Apply, Upload Plans, Schedule Inspections and Close a Boise Building Permit
Boise uses more than one online step. You start the permit in Accela, then many plan-based applications move to the separate ePlanReview system after the city emails an invitation.
This guide explains that workflow, the 7:30 AM inspection cutoff, homeowner permit rules, zoning and historic-district checks, erosion-control triggers, permit records, fees, certificates and the exact contacts to use when a file stalls.
What Do You Need to Do?
Boise Building, Planning, Records and Inspection Contacts
Boise Next-Step Finder
Select your situation to get the correct official route.
Confirm the Address Is Inside Boise City Limits
Use the City of Boise when
- The property is inside Boise city limits.
- Boise’s permit search recognizes the address or parcel.
- The city is the building-permit authority for the project.
- The PDS Records Center has Boise construction history for the site.
Verify before filing when
- The mailing address says Boise but the parcel may be unincorporated Ada County.
- The property is near Meridian, Garden City or Eagle.
- The address is in Boise’s Area of City Impact rather than city limits.
- The site is a state or institutional property with another authority.
Which Boise Projects Need Building or Trade Permits?
Project |
Boise rule |
Next check |
|---|---|---|
Wood deck or concrete patio |
Permit over 12 inches above grade |
Planning setbacks and property-line location |
Garden shed |
No building permit at 200 sq. ft. or less, except floodplain |
Planning setbacks when over 120 sq. ft.; floodplain status |
Pergola or gazebo |
Permit over 200 sq. ft. |
Structural engineering and height limits may apply |
Attached patio cover |
Building permit required |
Footings, spans, wall connection and wind stability |
Driveway |
No building permit |
Planning and Zoning approval is still required |
Kitchen or bathroom remodel |
Depends on scope |
Permit if framing is exposed, walls are built or plumbing is relocated |
Painting, cabinets, countertops or floor covering |
Normally exempt |
Confirm no structural, plumbing, electrical or mechanical work is hidden in scope |
Roof, windows or siding |
Online homeowner permit available |
Historic-district Certificate of Appropriateness |
Excavation or soil disturbance |
ESC review at 10+ cubic yards |
Responsible Person certification for contractors |
Outdoor lighting |
Low voltage exempt; 110-volt permit required |
Electrical permit and zoning-lighting standards |
Furnace, air conditioner, ducts or vents |
Mechanical permit generally required |
Licensed contractor unless homeowner performs qualifying work |
New building, addition or ADU |
Planning + building review |
Zoning, site plan, utilities, grading, fire and erosion control |
Apply Online Without Missing the Separate Plan-Upload Step
Create the Permitting & Licensing account
Select Register Account, accept the terms, add an email and create contact information.
Use the application wizard or correct permit record
Choose the residential, commercial, fire, erosion-control or trade record that matches the complete scope.
Enter the property and project details
Use the correct address, parcel, owner, applicant, contractor, description and project value.
Select Electronic when plans are required
Boise’s FAQ says electronic plans are submitted through ePlanReview, which is separate from the Accela permitting site.
Register for ePlanReview before uploading
Create the separate ePlanReview user account and upload coordinated plan files after the invitation arrives.
Respond to every review discipline
Building, Planning, Public Works, Fire, plumbing, mechanical or another reviewer may add comments.
Pay fees and confirm permit issuance
Building permit fees are paid in the portal through the ePay search function. Do not start because plans are approved.
Prepare These Items Before You Start the Online Record
Property and zoning
- Exact Boise address
- Parcel number
- City-limits confirmation
- Zoning district
- Historic/flood overlays
- Existing legal use
Project information
- Clear scope of work
- Project valuation
- Existing conditions
- Proposed dimensions
- Occupancy/use change
- Trade breakdown
Plans and professionals
- Site plan
- Floor plans
- Structural details
- Energy documents
- Contractor registration
- Owner authorization
Check Zoning, Historic District and Site Conditions Early
Planning and zoning
208-608-7100
zoninginfo@cityofboise.org
Ask about use, setbacks, height, lot coverage, parking, accessory structures and planning applications.
Historic district
Boise says many projects such as windows, siding and tree removal require a Certificate of Appropriateness before the building permit or work begins.
Planning appointments
Appointments can be scheduled from 12 hours ahead up to 14 days ahead. Friday planning service is by appointment.
