In Idaho, as of 2025, new laws have significantly restricted the ability to sleep in vehicles on public property. Senate Bill 1141, which took effect in July 2025, bans camping or sleeping on public property statewide, including in motor vehicles. This law applies to most passenger vehicles and recreational vehicles and broadly defines “public camping or sleeping” to include sitting, lying, or sleeping in a temporary outdoor habitation such as a car or RV for a “prolonged amount of time,” though the exact duration is not precisely defined.
The legislation specifically prohibits sleeping in public spaces like streets, parks, and other public land in Idaho’s larger cities—Boise, Caldwell, Meridian, and Nampa, which have populations over 100,000. These cities are legally required to enforce the ban, with penalties for non-compliance potentially including fines up to $10,000 against cities that fail to enforce the law. The law does exempt commercial vehicle drivers from this restriction but does not provide exceptions for typical passenger vehicles.
While the law is designed primarily to prevent homeless encampments and address public property concerns, it effectively criminalizes sleeping in cars or RVs parked on public property anywhere in these cities, even if the vehicle is legally parked. This has raised concerns among advocates for the homeless and individuals who rely on their vehicles for shelter, as the availability of emergency shelter beds is limited in the region.
Despite these restrictions on public property, the law does not prohibit overnight parking or sleeping on private property with the owner’s permission or in designated camping areas, such as state parks meant for recreational camping. Additionally, authorities emphasize the importance of drivers getting adequate rest to prevent drowsy driving but under the new legislation, sleeping in a vehicle for extended periods on public property is banned.
Sleeping in a car in Idaho in 2025 is legal in private or designated areas but prohibited on public property in most populated cities under Senate Bill 1141. This law reflects a tightening of regulations that directly impacts those seeking refuge in their vehicles in public spaces, with significant penalties for violations, and continues to be a subject of debate regarding homelessness and public safety in Idaho.
Sources
[1] https://idahofreedom.org/senate-bill-1141-public-camping-ban-statewide/
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/VanLife/comments/1jm40dz/idaho_will_ban_sleeping_in_vehicleseven_in_cities/
[3] https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/new-idaho-law-isnt-anti-camping-its-anti-survival-housing-advocates-brace-change
[4] https://teamjustice.com/is-it-illegal-to-sleep-in-your-car/
[5] https://www.dailyfly.com/2025/06/30/new-idaho-law-banning-camping-on-public-property-goes-into-effect-on-tuesday/
