Operative Text
As used in these rules: (7-1-24) 01. Tenant -- Mobile Home Park. A tenant of a mobile home park is a person defined as a resident and not a transient by the Manufactured Home Residency Act, Section 55-2001 et seq., Idaho Code, and in particular by Section 55-2003(164) and 55-2003(195), Idaho Code. (7-1-24) 02. Tenant -- Multi-Unit Residential or Commercial Building. A tenant of a multi-unit residential building is a person who is not a transient and who intends to reside in or be a commercial tenant in one (1) of the building’s units for a period not less than one (1) month. (7-1-24) 03. Master-Metering. Provision of service to multiple tenants through one meter, which measures the aggregate usage of all tenants. Typically, the utility bills the property owner or landlord based on measurement by the master meter. (7-1-24)
IDAPA 31.26.01 § 005 establishes the foundational definitions that govern how Idaho's utility-related rules apply to different rental situations. It distinguishes between mobile home park tenants—defined by reference to Idaho's Manufactured Home Residency Act—and tenants of multi-unit residential or commercial buildings, who must intend to stay at least one month and not be classified as transients. The rule also defines master-metering as a setup where a single meter tracks the combined utility usage of all tenants in a property, with the utility billing the landlord or property owner directly.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under IDAPA 31.26.01 § 005, property owners and managers operating under a master-metering arrangement receive a single utility bill covering all tenants' aggregate consumption, which means compliant operators typically maintain clear internal systems for allocating or recovering utility costs from tenants. Landlords of multi-unit residential or commercial buildings should be aware that these rules apply to occupants who intend to stay at least one month and are not classified as transients, so the nature of the tenancy affects which regulatory obligations apply. Mobile home park operators are subject to a separate definitional framework tied to the Manufactured Home Residency Act, Idaho Code § 55-2001 et seq., and should be familiar with those cross-referenced provisions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
IDAPA 31.26.01 § 005 sets out who qualifies as a tenant under Idaho's utility rules, which can affect rights related to how utility services are billed and allocated. Tenants in multi-unit buildings who intend to stay at least one month and are not transients, as well as residents of mobile home parks as defined under Idaho Code § 55-2003, fall within the scope of these protections. Those who believe their tenancy classification or utility billing arrangement may be misapplied can look into filing a complaint with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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