Check Soil Disturbance, Grading, Sewer and Drainage Dependencies
10 cubic yards or more
Boise’s homeowner guide says an erosion and sediment control permit is required whenever 10 cubic yards or more of earth is disturbed at a site.
Contractor certification
Contractors who must obtain an ESC permit need an ESC Responsible Person certification. Homeowners doing the work are exempt from that certification requirement.
Stand-alone ESC
When significant soil disturbance does not otherwise need a building or grading permit, call 208-794-8996 about a stand-alone ESC permit.
Schedule a Boise Inspection Before 7:30 AM
Confirm the permit is valid
Inspection requests are accepted only for jobs with a valid permit. Check that fees, holds and prerequisite inspections are cleared.
Use the online account or call Building
Registered users listed as contacts on a Building or Trade permit may schedule online. You may also call 208-608-7070.
Select the correct inspection
Choose the exact building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or other stage. Do not request final while rough work remains open.
Add private access instructions
Boise allows private inspection notes such as gate or garage codes that are visible only to PDS employees and inspectors.
Leave work open and ready
Keep the permit and approved plans available. Do not cover framing, wiring, plumbing, mechanical or insulation work before approval.
Read and resolve the result
Correct every item before reinspection. A reinspection fee can be assessed when access is unavailable, work is incomplete, concealed or corrections remain unfinished.
Have ready
- Permit number
- Project address
- Inspection type
- Site contact
- Access instructions
- Approved plans
Closeout check
- Building final
- Electrical final
- Plumbing final
- Mechanical final
- Planning/Public Works checks
- Certificate or closed status
What the Boise Permit Status Means
Find a Boise Permit, Download the Permit Document or Request Old Records
Search Accela first
Search by record number, site address, parcel, contractor license or contact.
Download the issued permit
Boise’s FAQ says to open the record, select Documents, wait for the document list and choose the file named PDS-Permit.
Use the PDS Records Center for older material
Available records include commercial and residential permits, case files, subdivision plats, certificates of occupancy, microfiche and some utility, grading or landscaping records.
Describe the request precisely
Provide the address, parcel, approximate year, permit type, former owner or tenant and the exact record needed.
Use the Current Fee Schedule and Submit the Full Project Value
Separate fee schedules
Boise publishes separate schedules for building/fire alarm/fire sprinkler, electrical, mechanical/fuel gas, plumbing, erosion control, Planning and impact fees.
Open current Boise fee schedules
Avoid old calculators: Use the current city schedule and live portal invoice.
Pay through ePay
Log into the Permitting & Licensing account and use the ePay search function at the bottom of the Home page.
Building, Planning and Public Works fees may be paid together. Licensing and Fire Department permit fees may require separate payment handling.
Certificate of Value before issuance
Boise’s June 2026 form says a permit can be issued only after the Building Division receives and accepts a completed Certificate of Value.
The project value includes overhead, profit, finishes, roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, elevators, fire systems and other permanent equipment.
Final value after inspection
The contractor must submit a Final Certificate of Value with the updated scope and final contract value within 30 days after final inspection.
Owner-supplied equipment not included on the form may require a separate permit.
Who May Pull the Permit and Perform the Work?
Homeowner performing the work
- If acting as a sub-contractor, the homeowner must obtain the permit and physically perform that work.
- Homeowners can use the online wizard for qualifying plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fence, roof, window and siding permits.
- Once issued, homeowners may request a consultation from plumbing or mechanical inspectors before beginning.
Licensed or registered contractor
- If the homeowner is not performing the electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, the worker must hold the required Idaho registration or trade license.
- Boise requires an Idaho contractor registration number with the permit application unless an exemption applies.
- The portal user can be linked to a professional license or registration number.
Do Not Open a Boise Business Before Occupancy Approval
Certificate of Occupancy
Boise’s commercial guide says every tenant occupying commercial space must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy before opening for business.
No-construction move-in
Use the Commercial Occupancy Evaluation when the tenant is moving into a space and no code-required upgrades or tenant improvements are planned.
Tenant improvement
Use a commercial building permit when construction, accessibility, mechanical, plumbing, electrical or fire work is required.
