Star · Ada County, Idaho
We Buy Property in Star, Idaho
Star grew 61.4% between the 2020 census base and the 2024 estimate — from roughly 11,300 to 18,208 people, the fastest growth of any city in Ada County by a wide margin. It is also the only one that is not entirely in Ada County.
18,208
Residents
Census Bureau, Population Estimates Vintage 2024
61.4%
Growth
2020 census base to 2024 estimate, same vintage
Two
County
Ada County and Canyon County
SPANS 2 COUNTIES (Ada County, Canyon County). Never describe as wholly within Ada County. Jurisdiction-dependent facts must be qualified by which county part is meant.
Star sits in two counties
The Census place-to-county relationship file records Star as lying in both Ada County and Canyon County. The Ada County portion holds 18,155 people and the Canyon County portion 53, of a total 18,208.
The split is lopsided but it is not a technicality. Anything that depends on county jurisdiction — which assessor values the parcel, which recorder holds the deed, which county collects the tax — depends on which side of the line a specific property falls. Notice of a trustee's sale in Idaho must be published in each county where the property is situated, which for a Canyon-side Star property means Canyon County.
A one-time administrative split, without a public hearing
Star allows an original parcel to be divided once, administratively, into no more than two lots, parcels or sites — for transfer of ownership or for development. The process does not require a public hearing unless the city requires the applicant to plat the division.
For anyone holding land in Star that is a materially cheaper and faster path than a plat, and it is a Star rule. The other five Ada County cities each administer their own code and none of them has been checked against this, so do not assume it travels.
Flood zone does not mean no building permit
Star's planning department addresses this directly: development within certain flood zones requires a Flood Plain Development Permit and must meet the City's Flood Hazard Ordinance. Being in a flood zone does not by itself prevent a building permit.
The city asks owners to make an appointment with the planning department to have a property evaluated for flood zone location rather than determining it themselves.
Temporary living quarters for family
Star permits temporary living quarters in some cases to house an immediate family member, where the need is justified by health, employment or upkeep of the property. The structure may be permitted for two years and may not remain more than six.
That comes up more often than you would expect on inherited property and on parcels where a relative's manufactured home has been sitting for years.
Star Road is an irrigation boundary
Settlers Irrigation District describes its own western boundary as Star Road. The district delivers to 13,187 acres of agricultural and urban land through a 20-mile canal and 95 miles of laterals, running from the Boise River diversion at Ann Morrison Park south to Franklin Road and north to the Lower Bench.
Ada County's irrigation map names 27 separate entities operating in the county — districts, ditch companies, lateral associations and water companies. Which one serves a particular parcel is a question with a real answer, and it is not one you can settle from a map alone.
It matters because title to the Boise Project's transferred works remains with the United States. A lateral crossing a parcel near Star can sit on federally titled infrastructure, which changes who a landowner deals with about access, encroachment and maintenance.
Who administers what, on either side of the line
Land use inside Star is the city's, through its own development code. Everything else is county work, and for a property in the Ada County portion that means the Ada County Assessor values it, the Ada County Recorder holds the deed and the Ada County Treasurer collects the tax as ex officio tax collector for every district including the city and the schools.
For the small Canyon County portion, those same functions belong to Canyon County. It is a narrow case — 53 people by the 2024 estimate — but if a property sits there, every county-level answer changes.
Roads are neither. A single countywide highway district is responsible for city rights-of-way and their curbs, gutters and sidewalks; Idaho Code 40-1406 bars a city inside such a district from maintaining city highways or taxing for them.
Growth is projected to slow sharply
Having grown faster than anywhere else in the county, Star is projected by COMPASS to add only 12.3% more by 2050 — while Kuna is projected to grow 128.7% over the same period. Projections are not facts, and this one rests on assumptions about annexation, but the reversal is worth knowing about if you are deciding when to sell.
Elsewhere in Ada County
Where this comes from
Every factual statement above is traced to a published source, quoted below in the source's own words. Statutes and county practice change; each entry carries the date we last checked it.
2020 Census Place to County Relationship File — Idaho
U.S. Census Bureau
Star is an incorporated city lying in both Ada County and Canyon County.
“ID|16|76870|Star city|Incorporated Place|A|Ada County, Canyon County”
Checked 2026-09-09
Idaho Code § 45-1506 — Manner of foreclosure — Notice — Sale
Idaho State Legislature
Notice of an Idaho trustee's sale must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each county where the property sits, once a week for four successive weeks, with the last publication at least 30 days before the sale.
