Lincoln County occupies 1,206 square miles of south-central Idaho between the Snake River Plain and the Wood River Valley, strategically positioned along US Highway 93 between Twin Falls (26 miles south) and Hailey (about 35 miles north). Named for President Abraham Lincoln — under whose administration Idaho Territory was established in 1863 — the county was created in 1895 from Blaine County and subsequently partitioned multiple times, with portions eventually becoming Gooding, Minidoka, and Jerome counties. Today Lincoln County includes three incorporated towns: Shoshone (the county seat), Richfield, and Dietrich. The county is part of the Hailey, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area, reflecting its economic connection to Blaine County’s Wood River Valley.
Lincoln County’s most significant recent economic development is its emergence as a bedroom community for workers employed in Blaine County’s Sun Valley resort economy. The dramatic cost-of-living differential between Ketchum/Sun Valley (one of the most expensive resort communities in the American West) and Shoshone/Lincoln County has driven a commuter migration of hospitality workers, tradespeople, service employees, and increasingly, remote workers and retirees who can access Sun Valley amenities at a fraction of the housing cost. This dynamic pushed Lincoln County onto the list of 12 Idaho counties that outpaced the state’s growth rate in 2024. The county’s traditional economic base — large-scale dairies, Glanbia Food’s whey processing plant in Richfield, Rocky Mountain Hardware’s high-end brass fixture manufacturing in Shoshone, and dryland grain and hay farming — provides year-round employment that complements the commuter economy.
All landlord-tenant matters in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County District Court (Fifth Judicial District), 111 W. B Street, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352, (208) 886-2173. Idaho prohibits rent control statewide.
Shoshone (~1,653; US-93 junction; railroad heritage; “Gateway to Sun Valley”)
Population
~5,127 (2020 census); ~5,329 (2024 est.); outpaced Idaho state growth rate in 2024
Key Communities
Shoshone (~1,653), Richfield (~400; Glanbia plant), Dietrich (~300; Silver Creek area), Picabo (unincorp.)
Metro
Hailey, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area; 26 mi north of Twin Falls; ~35 mi south of Hailey; ~1 hr to Ketchum/Sun Valley
Principal Economy
Large dairies; Glanbia Food whey processing (Richfield); Rocky Mountain Hardware (high-end brass fixtures, Shoshone); dryland wheat, barley, hay; commuter housing for Blaine County/Sun Valley workers; BLM facility (Shoshone)
Key Growth Driver
Bedroom community for Sun Valley/Blaine County workers — massive cost-of-living gap makes Shoshone attractive for resort-economy commuters
Recreation/Attractions
Shoshone Ice Caves; Idaho’s Mammoth Cave (largest volcanic cave open to public); Silver Creek (world-class spring creek fly fishing, near Picabo); Black Magic Canyon; proximity to Sun Valley skiing
Rail Heritage
Founded 1882 during Oregon Short Line construction; historically main Magic Valley railroad hub; Union Pacific Sun Valley spur connected here; former Amtrak stop
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide (Idaho Code § 55-304)
Landlord Rating
6/10 — Genuine growth driven by Sun Valley commuter demand; manufacturing stability; affordable relative to Blaine County; small market with upside; no local ordinances
⚖️ 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
Lincoln County District Court — Magistrate Division (5th Judicial District)
Courthouse Address
111 W. B St, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352
Court Phone
(208) 886-2173
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
Lincoln County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Idaho state law governs landlord-tenant matters — no supplemental local ordinances in Lincoln County or Shoshone
Category
Details
No Local Ordinances
Neither Lincoln County nor any of its incorporated cities — Shoshone, Richfield, or Dietrich — has enacted local landlord-tenant ordinances supplementing Idaho state law. No rental registration requirements, no just-cause eviction provisions, 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 Lincoln 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 Sun Valley Commuter Effect
The cost of living in Ketchum and Sun Valley is extreme by Idaho standards — median home prices regularly exceed $1 million, and rental rates for modest units run $2,000–$4,000+ per month. For the hospitality workers, tradespeople, ski resort employees, construction workers, retail staff, and service sector employees who work in Blaine County’s resort economy, Lincoln County offers a dramatically more affordable alternative. Shoshone is approximately one hour south of Ketchum on US Highway 93 — a commute that many Sun Valley workers are willing to make to access housing that may cost 40–60% less than Wood River Valley options. This dynamic has made Shoshone a genuine growth community in recent years, with new households establishing themselves that did not exist in prior census periods. Landlords in Shoshone benefit from this structural demand that is unlikely to reverse as long as Blaine County’s resort economy remains strong.
Manufacturing and Agricultural Stability
Rocky Mountain Hardware, which machines high-end architectural brass hardware for national markets from its Shoshone facility, provides stable year-round manufacturing employment at wages above the agricultural baseline. Glanbia Food’s whey processing plant in Richfield employs dairy-adjacent processing workers. The county’s large dairies — which grew significantly over the past two decades — add year-round dairy operation employment. Combined, these industrial and manufacturing employers provide a stable rental tenant base independent of the commuter economy fluctuations.
Silver Creek and Recreation Tourism
Silver Creek, a spring-fed stream near Picabo in Lincoln County, is one of the most famous fly fishing destinations in North America — Ernest Hemingway famously fished its waters. The Nature Conservancy manages the Silver Creek Preserve, and the stream draws fly anglers from across the country each summer, adding a seasonal tourism economic contribution to the county. The Shoshone Ice Caves and Idaho’s Mammoth Cave draw visitors year-round. These recreation assets support Shoshone’s small hospitality and retail sector without fundamentally reshaping the housing market.
