pass
muster under Idaho law.
What is the “Moratorium”?
The Supreme Court striking down Ordinance 2006-5 left the City in a tough spot, with a big gap to fill
in that part of the City code. Without being able to use the criteria outlined in Ordinance 2006-5, if somebody
applied for a business license for a short term vacation rental, what criteria would the City use to decide
whether it should grant or deny that license? Keep in mind, Ordinance 2006-5 regulated rentals in both the
commercial zones and residential zones. Only the residential zone part was challenged in Court --- but the
Idaho Supreme Court tossed out the entire ordinance.
Idaho law allows a city to place a moratorium, or temporary pause, upon issuing real estate related
permits if there is imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare. (I.C. 67-6523). On May 29, 2025, the
Lava City Council adopted a resolution placing a 182 day moratorium on accepting or processing any new
business license applications for Bed and Breakfast or Vacation Rental/Tourist home businesses within the
City. During this 182-day moratorium period, the City is working diligently to gather citizen input and craft a
new ordinance regarding short term vacation rentals within the City.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance Snapshot
A Comparative Snapshot of Local City Regulations
LAVA HOT SPRINGS - SHORT TERM RETALS SURVEY
Your opinion matters click here to take a short survey
Local Option Tax increase for the City of Lava Hot Springs
Updated Local Option Tax form
WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The first phase of the project was completed in 2020. The second phase involves the drilling of a new well and additional improvements. Potential well sites are being explored and will involve the acquisition of land.
MAIN STREET OVER PORTNEUF RIVER BRIDGE.
The city has budgeted funds to install a pedestrian bridge on the south side of the existing traffic bridge over the Portneuf River on East Main Street. The bridge will look identical to the one on the North side but wider to encourage tubers to refrain from walking on the traffic bridge. The city is working on acquiring a small portion of property from an adjoining property owner for the bridge installation.
Authorized and Approved list of Businesses and Contractors licensed to do business in Lava Hot Springs City Limits is located on the tool bar under the more tab then the resource tab.