New homeowner setup · Ada and Canyon County
Pick your city for a step by step setup checklist with every phone number. Built for buyers about a week before closing.
TL;DR
Idaho Power and Intermountain Gas serve the whole valley. Water, sewer, trash and irrigation change by city and sometimes by street, so open the page for your city. File your homestead exemption with your county after you move in, because it does not carry over from the seller.
Each city page has the full checklist, every contact and what to do if the home sits outside city limits.
| Service | Who to call | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Idaho Power | (208) 388-2323 | tools.idahopower.com |
| Natural gas | Intermountain Gas Company Some areas | (800) 548-3679 | intgas.com |
| Driver's license | Idaho driver's license (Idaho Transportation Department) | (208) 584-4343 | itd.idaho.gov |
| Vehicle title and plates | Vehicle title and registration (Idaho Transportation Department) | (208) 584-4343 | itd.idaho.gov |
| Voter registration | VoteIdaho (Idaho Secretary of State) | Online | voteidaho.gov |
| Mail forwarding | USPS mail forwarding | Online | moversguide.usps.com |
| Irrigation water | Irrigation district lookup (Idaho Department of Water Resources) | Online | idwr.idaho.gov |
| Internet | FCC National Broadband Map | Online | broadbandmap.fcc.gov |
These offices are the same for every city in the county. Star sits in both counties, so use the one your home is in.
Takes 50% off the taxable value of your primary home and up to one acre, capped at $125,000.
How to start: File online, by mail, by email or in person. The seller's exemption does not carry over to you.
Lead time: File after you own and live in the home. To count for this tax year, file by the last business day of December.
Property tax bills and payments.
How to start: If your loan has an escrow account, your lender pays the tax for you. If not, pay online, by mail or in person.
Lead time: First half due December 20. Second half due June 20.
(208) 287-6800Pay onlineadacounty.id.gov
Map: 200 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702 Street View
Ada County mails a separate "missed roll" bill in February when a home changes owners. Watch for it.
Offices in Boise (400 N Benjamin Ln), Meridian (736 S Progress Ave) and Star (10769 W State St).
How to start: Book online. Walk ins are served only as space allows.
Five offices in Boise, Meridian, Garden City and Star.
How to start: Walk in or book online. Bring the vehicle, the title or lender details, and your ID.
(208) 577-3135What to bringadacounty.id.gov
Maps: Boise, Franklin Rd Street ViewBoise, downtown Street ViewMeridian Street ViewGarden City Street ViewStar Street View
Voter registration and elections in Ada County.
How to start: Register online at VoteIdaho or in person.
Lead time: Ada County says you must live in the county 30 days before Election Day.
Required trash and recycling for homes outside city limits in Ada County. Homes inside a city use that city's hauler.
How to start: Ada County bills this service. Call Ada County Trash Billing at (208) 577-4710 to set up billing. Call Hardin for carts.
Takes 50% off the taxable value of your primary home and up to one acre, capped at $125,000.
How to start: Apply online once you own and live in the home. The exemption is not automatic for a new owner.
Lead time: File after you own and live in the home. To count for this tax year, file by the last business day of December.
(208) 454-7431File onlinecanyoncounty.id.gov
Map: 111 N 11th Ave, Suite 250, Caldwell, ID 83605 Street View
Property tax bills and payments.
How to start: If your loan has an escrow account, your lender pays the tax for you. If not, pay online, by phone, by mail or in person.
Lead time: First half due December 20. Second half due June 20.
(208) 454-7354Pay onlinecanyoncounty.id.gov
Map: 111 N 11th Ave, Suite 240, Caldwell, ID 83605 Street View
Office at 6107 Graye Lane, Caldwell.
How to start: Book online. Bring one printed proof of your Idaho address.
Lead time: Canyon County says walk ins can wait four hours or more.
Office at 6107 Graye Lane, Suite A, Caldwell.
How to start: Bring the vehicle, the title or lender details, and ID for each owner.
Voter registration and elections in Canyon County.
How to start: Register online at VoteIdaho, by paper form or in person.
Canyon County has no single hauler for homes outside city limits.
How to start: Sign up with a private hauler that serves your road, or haul to Pickles Butte Landfill. The phone below is the landfill.
Good News Realty Group has no affiliation with any provider on this page and receives nothing from them. Providers change phone numbers, fees and service areas, so confirm with the provider for your exact address. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Plan on power (Idaho Power), natural gas if the home has it (Intermountain Gas), water, sewer, trash, irrigation water if the lot has it, and internet. Water, sewer and trash providers depend on your city. Then file your homestead exemption with the county and update your license, vehicles and voter registration.
About a week before closing. Power and gas can be scheduled to start on your closing date. Internet installs often book out, so schedule early. In several cities the title company moves the water account for you at closing.
Idaho Power provides electricity and Intermountain Gas provides natural gas across Ada and Canyon County. Some homes are all electric and do not need gas service.
No. The seller's exemption does not carry over. File with your county assessor once you own and live in the home. It takes 50% off the taxable value of your primary home and up to one acre, capped at $125,000. To count for this tax year, file by the last business day of December.
The Idaho Transportation Department says new residents must get an Idaho driver's license or ID card within 30 days of moving here, and must title and register their vehicles within 30 days. Some older county pages still say 90 days. Go by the state's 30 day rule.
Use the Idaho Department of Water Resources irrigation lookup map, ask your HOA, or ask the seller who bills them for irrigation water. Some cities, like Nampa, Kuna and Caldwell, also run their own pressure irrigation systems.
Questions before closing?
If a provider gives you a different answer than this page, or you are not sure who serves your address, call us. We will help you sort it out.
Book a quick call → Or call (208) 897-2760Good News Realty Group
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