Review |
Why it may apply |
What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
Building |
Occupancy, construction, accessibility and certificate |
Correct occupancy application or tenant-improvement permit |
Planning |
Use, parking, signs and zoning approval |
Proposed business is allowed at the address |
Fire |
Fire life safety, alarms, sprinklers and operations |
Fire inspection and system permits are complete |
Central District Health |
Food storage or food-related service |
Health approval stamp and inspection |
Public Works |
Address, sewer impact and plumbing fixtures |
Sewer impact or address requirements |
Boise Demolition Has a Separate Material-Reuse Process
Application and photos
The demolition application includes a material and waste-management estimate and prompts applicants to upload building and reusable-material photos.
Reuse response window
Boise says to allow up to five business days for reuse companies to express interest in available materials.
Closeout and bond
After work, submit diversion documentation, complete final inspection and contact the Permit Desk for bond release.
Boise Building Codes Currently Listed by the City
Code area |
Current Boise listing |
Practical use |
|---|---|---|
Building |
2018 IBC with Boise appendices and limited 2021 mass-timber provisions |
Commercial, multifamily and nonresidential construction |
Existing buildings |
2018 IEBC |
Alteration, repair, addition and change of occupancy |
Residential |
2018 IRC with listed appendices |
One- and two-family dwellings and qualifying residential work |
Energy |
2018 IECC |
Envelope, lighting and mechanical-energy requirements |
Electrical |
2023 NEC |
Electrical permits, wiring and equipment |
Fire |
2018 IFC with listed appendices and referenced standards |
Fire access, systems, occupancy and life safety |
Mechanical / fuel gas |
2018 IMC and IFGC for commercial and 3+ unit residential; IRC parts for one- and two-family |
HVAC, fuel gas, vents, ducts and appliances |
Plumbing |
2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code based on 2015 UPC |
Water, drainage, fixtures and medical gas |
Fix Common Boise Permit and Portal Problems
Problem |
Likely reason |
Practical fix |
|---|---|---|
Application is saved but not submitted |
It remains under Work in progress |
Open the Dashboard, complete missing sections and confirm submission |
No ePlanReview invitation |
Electronic was not selected, application is incomplete or email routing failed |
Check spam and the record, then contact permits@cityofboise.org with the record number |
Cannot schedule inspection |
User is not a listed permit contact or permit is invalid |
Ask Building to link the contact and check holds or issuance status |
Permit copy is missing |
Documents list has not loaded or wrong record opened |
Open Documents, wait for the list and select PDS-Permit |
Plans keep returning |
Only some comments were answered or disciplines conflict |
Use one response matrix and one coordinated revision set |
Fee seems too high or low |
Project value or trade breakdown is incomplete |
Review the Certificate of Value and current separate fee schedules |
Inspection fails for access |
Gate/garage code or safe access was not provided |
Add private access instructions to the request and reschedule |
Old residential plans requested |
Records Center does not provide residential construction drawings |
Ask what permit, inspection, microfiche or certificate records are available instead |
Business cannot open |
Occupancy, Fire, Health or Public Works approval remains open |
Ask for a written list of outstanding occupancy conditions |
Work differs from approved plans |
Field revision was made without approval |
Pause affected work and ask whether revised plans or an amendment are required |
What to Say When You Contact Boise PDS
“I am planning [exact work] at [address]. The structure is [property type]. Can you confirm the building, planning, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, ESC and historic approvals required before I start?”
“I submitted record [number] and selected electronic plans, but I have not received the ePlanReview invitation. Please confirm whether intake is complete and which email address is attached to the record.”
“I am a listed contact on permit [number] at [address], but the inspection option is unavailable. Please check whether the permit is valid and which hold or prerequisite remains.”
“I need the [permit/CO/case file/microfiche] for [address or parcel], approximately [year]. The former owner or tenant was [name]. Please advise what records are available.”
Do Not Consider the Boise Project Complete Until These Are Done
- City jurisdiction confirmed
- Zoning and overlays checked
- Planning approval completed
- Building and trade permits issued
- Approved plans available on site
- ESC/Public Works conditions resolved
- Building inspections passed
- Trade inspections passed
- Fire/Health conditions cleared
- Final Certificate of Value submitted
- CO or required certificate issued
- Final records saved
Boise Planning and Development Services Map
Open the Correct City of Boise Resource
City of Boise Building Permit FAQs
What is the correct Boise Building Division phone number?
The current Building Division number is 208-608-7070 and the permit email is permits@cityofboise.org. Phone assistance is published for 8:00 AM–4:30 PM on weekdays.
Where do I apply for a Boise building permit?
