Clearwater County, Idaho Eviction Risk: Very Low

Clearwater County sits in north-central Idaho along the Clearwater River corridor, covering a mostly rural population of 4,064 residents. The county receives a Low eviction risk score of 2/10 from the Eviction Risk Map research team, placing it 29th out of Idaho eviction laws's 44 counties - meaning 28 counties carry higher risk and 15 are more landlord-favorable. That middle-third position reflects a county where tenant financial stress is present but the legal environment keeps landlord remedies accessible and low-cost by national standards.

Renters make up 21.4% of occupied housing units in Clearwater County, a notably low share that reflects the region's owner-occupant character. Those who do rent pay an average of $982 per month, producing an average rent burden of 31.7% of household income - above the 30% threshold generally considered cost-stressed. Poverty sits at 10.1% of the population, a figure that can translate into payment-default risk during economic downturns even in low-risk rural markets. The county's four tracked cities range from a low of 1.7/10 in Pierce to a high of 2/10 in Orofino, indicating consistent conditions rather than a single high-pressure hotspot.

Orofino eviction risk (population 3,260) is by far the largest community and the county seat, anchoring the local rental market at a risk score of 2/10. Pierce (pop. 360), Weippe (pop. 320), and Elk River (pop. 124) round out the county's cities with scores between 1.7 and 1.8. Idaho state law governs all evictions here under Idaho Code § 6-301 et seq. (Forcible Entry and Detainer). Landlords may serve a 3-day notice for non-payment or lease violations and a 30-day notice for no-cause terminations. There is no just-cause requirement and Idaho preempts any local rent control ordinance, so no city in Clearwater County can cap rent increases. Court filing fees run $160 to $260, sheriff lockout fees $30 to $120, and uncontested evictions typically close in 21 to 45 days. Contested cases extend to 45 to 120 days, and attorney costs typically range from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity.

Clearwater County's Low risk score reflects a small, owner-dominant rural market where Idaho eviction laws's landlord-favorable statutes - short notice periods, no rent caps, and low court costs - keep the legal process predictable even when tenant financial stress reaches the 31.7% average rent burden level observed here.