Idaho Governor Approves Amendments to Local Self-Storage Legislation

Idaho Governor Brad Little signed House Bill (HB 576) into law on April 2, updating the state’s self-storage laws in three key areas. HB 576 takes effect on July 1, according to according to an April 22 email newsletter from the national Self Storage Association (SSA) to its members.

The new bill gives self-storage operators direction for disposing of property that’s left behind in a unit after a tenant in good standing vacates the space. The language is intended to apply to renters whose agreements are terminated for a reason other than non-payment. Operators may now discard of the property at their discretion, including a lien sale.

In addition, HB 576 recognizes that self-storage rental agreements may be delivered and signed electronically. It also states that the lease is binding after 14 days even if the customer fails to sign it. If the customer becomes delinquent, late fees can then be applied and the space is subject to a lien sale.

Finally, the law was amended to permit vehicle towing for reasons other than nonpayment by customers.

The SSA represents more than 22,000 U.S. and international member-affiliated self-storage facilities, according to its website. It’s allied with several state and international self-storage associations and has about 6,000 members.