Gooding County sits on the Snake River Plain in south-central Idaho’s Magic Valley, a region where large-scale dairy operations have transformed the agricultural and demographic landscape over the past three decades. The county encompasses 730 square miles entirely on the Snake River Plain — no mountains within its boundaries, but dramatic geology nonetheless: the Hagerman Valley was scoured by the Bonneville Flood approximately 14,500 years ago, depositing thousands of smooth boulders across the valley floor; Malad Gorge is a dramatic narrow canyon carved by the Wood River into basalt; and the Gooding City of Rocks in the north features remarkable rhyolite formations. The county was created in 1913 from Lincoln County and named for Frank R. Gooding — pioneer sheep rancher, early mayor of Gooding city, Idaho’s 7th governor, and later a U.S. Senator.
Dairy farming has made Gooding County Idaho’s leading dairy county by production. The industry’s growth has converted what was once a primarily migrant and seasonal agricultural workforce into a substantial permanent community: approximately 30% of Gooding County residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, drawn by year-round dairy employment at large-scale confined animal feeding operations and cheese/whey processing facilities. The county’s four incorporated cities — Gooding (county seat, ~3,707), Wendell (~2,917, dubbed the “Hub City”), Hagerman (~940), and Bliss (~330) — provide the commercial and service infrastructure for the surrounding agricultural population. The county is also a national leader in commercial rainbow trout production, and specialty onions are a notable crop. The Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind, a state institution, operates in Gooding and provides stable state government employment.
All landlord-tenant matters in Gooding County are governed by Idaho Code §§ 6-301 et seq. (evictions), §§ 6-320 and 6-321 (security deposits), and §§ 55-208 and 55-307 (tenancy and notice). Eviction actions are filed as Unlawful Detainer proceedings at the Gooding County District Court (Fifth Judicial District), 624 Main Street, PO Box 417, Gooding, ID 83330, (208) 934-4221. Idaho prohibits rent control statewide.
~30–31% — converted from seasonal to permanent residents by year-round dairy employment
Median HH Income
~$62,395 (2023)
Poverty Rate
~15.34%
Principal Economy
Idaho’s #1 dairy county; trout farming (national leader); specialty onions; beef cattle; Idaho School for the Deaf & Blind (state institution, Gooding); North Canyon Medical Center; Hagerman Fossil Beds NM (visitor economy); Malad Gorge State Park
Key Attractions
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (Hagerman Horse fossils, Pliocene era); Malad Gorge State Park; Gooding City of Rocks; Thousand Springs State Park (Hagerman); Snake River access
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide (Idaho Code § 55-304)
Landlord Rating
6/10 — Stable dairy-driven economy; consistent year-round workforce; growing population; modest rents; no local ordinances; Magic Valley regional economy
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation
3-Day Notice to Perform or Quit
No-Cause (Month-to-Month)
30-Day Written Notice
Court
Gooding County District Court — Magistrate Division (5th Judicial District)
Courthouse Address
624 Main St, PO Box 417, Gooding, ID 83330
Court Phone
Main: (208) 934-4221 — General: (208) 934-4225
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Process Name
Unlawful Detainer
Post-Judgment
Writ of Possession; tenant has 72 hrs to vacate
Security Deposit
No cap; return within 21 days; 3× penalty for wrongful withholding
Avg Timeline
3–5 weeks typical
Gooding County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Idaho state law governs landlord-tenant matters — no supplemental local ordinances in Gooding County
Category
Details
No Local Ordinances
Neither Gooding County nor any of its cities — Gooding, Wendell, Hagerman, or Bliss — has enacted local landlord-tenant ordinances supplementing Idaho state law. No rental registration, no source-of-income protections, no supplemental notice requirements. Idaho Code §§ 6-301 et seq. applies exclusively throughout the county.
Rent Control
Idaho Code § 55-304 prohibits rent control statewide. No jurisdiction in Gooding County may enact rent stabilization. Month-to-month rent increases require 30 days’ prior written notice before the rent due date.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap under Idaho law. Idaho Code § 6-321 requires return of the deposit or itemized written deductions within 21 days of tenancy end (up to 30 if lease specifies). Failure to comply forfeits the right to withhold and exposes the landlord to 3× damages plus attorney fees. Move-in and move-out condition documentation is essential at all rent levels.
