Payette County, Idaho may allow qualifying property owners to add a small second home or ADU, including homes 1,500 sq. ft. or less, when zoning, acreage, setbacks, access, utilities and permit requirements are met.
Payette County gives qualifying property owners a practical path to add a smaller second home, often called an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. For families who need room for aging parents, adult children, guests, or long-term housing flexibility, this can be a smart way to use land they already own.
Under Payette County’s Agricultural zoning rules, one ADU is allowed on a tract of at least two acres when the property already has a permitted single-family home. The second home cannot exceed 1,500 square feet.
There are important details to plan for. The second home must meet single-family dwelling standards, be within 200 feet of the primary residence, use the same ingress and egress, share the same address with an A/B designation, meet required setbacks, and remain on the same parcel as the main home. The parcel also cannot be reduced below two acres.
Payette County’s ADU permit application also notes a 1,500-square-foot maximum and a two-acre minimum tract. The application process may require plans, site plan, septic permit, driveway or culvert approval, irrigation district approval, floodplain documents if applicable, and other special approvals.
For homeowners considering a manufactured home, modular home, or ADU, the key is to verify the property first. Zoning, setbacks, septic, access, utilities, and whether the land is inside a city or unincorporated Payette County can all change what is allowed.
For the right property, Payette County’s ADU rules can make a smaller second home a realistic option—one that adds family flexibility, supports multigenerational living, and creates more housing choices without leaving the land you already love.
We accept trades!
Find a new home you love? Contact us for more information about our trade-in requirements and to schedule your free trade evaluation.
Learn More
Find Your Perfect Home
© 1998-2026 Clayton. All rights reserved.