“published in a newspaper of general circulation in each of the counties in which the property is situated once a week for four (4) successive weeks...with the last publication to be at least thirty (30) days prior to the day of sale”
Checked 2026-09-09
Planning & Zoning FAQ — City of Star, Idaho
City of Star
In the City of Star an original parcel may be divided one time administratively into no more than two lots, parcels or sites, without a public hearing, unless the City requires the applicant to plat the division.
“An original parcel of land may be divided one time, administratively, into not more than two (2) lots, parcels, or sites for transfer of ownership or development. This process does not require a public hearing, unless the City requires the applicant to plat the land division.”
Checked 2026-09-09
In the City of Star, development within certain flood zones requires a Flood Plain Development Permit and must meet the City's Flood Hazard Ordinance; being in a flood zone does not by itself prevent obtaining a building permit.
“Development within certain flood zones requires a Flood Plain Development Permit and must meet the requirements of the City's Flood Hazard Ordinance.”
Checked 2026-09-09
The City of Star permits temporary living quarters in some cases to house an immediate family member where justified by health, employment or upkeep of the property; the structure may be permitted for two years and may not remain more than six years.
“Temporary living quarters are permitted in the City, in some cases, to house a member of the immediate family. The need for temporary living quarters for a family member must be justified for reasons of health, employment, or upkeep on the property. The structure may be permitted for two years and may not remain for more than six years.”
Checked 2026-09-09
About — Settlers Irrigation District
Settlers Irrigation District
Settlers Irrigation District delivers irrigation water to 13,187 acres of agricultural and urban land in western Ada County — the West Boise, Meridian and South Eagle areas — via a 20-mile canal and 95 miles of laterals.
“Settlers Irrigation District continues to deliver irrigation water to 13,187 acres of both agricultural and urban lands located in West Boise, Meridian, and South Eagle areas.”
Checked 2026-09-09
Irrigation Districts Map — Ada County Development Services
Ada County Development Services
Ada County's own irrigation districts map identifies 27 separate irrigation entities operating in the county — irrigation districts, ditch companies, lateral associations, water companies and a drainage district — plus the Boise Project Board of Control as operating agent.
Checked 2026-09-09
About — Boise Project Board of Control
Boise Project Board of Control
Title to the Boise Project's transferred works — including Diversion Dam, the New York Canal, the Lake Lowell embankments and roughly 1,500 miles of canals, laterals and drains — remains in the United States.
“These facilities are referred to as "transferred works" and include all of the facilities beginning at Diversion Dam on the Boise River, and including the New York Canal, the embankments at Lake Lowell and approximately 1500 miles of canals, laterals, and drains. Title to the "transferred works" remains in the United States.”
Checked 2026-09-09
Treasurer — Ada County
Ada County
The Ada County Treasurer serves as ex officio tax collector, responsible for collecting the property taxes levied by all taxing districts including cities and schools.
“The Treasurer serves as ex officio tax collector, responsible for the collection of property taxes levied by the taxing districts, including cities and schools.”
Checked 2026-09-09
Idaho Code § 40-1406 — Powers and duties of highway commissioners — One highway district in county — Highway powers of cities in county abolished — Laws in conflict superseded
Idaho State Legislature
Amendment history
[40-1406, added 1985, ch. 253, sec. 2, p. 659; am. 1988, ch. 298, sec. 1, p. 942; am. 2023, ch. 306, sec. 1, p. 920.]
A city inside a countywide highway district may not maintain or supervise city highways, and may not levy ad valorem taxes for their construction, repair or maintenance.
“No city included within a county-wide highway district shall maintain or supervise any city highways or levy any ad valorem taxes for the construction, repair or maintenance of city highways.”
Checked 2026-09-09
Comprehensive Population Demographics — Ada County
Ada County
COMPASS projects Ada County will reach 715,820 by 2050, but the growth is projected to be very unevenly distributed: Kuna +128.7%, Eagle +50.6%, Garden City +42.0%, Meridian +34.8%, Boise +25.8%, Star +12.3%, while unincorporated Ada County is projected to LOSE 36.0% of its population.
“Unincorporated Ada County is projected to see a decrease of 22,920 residents by 2050, based on the assumption the cities will have annexed all of the area within their current ACI boundaries by that time.”
Checked 2026-09-09
Start with the address.
One field. We will look at the parcel and the comparable sales, then come back with a number and the working behind it. No obligation, and no pressure if the answer is that you should list it instead.
Serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Star, Garden City and unincorporated Ada County.