The Dairy Workforce and Rental Market
Gooding County’s status as Idaho’s leading dairy county has produced one of the most distinctive demographic transformations of any Idaho county. Large-scale dairies — operating year-round, 365 days a year — require consistent staffing for milking, feeding, herd management, and sanitation operations. This demand converted what was historically a seasonal Hispanic migrant workforce into a permanent community. Today approximately 30% of Gooding County residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, with a significant proportion working in the dairy industry and associated processing and logistics sectors. Dairy workers typically receive steady paychecks, year-round employment, and increasingly, employer-sponsored housing (particularly on larger operations). Landlords in Gooding and Wendell serve the portion of the dairy workforce that lives in town and commutes to operations outside city limits. These are generally stable tenants with consistent income.
Trout and Specialty Agriculture
The Hagerman Valley, where springs issuing from the basalt cliffs above the Snake River produce an extraordinarily stable flow of 58°F groundwater, is one of the most productive commercial rainbow trout farming environments in the United States. Gooding County’s trout farms produce a significant share of the commercial rainbow trout consumed in North America. The stable spring water temperature — neither too cold in winter nor too warm in summer — allows year-round production at a level rarely achievable in surface water systems. Specialty onions from the county command premium prices in certain markets. These agricultural niches complement the dairy sector and provide employment diversity that stabilizes the county’s economic base.
Fair Housing in a Diverse Community
With approximately 30% of the population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, Gooding County’s landlords must apply screening criteria consistently and without discrimination on the basis of national origin, race, or language. Federal fair housing law (Fair Housing Act) prohibits discriminatory practices in any aspect of the rental transaction, including advertising, screening, lease terms, and enforcement. Consistent, documented income and rental history criteria applied uniformly to all applicants is the legal and practical standard.
Idaho Code §§ 6-301 et seq. — statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Gooding County
⚡ Quick Overview
3
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
3
Days Notice (Violation)
15-30
Avg Total Days
$166
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
Notice Period3 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes
Days to Hearing5-12 days
Days to Writ3-5 days
Total Estimated Timeline15-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$200-$500
⚠️ Watch Out
Idaho is very landlord-friendly with fast timelines. 3-day notice is one of the shortest in the nation. No state-mandated cure period beyond the notice.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Magistrate Court. Pay the filing fee (~$166).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Idaho eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Idaho attorney or local legal aid organization.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
Idaho landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in Idaho —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Idaho's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate Idaho-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Idaho requirements.
Calculate your required notice period and earliest filing date
📋 Notice Period Calculator
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
~15,715 residents; growing. Gooding (county seat, ~3,707; Idaho School for Deaf & Blind). Wendell (~2,917, “Hub City”). Hagerman (~940; fossil beds; Thousand Springs; trout farms). Bliss (~330). Idaho’s #1 dairy county. ~30% Hispanic/Latino. Trout farming (national leader). Specialty onions. Hagerman Fossil Beds NM. Malad Gorge. Named for Frank R. Gooding (7th Idaho governor). Colston Loveland (NFL TE, Chicago Bears, from Bliss). Median HH income ~$62K. No local ordinances. 3-day nonpayment notice. No deposit cap; 21-day return. No rent control. 5th JD, 624 Main St, Gooding, (208) 934-4221.
Gooding County
Screen Before You Sign
Best profiles: Year-round dairy operation employees (verify employment letter + pay stubs; stable income); Idaho School for the Deaf & Blind state employees; North Canyon Medical Center healthcare staff; trout farm year-round employees; Gooding/Wendell school district staff; county government employees. For dairy workers: income is year-round but verify through employer letters — larger operations have formal HR. Apply fair housing criteria consistently regardless of national origin. 3x income-to-rent standard. Run Idaho court records.
Dairy Country and Fossil Beds: Landlording in Gooding County, Idaho
Gooding County is not a county most Americans could find on a map, but it occupies a significant place in the food supply chain of the American West. As Idaho’s leading dairy county — a distinction it holds by a comfortable margin — Gooding County’s large-scale confined dairy operations produce milk that feeds a regional processing industry centered on cheese, whey protein, and fluid milk markets. The industry has fundamentally reshaped the county’s demographic profile over three decades, and understanding that reshaping is essential for any landlord operating in Gooding, Wendell, Hagerman, or the surrounding agricultural communities. Idaho Code §§ 6-301 et seq. governs all residential tenancies here.
