House Lockout in Boise, ID

What a lockout involves in Boise

A house lockout means getting you back through a door you have the right to use, with as little damage as possible. What that takes depends on the building.

• North End. Generally the part of the city north of State Street, the North End has tree-lined drives such as Harrison Boulevard and is one of Boise's six residential historic districts. The city says most exterior changes in its historic districts need a Certificate of Appropriateness, so a lockout that ends with a replaced original door means asking preservation staff first. This is general information, not legal advice.
• Original South Boise. Platted in 1890, this triangular, 33-block neighborhood sits beside the Boise State University campus. In a rented building there, the locked door may be a shared entry rather than your own unit, and the landlord may hold a key.
• Detached houses. Census figures put 73.3 percent of Idaho homes in single-family detached houses, and such a house can have a front, back and garage door. Say which one is locked.

Have proof of address ready

Expect to be asked to show that you live there:

1. A photo ID showing the address.
2. If the ID shows an older address, a lease, a deed or a recent bill in your name at this one. More than a third of Boise households rent, so a lease is a common document to show.
3. If every document is inside, say so in your request.

Waiting outside on a Boise winter night

According to NOAA's Idaho climate summary, Boise's average January low is 25.5°F, so wait in a car or at a neighbor's home rather than on the step. If a child, an older adult or a pet is alone inside and could be at risk, call 911 first.

What to include in your request

Give the neighborhood and nearest cross streets, the type of building, which door is locked and its lock type (knob, deadbolt or keypad), and whether the keys are inside or lost. Lost or stolen keys call for lock rekeying once you are back in. The residential locksmith page lists related home services, and neighborhood notes are on the Boise page.