Non-compete laws · ID
Idaho physician non-compete law
As of October 21, 2026, Idaho has no statute specific to physician non-competes; general non-compete law and court decisions apply.
No physician-specific statuteChecked 2026-10-21
Idaho Code § 44-2701 et seq. permits non-competes with 'key employees' and 'key independent contractors' if reasonable in duration, area and scope. Up to 18 months is presumed reasonable; longer requires added consideration. Courts must modify overbroad terms. No physician-specific statute. (Idaho Code § 44-2701)
Limits in the law
- Post-employment restriction may exceed 18 months only if consideration beyond employment or continued employment is given (§ 44-2704(1)).
- Agreement must be written, protect the employer's legitimate business interests (goodwill, customers, referral sources, trade secrets, etc.), and be no broader than reasonably necessary (§ 44-2701).
- Rebuttable presumptions of reasonableness: 18 months or less; area limited to where the worker provided services or had significant presence; scope limited to the worker's type of employment or line of business (§ 44-2704(2)-(4)).
- The highest-paid 5% of an employer's employees/contractors are presumed key employees; the worker may rebut by showing no ability to harm the employer's legitimate business interests (§ 44-2704(5)).
- Courts shall limit or modify unreasonable covenants and enforce them as modified (§ 44-2703).
Who it covers
Key employees and key independent contractors of any employer; no clinician-specific provisions.
Exceptions
- Chapter does not limit protection of trade secrets or other proprietary/confidential information (§ 44-2704(1))
Notes
Chapter last amended 2018. The 18-month figure is a rebuttable presumption, not a cap. 2025 HB 486 was filed and never advanced; no 2026 noncompete bill.
Bills that have not become law
Non-compete bills from the 2025 and 2026 sessions that had not become law as of 2026-10-21, furthest along first. A bill that died has to be filed again to move in 2027. The 2027 session starts 2027-01-11 and ends no fixed date (usually early April).
- H 486 (2025) · All workers
Would void covenants not to compete except sale/dissolution of business and executives earning >$250,000
Introduced · Died. Introduced 2025-04-03 (Rep. Achilles), read first time, referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration for printing; reported printed; 'Filed Office Chief Clerk'; died at sine die 2025-04-04
Sources
- Idaho Code § 44-2701 (statute)
- Idaho Code § 44-2702 (statute)
- Idaho Code § 44-2703 (statute)
- Idaho Code § 44-2704 (statute)
Questions to ask about your contract
- Is the radius measured from your practice site or from every location the employer owns?
- Does the restriction apply if the employer terminates you without cause?
- Is there a buyout, and how is the amount calculated?
- What does your state's law say about physician non-competes?
Not legal advice. This page summarizes the law as written. Whether a particular agreement is enforceable depends on its wording, when it was signed and court decisions. Ask an attorney licensed in Idaho.