How Dairy Transformed the County
The transition from migrant agricultural worker to permanent community member is one of the more consequential economic and social developments in Idaho’s Magic Valley over the past generation. Large dairies — operations with hundreds or thousands of cows — require year-round staffing 365 days a year, every day including holidays. There is no dairy off-season. This fundamental difference from field crops, which have clear planting and harvest peaks with winter off-seasons, means that dairy workers who settle in Gooding County have reason to stay permanently: the jobs don’t disappear in winter. Over the years, Hispanic and Latino workers who came initially as seasonal agricultural laborers established families, bought or rented homes, enrolled children in schools, and became fixtures of the community. Today approximately 30% of Gooding County identifies as Hispanic or Latino, and the communities of Gooding and Wendell have the Spanish-language services, community organizations, and cultural institutions that reflect a mature, established demographic community rather than a transient one.
The Hagerman Valley: Springs, Fish, and Fossils
The Hagerman Valley, where the Snake River carves through basalt cliffs below the Snake River Plain, is one of the most geologically and ecologically distinctive places in Idaho. Thousands of springs issue from the basalt cliffs at the valley edge, where the Snake River Plain aquifer surfaces — an extraordinarily consistent flow of 58°F groundwater year-round. This stable, cold spring water is the reason Gooding County is a national leader in commercial rainbow trout production: the temperature never varies enough to stress the fish, and the flow never stops. Trout farms at Thousand Springs produce a substantial share of the commercial rainbow trout sold in North American supermarkets and restaurants.
The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, headquartered in Hagerman though located on the west side of the Snake River in Twin Falls County, preserves one of the richest fossil deposits in North America. The site is most famous for the Hagerman Horse — Equus simplicidens — the oldest known equid of the genus Equus, which lived in this valley approximately 3.5 million years ago. The monument is also the site of fossils from mastodons, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, and dozens of other Pliocene-era species. The visitor center in Hagerman draws a steady stream of paleontology-minded tourists and school groups that contribute to the local service economy.
Colston Loveland and Small-Town Pride
In 2025, Gooding County got an unexpected moment in the national sports spotlight: Colston Loveland, who grew up in Bliss — a community of about 330 people on Interstate 84 in western Gooding County — was selected 10th overall in the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, making him the highest-drafted tight end of the 2025 draft class. Loveland attended Gooding High School and played college football at the University of Michigan, where he was part of the 2023 national championship team. His small-town Idaho roots were a notable part of his draft story, and for the county, his selection represented a remarkable point of pride.
Filing Evictions in Gooding County
The Gooding County District Court at 624 Main Street in Gooding serves the Fifth Judicial District. Main: (208) 934-4221; General: (208) 934-4225. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Idaho’s 3-day nonpayment notice and Unlawful Detainer process apply throughout the county. Landlords should serve all notices formally — certified mail or personal service — and document service with a signed affidavit of service before filing at the courthouse. Following a judgment, the tenant has 72 hours to vacate before the Gooding County Sheriff enforces a Writ of Possession.
Gooding County landlord-tenant matters governed by Idaho Code §§ 6-301 et seq. (evictions), §§ 6-320 and 6-321 (security deposits), and §§ 55-208 and 55-307 (tenancy and notice). Nonpayment: 3-day pay or vacate. Lease violation: 3-day perform or quit. No-cause termination (month-to-month): 30-day written notice. Security deposit: no cap; return within 21 days (up to 30 if lease specifies); 3x penalty for improper handling. No rent control (Idaho Code § 55-304). No local landlord-tenant ordinances. Eviction: Unlawful Detainer at Gooding County District Court (5th Judicial District), 624 Main St, PO Box 417, Gooding, ID 83330; Main (208) 934-4221; General (208) 934-4225; Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. 72-hour post-judgment vacate; Writ of Possession if tenant remains. Consult a licensed Idaho attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Gooding County, Idaho and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed Idaho attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: May 2026.
