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Idaho Statutes
TITLE 6
ACTIONS IN PARTICULAR CASES
CHAPTER 3
FORCIBLE ENTRY AND UNLAWFUL DETAINER
6-301. FORCIBLE ENTRY DEFINED. Every person is guilty of a forcible entry who either:
1. By breaking open doors, windows or other parts of a house, or by any kind of violence or
circumstances of terror, enters upon or into any real property; or,
2. Who, after entering peaceably upon real property, turns out, by force, threats or menacing
conduct, the party in possession.

6-302. FORCIBLE DETAINER DEFINED. Every person is guilty of a forcible detainer who
either:
1. By force, or by menaces and threats of violence, unlawfully holds and keeps possession of any
real property, whether the same was acquired peacefully or otherwise; or,
2. Who, in the nighttime, or during the absence of the occupant of any lands, unlawfully enters
upon real property, and who, after demand made for the surrender thereof, for the period of five
(5) days, refuses to surrender the same to such former occupant. The occupant of real property,
within the meaning of this subdivision, is one who, within five (5) days preceding such unlawful
entry, was in the peaceable and undisturbed possession of such lands.

6-303. UNLAWFUL DETAINER DEFINED. A tenant of real property, for a term less than life,
is guilty of an unlawful detainer:
1. When he continues in possession, in person or by subtenant, of the property, or any part
thereof, after the expiration of the term for which it is let to him, without the permission of his
landlord, or the successor in estate of his landlord, if any there be; but in case of a tenancy at will,
it must first be terminated by notice, as prescribed in the Civil Code.
2. Where he continues in possession, in person or by subtenant, without permission of his
landlord, or the successor in estate of his landlord, if any there be, after default in the payment of
rent, pursuant to the lease or agreement under which the property is held, and three (3) days'
notice, in writing, requiring its payment, stating the amount which is due, or possession of the
property, shall have been served upon him, and if there be a subtenant in actual occupation of the
premises, also upon such subtenant. Such notice may be served at any time within one (1) year
after the rent becomes due. In all cases of tenancy upon agricultural lands, where the tenant has
held over and retained possession for more than sixty (60) days after the expiration of his term
without any demand of possession or notice to quit by the landlord, or the successor in estate of
his landlord, if any there be, he shall be deemed to be holding by permission of the landlord, or the
successor in estate of his landlord, if any there be, and shall be entitled to hold under the terms of
the lease for another full year, and shall not be guilty of an unlawful detainer during said year, and
such holding over for the period aforesaid shall be taken and construed as a consent on the part of
a tenant to hold for another year.
3. Where he continues in possession in person, or by subtenants, after a neglect or failure to
perform other conditions or covenants of the lease or agreement under which the property is held,
including any covenant not to assign or sublet, than the one for payment of rent, and three (3)
days' notice, in writing, requiring the performance of such conditions or covenants, or the
possession of the property, shall have been served upon him, and if there be a subtenant in actual
occupation of the premises, also upon such subtenant. Within three (3) days after the service of
the notice, the tenant, or any subtenant in actual occupation of the premises, or any mortgagee of
the term, or other person interested in its continuance, may perform the conditions or covenants
of the lease, or pay the stipulated rent, as the case may be, and thereby save the lease from
forfeiture: provided, if the covenants and conditions of the lease, violated by the lessee, can not
afterward be performed, then no notice, as last prescribed herein, need be given to said lessee or
his subtenant demanding the performance of the violated covenant or conditions of the lease. A
tenant may take proceedings similar to those prescribed in this chapter, to obtain possession of
premises let to an undertenant, in case of his unlawful detention of the premises underlet to him.
4. A tenant or subtenant, assigning or subletting, or committing waste upon, the demised
premises contrary to the covenants of his lease, thereby terminates the lease, and the landlord, or
his successor in estate, shall, upon service of three (3) days' notice to quit upon the person or
persons in possession, be entitled to restitution of possession of such demised premises under the
provision of this chapter.

6-304. SERVICE OF NOTICE. The notices required by the preceding section may be served
either:
1. By delivering a copy to the tenant personally; or,
2. If he be absent from his place of residence and from his usual place of business, by leaving a
copy with some person of suitable age and discretion at either place, and sending a copy through
the mail addressed to the tenant at his place of residence; or, if such place of residence and
business can not be ascertained, or a person of suitable age or discretion can not be found there,
then by affixing a copy in a conspicuous place on the property, and also delivering a copy to a
person there residing, if such person can be found; and also sending a copy through the mail
addressed to the tenant at the place where the property is situated. Service upon a subtenant may
be made in the same manner.

6-305. JURISDICTION OF DISTRICT COURT. The district court of the county in which the
property, or some part of it, is situated, has jurisdiction of proceedings under this chapter.