Use the City of Boise Permitting & Licensing portal powered by Accela. Register an account, add Applicant contact information and choose the permit record that matches the full project scope.
Why do I need both Accela and ePlanReview?
The application is created in Accela. When electronic plans are required, select Electronic during the application. Boise then emails an invitation to upload plans through the separate ePlanReview system.
What is the Boise inspection scheduling cutoff?
The official inspection page lists a 7:30 AM daily cutoff for both morning and afternoon requests. Morning inspections run 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and afternoon inspections run 1:00 PM–5:00 PM.
Does a small shed need a Boise building permit?
A garden shed of 200 square feet or less generally does not need a building permit unless it is in a floodplain. A shed over 120 square feet may still need Planning setback confirmation.
When does a Boise deck or patio need a permit?
Boise’s homeowner guide says a wooden deck or concrete patio needs a building permit when it is more than 12 inches above grade.
How do I download a copy of my Boise permit?
Search the record in the Permitting & Licensing portal, open Documents, wait for the file list and select the document named PDS-Permit.
How do I request older Boise construction records?
Use the PDS Records Center. Provide the address, parcel, approximate year and exact record type. The Center has permits, case files, plats, certificates and microfiche, but does not provide residential construction drawings.
Can a Boise homeowner perform permitted work?
A homeowner may perform qualifying work personally and pull the required permit. If someone else performs regulated electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, that person must hold the required Idaho registration or trade license.
Can a business open before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued?
No. Boise’s commercial occupancy guide says every tenant occupying commercial space must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy before opening for business.
Source and Accuracy Note
Building-Department.org is an independent informational guide and is not the City of Boise. Applications, payments, inspections, approvals and code decisions must be completed through official City of Boise systems.
This page was rebuilt from the City of Boise Building Division, Planning, inspections, homeowner guide, Accela portal, PDS Records Center, fee schedules, current code page, June 2026 Certificate of Value, demolition process and commercial occupancy materials.
Last reviewed: July 22, 2026.
Forms, fees, codes, service hours and portal steps can change. Confirm time-sensitive details before starting work, paying or ordering final plans.
Khushboo Bobade is a public records researcher and editorial writer specializing in government service documentation and construction permit systems.
Her research focuses on explaining building permits, inspection procedures, zoning regulations, and public permit records maintained by local government building departments across the United States.
Professional profile: View LinkedIn Profile
Check Permit Type, Estimate Fees, Prepare Inspections and Find Official Building Department Links
Use this free tool before applying for a building permit, booking an inspection, checking zoning rules, or searching permit records. It helps homeowners, contractors, landlords, buyers, and business owners understand the next step before visiting the official building department portal.
What building department task do you need help with?
Choose your goal. The tool will suggest the right next step, what to prepare, and which official page to check.
Before starting work, check whether your project needs building, zoning, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, right-of-way, or HOA approval.
Many portals require contractor registration, license details, insurance, plans, owner authorization, and inspection scheduling access.
Building Permit Type Finder
Select the project type to understand which permits or reviews are commonly required. Always confirm with the official local building department.
Permit Fee Estimate Calculator
Estimate a rough permit fee using project value and common percentage-based review assumptions. Local minimum fees, technology fees, impact fees, reinspection fees, and trade fees can change the final amount.
Inspection Readiness Checklist
Use this before scheduling framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, final, or certificate-related inspections.
Zoning and Setback Pre-check
Use this before applying for a permit when your project may affect land use, setbacks, lot coverage, height, parking, signs, fences, accessory structures, or business use.
Plan Review Timeline Estimator
Estimate how complex your review may be. Local staffing, incomplete plans, corrections, holidays, fire review, zoning review, and outside agency review can change timing.
Permit Records Search Helper
Use this if you are trying to find old permits, inspection history, certificate of occupancy details, open permits, or code-related records.
Official Building Department Resource Finder
Enter city/county and state to create safe searches for official permit portals, inspection scheduling, building codes, zoning maps, forms, fees, and contact pages.
Building Department vs Planning/Zoning
- Building Department: permits, plan review, inspections, code compliance, certificates.
- Planning/Zoning: land use, setbacks, height, lot coverage, signs, parking, variances.
Best sitewide placement
Place this tool after the first main guide section or before FAQs. It turns a normal article into a practical permit-preparation page.
Important note
This tool gives educational guidance only. Final permit requirements, fees, inspections, forms, and deadlines must be confirmed with the official local building department.