Idaho Code §§ 6-301 et seq. — statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Lincoln 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.
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⚠️ 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.
~5,329 residents (2024 est.); outpaced Idaho state growth rate in 2024. Shoshone (~1,653; county seat; US-93; railroad heritage; “Gateway to Sun Valley”). Richfield (~400; Glanbia whey plant). Dietrich (~300; Silver Creek area). Hailey MSA. 26 mi north of Twin Falls; ~1 hr to Ketchum/Sun Valley. Bedroom community for Blaine County resort workers (cost-of-living gap). Rocky Mountain Hardware (Shoshone). Large dairies. Silver Creek fly fishing (Picabo). Shoshone Ice Caves. Idaho’s Mammoth Cave. No local ordinances. 3-day nonpayment notice. No deposit cap; 21-day return. No rent control. 5th JD, 111 W. B St Suite C, Shoshone, (208) 886-2173.
Lincoln County
Screen Before You Sign
Best profiles: Rocky Mountain Hardware manufacturing employees (year-round, stable income; Shoshone); Glanbia Food processing plant workers (Richfield); Blaine County commuters employed in Sun Valley resort, hospitality, construction, or services industries (verify employment letter; confirm commute situation; year-round vs. seasonal employment is key distinction); BLM Shoshone Field Office employees; Shoshone School District staff; county government employees; large dairy operation year-round managers. For Sun Valley seasonal workers: consider fixed-term leases tied to resort season. 3x income-to-rent minimum. Run Idaho court records.
Gateway to Sun Valley: Landlording in Lincoln County, Idaho
Lincoln County has discovered a new economic identity. For most of its history since its creation in 1895, the county was defined by the same forces that shaped the rest of the Magic Valley: railroad commerce through Shoshone, irrigated and dryland agriculture across the Snake River Plain, and the slow rhythms of ranching and small-town life. That history has not disappeared — the dairies are still there, Rocky Mountain Hardware still machines high-end brass hardware in Shoshone, and Glanbia’s whey plant still processes milk in Richfield. But layered on top of that traditional economy is something new: a growing bedroom community function driven by the extraordinary cost-of-living gap between Lincoln County and its neighbor to the north, Blaine County. Idaho Code §§ 6-301 et seq. governs all residential tenancies here.
The Sun Valley Cost-of-Living Escape Valve
Sun Valley and Ketchum are among the most expensive communities in Idaho and among the most expensive resort towns in the American West. Median home prices in Ketchum regularly exceed $1 million; rental units that might cost $800–$1,200 per month in Shoshone can run $2,500–$4,000+ in the Wood River Valley. For the thousands of workers who staff the Sun Valley resort, Ketchum’s restaurants and shops, the construction trades that serve the valley’s endless renovation market, and the service industries that support one of Idaho’s wealthiest residential communities, this cost differential creates an obvious solution: live in Shoshone and commute north.
US Highway 93 connects Shoshone directly to Ketchum in approximately one hour under normal conditions. This commute, while meaningful, is manageable for workers whose alternative is paying resort-town rents on service-industry wages. In recent years, this dynamic has made Shoshone a genuine growth community — Lincoln County was among the twelve Idaho counties that outpaced the state’s overall growth rate in 2024, a distinction that puts it in company with Ada, Canyon, Kootenai, and other Idaho growth engines. For a county of 5,000 people that has historically been overshadowed by its neighbors, this is a meaningful shift.
Shoshone’s Railroad Heritage
Shoshone was founded in 1882 during the construction of the Union Pacific’s Oregon Short Line across southern Idaho. Its position at the junction of the main line with the spur north to Ketchum made it the principal railroad hub for the Magic Valley for decades. The Union Pacific built Sun Valley resort in 1936 specifically to generate ridership on this northern spur, and the resort’s transformation from a railroad-era destination to a year-round luxury community has ironically made it more accessible by car (via US-93) than by rail. Shoshone served as an Amtrak stop for years, one of the few in south-central Idaho. Today the railroad heritage is visible in the town’s grid layout and some of its older commercial architecture along the main street, and in the continued presence of Union Pacific freight operations through the corridor.
Silver Creek and Hemingway Country
Near the unincorporated community of Picabo in Lincoln County, Silver Creek flows cold and clear from springs in the basalt aquifer, maintaining a near-constant temperature year-round that creates ideal conditions for large rainbow and brown trout. Ernest Hemingway fished Silver Creek in his later years, and the stream has long been recognized among fly anglers as one of the premier spring creek fisheries in North America. The Nature Conservancy maintains the Silver Creek Preserve, protecting a stretch of the stream and its riparian habitat. The nearby Shoshone Ice Caves — a lava tube that maintains ice year-round due to cold air trapping — and Idaho’s Mammoth Cave, recognized as the largest volcanic cave open to the public in the United States, provide additional visitor draws that contribute to Shoshone’s modest tourism economy.
Filing Evictions in Shoshone
The Lincoln County District Court at 111 W. B Street, Suite C, in Shoshone serves the Fifth Judicial District. Phone: (208) 886-2173. 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 uniformly throughout the county. With Lincoln County’s growing population and increasing rental demand from Sun Valley commuters, maintaining proper lease documentation and formal notice procedures is an investment that pays dividends when disputes arise.
Lincoln 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 Lincoln County District Court (5th Judicial District), 111 W. B St, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352; (208) 886-2173; 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 Lincoln 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.