6-308. PARTIES DEFENDANT. No person other than the tenant of the premises, and
subtenant, if there be one, in the actual occupation of the premises when the notice herein
provided for was served, need be made parties defendant in the proceeding, nor shall any
proceeding abate nor the plaintiff be nonsuited for the nonjoinder of any persons who might have
been made parties defendant; but when it appears that any of the parties served with process or
appearing in the proceeding are guilty of the offense charged, judgment must be rendered against
them. Any person who shall become a subtenant of the premises or any part thereof after the
service of notice as provided in this chapter shall be bound by the judgment. In case a married
woman be a tenant or a subtenant, her coverture shall constitute no defense; but in case her
husband be not joined, or unless she be doing business as a sole trader, an execution issued upon a
personal judgment against her can only be enforced against property on the premises at the
commencement of the action.

6-309. PARTIES GENERALLY. Except as provided in the preceding section, the provisions of
this code relating to parties to civil actions are applicable to this proceeding.

6-310. ACTION FOR POSSESSION -- COMPLAINT -- SUMMONS. In an action exclusively
for possession of a tract of land of five (5) acres or less for the nonpayment of rent, it is sufficient
to state in the complaint:
(1) A description of the premises with convenient certainty;
(2) That the defendant is in possession of the premises;
(3) That the defendant entered upon the premises, holds the premises, and is in default of the
payment of rent;
(4) That all notices required by law have been served upon the defendant in the required manner;
and
(5) That the plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the premises.
Upon filing the complaint, a summons must be issued, served and returned as in other actions,
provided, however, that at the time of issuance of the summons, the court shall schedule a trial
within twelve (12) days from the filing of the complaint and the service of the summons,
complaint and trial setting on the defendant shall be not less than five (5) days before the day of
trial appointed by the court.

6-311. CONTINUANCE. In an action exclusively for possession of a tract of land of five (5)
acres or less for the nonpayment of rent, no continuance shall be granted for a longer period than
two (2) days unless the defendant applying therefor gives an undertaking to the adverse party with
good and sufficient security, to be approved by the court, conditioned for the payment of the rent
that may accrue if judgment is rendered against the defendant.

6-311A. JUDGMENT ON TRIAL BY COURT. In an action exclusively for possession of a tract
of land of five (5) acres or less for the nonpayment of rent, the action shall be tried by the court
without a jury. If, after hearing the evidence the court concludes that the complaint is not true, it
shall enter judgment against the plaintiff for costs and disbursements. If the court finds the
complaint true or if judgment is rendered by default, it shall render a general judgment against the
defendant and in favor of the plaintiff, for restitution of the premises and the costs and
disbursements of the action. If the court finds the complaint true in part, it shall render judgment
for the restitution of such part only, and the costs and disbursements shall be taxed as the court
deems just and equitable. No provision of this law shall be construed to prevent the bringing of an
action for damages.

6-311C. FORM OF EXECUTION. The execution, should judgment of restitution be rendered,
may be in the following form:
STATE OF IDAHO
ss.
County of ....
TO THE SHERIFF OR ANY CONSTABLE OF THE COUNTY:
WHEREAS, a certain action for the possession of the following described premises, to-wit:
...........................................................................
...........................................................................
lately tried before the above entitled court, wherein .... was plaintiff and .... was defendant,
judgment was rendered on the .... day of ...., A.D., .., that the plaintiff .... have restitution of the
premises, and also that he recover the costs and disbursements in the sum of $ ....; In the name of
the State of Idaho, you are, therefore, hereby commanded to cause the defendant and his goods
and chattels to be forthwith removed from the premises and the plaintiff is to have restitution of
the same. In the event the goods and chattels are not promptly removed thereafter by the
defendant you are authorized and empowered to cause the same to be removed to a safe place for
storage. You are also commanded to levy on the goods and chattels of the defendant, and pay the
costs and disbursements, aforesaid, and all accruing costs, and to make legal service and due
return of this writ.
WITNESS My hand and official seal (if issued out of a court of record) 
this .... day of ...., A.D., ...
.... Clerk of the District Court

6-311D. ADDITIONAL UNDERTAKING ON APPEAL. If judgment is rendered against the
defendant for the restitution of the real property described in the complaint, or any part thereof,
no appeal shall be taken by the defendant from the judgment until he gives, in addition to the
undertaking now required by law upon appeal, an undertaking to the adverse party, with two (2)
sureties, who shall justify in like manner as bail upon arrest, for the payment to the plaintiff, if the
judgment is affirmed on appeal, of the rental value of the real property of which restitution is
adjudged from the commencement of the action in which the judgment was rendered until final
judgment in the action.

6-311E. ACTION FOR DAMAGES -- COMPLAINT -- SUMMONS. In an action for damages
incurred as a result of failure to pay rent, the plaintiff in his complaint must set forth the facts on
which he seeks to recover. If the plaintiff combines his action for damages with an action for
possession, the complaint shall also describe the premises with reasonable certainty and may set
forth therein any circumstances which may have accompanied the alleged nonpayment of rent and
claim damages therefor; provided, however, that the early trial provision of section 6-310, Idaho
Code, shall not be applicable when an action for damages is combined with an action for
possession. In an action for damages, a summons must be issued returnable as in other cases upon
filing the complaint.

6-312. JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT. If, at any time appointed, the defendant do [does] not
appear and defend, the court must enter his default and render judgment in favor of the plaintiff as
prayed for in the complaint.

6-313. TRIAL BY JURY. Whenever an issue of fact is presented by the pleadings it must be
tried by a jury, unless such jury be waived as in other cases. The jury shall be formed in the same
manner as other trial juries in the court in which the action is pending.

6-314. SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE -- DEFENSES. On the trial of any proceeding for any
forcible entry or forcible detainer, the plaintiff shall only be required to show, in addition to the
forcible entry or forcible detainer complained of, that he was peaceably in the actual possession at
the time of the forcible entry, or was entitled to the possession at the time of the forcible detainer.
The defendant may show in his defense that he or his ancestors, or those whose interest in such
premises he claims, have been in the quiet possession thereof for the space of one whole year
together next before the commencement of the proceedings, and that his interest therein is not
then ended or determined; and such showing is a bar to the proceedings.

6-315. AMENDMENT OF COMPLAINT. When, upon the trial of any proceeding under this
chapter, it appears from the evidence that the defendant has been guilty of either a forcible entry
or a forcible or unlawful detainer, and other than the offense charged in the complaint, the judge
must order that such complaint be forthwith amended to conform to such proofs. Such
amendment must be without any imposition of terms. No continuance shall be permitted upon
account of such amendment unless the defendant, by affidavit filed, shows to the satisfaction of
the court good cause therefor.

6-316. JUDGMENT -- RESTITUTION. If, upon the trial, the verdict of the jury, or, if the case
be tried without a jury, the finding of the court, be in favor of the plaintiff and against the
defendant, judgment shall be entered for the restitution of the premises; and if the proceeding be
for an unlawful detainer after neglect or failure to perform the conditions or covenants of the lease
or agreement under which the property is held, or after default in the payment of rent, the
judgment shall also declare the forfeiture of such lease or agreement. The jury, or the court, if the
proceeding be tried without a jury, shall also assess the damages occasioned to the plaintiff by any
forcible entry, or by any forcible or unlawful detainer, alleged in the complaint and proved on the
trial, and find the amount of any rent due, if the alleged unlawful detainer be after default in the
payment of rent, and the judgment shall be rendered against the defendant guilty of the forcible
entry, or forcible or unlawful detainer, for the amount of the damages thus assessed, and of the
rent found due. When the proceeding is for an unlawful detainer after default in payment of rent
where the tract of land is larger than five (5) acres, and the lease or agreement under which the
rent is payable has not by its terms expired, execution upon the judgment shall not be issued until
the expiration of five (5) days after the entry of the judgment, within which time the tenant, or any
subtenant, or any mortgagee of the term, or other party interested in its continuance, may pay into
court, for the landlord, the amount found due as rent, with interest thereon, and the amount of the
damages found by the jury or the court for the unlawful detainer, and the costs of the proceeding,
and thereupon the judgment shall be satisfied and the tenant be restored to his estate; but if
payment as here provided be not made within the five (5) days, the judgment may be enforced for
its full amount, and for the possession of the premises. In all other cases the judgment may be
enforced immediately.

6-317. TREBLE DAMAGES. If a landlord or a tenant recovers damages for a forcible or
unlawful entry in or upon, or detention of, any building or other tract of land, or for an action
brought pursuant to section 6-320, Idaho Code, judgment may be entered for three (3) times the
amount at which the actual damages are assessed.

6-318. PLEADINGS MUST BE VERIFIED. The complaint and answer must be verified.

6-319. APPEAL AS STAY. An appeal taken by the defendant does not stay proceedings upon
the judgment unless the court so directs.

6-320. ACTION FOR DAMAGES AND SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE BY TENANT. 
(a) A tenant may file an action against a landlord for damages and specific performance for:
(1) Failure to provide reasonable waterproofing and weather protection of the premises;
(2) Failure to maintain in good working order electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating,
cooling, or sanitary facilities supplied by the landlord;
(3) Maintaining the premises in a manner hazardous to the health or safety of the tenant;
(4) Failure to return a security deposit as and when required by law;
(5) Breach of any term or provision of the lease or rental agreement materially affecting the
health and safety of the tenant, whether explicitly or implicitly a part thereof; and
(6) Failure to install approved smoke detectors in each dwelling unit, to include mobile homes,
under the landlord's control. Upon commencement of a rental agreement, the landlord shall verify
that smoke detectors have been installed and are in good working order in the dwelling unit. The
tenant shall maintain the smoke detectors in good working order during the tenant's rental period.
For purposes of this section, an approved smoke detector is a battery-operated device that is
capable of detecting visible or invisible particles of combustion and that bears a label or other
identification issued by an approved testing agency having a service for inspection of materials
and workmanship at the factory during fabrication and assembly. If the landlord or the landlord's
assignee fails to install working smoke detectors, the tenant may send written notice by certified
mail, return receipt requested, to the landlord or the landlord's assignee that if working smoke
detectors are not installed within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of the letter, the tenant may
install smoke detectors and deduct the cost from the tenant's next month's rent. Smoke detectors
purchased by the tenant and deducted from rent become the property of the landlord and shall not
be removed from the premises.
Upon filing the complaint, a summons must be issued, served and returned as in other actions,
provided, however, that in an action exclusively for specific performance, at the time of issuance
of the summons, the court shall schedule a trial within twelve (12) days from the filing of the
complaint, and the service of the summons, complaint and trial setting on the defendant shall be
not less than five (5) days before the day of trial appointed by the court. If the plaintiff brings an
action for damages under this section, or combines his action for damages with an action for
specific performance, the early trial provision of this section shall not be applicable, and a
summons must be issued returnable as in other cases upon filing the complaint.
(b) In an action under this section, plaintiff, in his complaint, must set forth the facts on which he
seeks to recover, describe the premises, and set forth any circumstances which may have
accompanied the failure or breach by the landlord.
(c) If, upon the trial, the verdict of the jury, or, if the case be tried without a jury, the finding of
the court, be in favor of the plaintiff against the defendant, judgment shall be entered for the
amount of the damages assessed. Judgment may also be entered requiring specific performance
for any breach of agreement showing by the evidence, and for costs and disbursements.
(d) Before a tenant shall have standing to file an action under this section, he must give his
landlord three (3) days written notice, listing each failure or breach upon which his action will be
premised and written demand requiring performance or cure. If, within three (3) days after service
of the notice, any listed failure or breach has not been performed or cured by the landlord, the
tenant may proceed to commence an action for damages and specific performance.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to tracts of land of five (5) acres or more used
for agricultural purposes.

6-321. SECURITY DEPOSITS. Amounts deposited by a tenant with a landlord for any purpose
other than the payment of rent shall be deemed security deposits. Upon termination of a lease or
rental agreement and surrender of the premises by the tenant all amounts held by the landlord as a
security deposit shall be refunded to the tenant, except amounts necessary to cover the
contingencies specified in the deposit arrangement. The landlord shall not retain any part of a
security deposit to cover normal wear and tear. "Normal wear and tear" means that deterioration
which occurs based upon the use for which the rental unit is intended and without negligence,
carelessness, accident, or misuse or abuse of the premises or contents by the tenant or members of
his household, or their invitees or guests. Refunds shall be made within twenty-one (21) days if
no time is fixed by agreement, and in any event, within thirty (30) days after surrender of the
premises by the tenant. Any refunds in an amount less than the full amount deposited by the tenant
shall be accompanied by a signed statement itemizing the amounts lawfully retained by the
landlord, the purpose for the amounts retained, and a detailed list of expenditures made from the
deposit.
If security deposits have been made as to a particular rental or lease property, and the property
changes ownership during a tenancy, the new owner shall be liable for refund of the deposits.

6-322. RULES OF PRACTICE IN GENERAL. The provisions of this code relative to civil
actions, appeals and new trials, so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
chapter, apply to the proceedings mentioned in this chapter.

6-323. SERVICE OF NOTICE TO LANDLORD. The notice required by section 6-320(d),
Idaho Code, shall be served either:
(1) By delivering a copy to the landlord or his agent personally; or
(2) If the landlord or his agent is absent from his usual place of business, by leaving a copy
with an employee at the usual place of business of the landlord or his agent; or
(3) By sending a copy of the notice to the landlord or his agent by United States Postal Service
certified mail, return receipt requested.

6-324. ATTORNEY FEES. In any action brought under the provisions of this chapter, except in
those cases where treble damages are awarded, the prevailing party shall be entitled to an award
of attorney fees. For attorney fees to be awarded in cases requiring the three (3) days' notice as
set forth in section 6-303 2., Idaho Code, it shall be necessary that the three (3) days' notice
advise the tenant that attorney fees shall be awarded to the prevailing party.



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§ 9-350. According to Idaho law, any person who reproduces or distributes the Idaho Code
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infringer of the state of Idaho's copyright.