Ada County Building Permits — The Complete Guide
Ada County Development Services issues permits for unincorporated Ada County parcels only. Here is the November 2025 fee schedule in full, the client portal, the inspection request system, and the jurisdictional rule that decides whether the county or your city is the right authority for your project.
Quick answer
Ada County Development Services issues building, mechanical, grading, and manufactured-home permits for parcels in unincorporated Ada County only — not for parcels inside the Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Star, or Garden City limits. Residential building permit fees are valuation-based (November 2025 schedule): $65 base for the first $2,000 of valuation, scaling to $493 + $5 per $1,000 in the $50,000–$100,000 band. Plan review adds 50% of the building permit fee for residential (IRC) projects. Client portal: adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices/permitting-division/client-portal/. Physical office: Ada County Courthouse, Second Floor, 200 W Front St, Boise ID 83702. Phone (208) 287-7900.
Quick answer
Ada County Development Services issues building, mechanical, grading, and manufactured-home permits for parcels in unincorporated Ada County — properties that sit outside the city limits of Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Star, and Garden City.
Ada County Development Services runs four divisions (Building, Planning, Engineering & Surveying, Permitting) from the courthouse in downtown Boise. Only unincorporated parcels fall under county building permit authority — the cities issue their own.
Authority & Office
- Ada County Courthouse, Second Floor
200 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702 - Main: (208) 287-7900
Fax: (208) 287-7909 - Divisions: Building · Planning · Engineering & Surveying · Permitting
When Ada County is the Right Authority
Ada County issues your permit if the parcel is outside the city limits of Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Star, and Garden City. If your address is inside any of those cities, that city's building department is the authority — not the county.
Common unincorporated parcels: Foothills-fringe properties above Boise, rural Meridian and Kuna perimeter, north-county acreage near Horseshoe Bend Road, and pockets between Star and Eagle.
Confirm your parcel's jurisdiction at the Ada County Assessor property lookup — the record shows the taxing districts and the correct permit authority.
Ada County has moved most permit and inspection workflow to online portals. Here are the ones you (or your contractor) will use.
Client Portal (permit applications)
Building, manufactured home, and mechanical permit applications. Upload plans, application forms, and supporting documents.
Building Inspection Request
Schedule rough, insulation, and final inspections online. Typical lead time 24–48 hours.
Fee Schedule (PDF)
Current Building Division fee schedule. Updated November 2025 in conjunction with the new Ada County Zoning Code.
Fee Schedule Landing Page
Ada County Development Services fee-schedule index. Always confirm current fees at the time of application.
Ada County uses a valuation-based fee ladder. Valuation is set from the Building Safety Journal Building Valuation Data (BVD) for the current year, OR the applicant's stated value — whichever is higher. Ada County can apply a Regional Cost Modifier from Assessor records. This is the Building Division fee schedule updated November 2025.
| Valuation Range | Fee Structure |
|---|---|
| $1.00 – $2,000.00 | $65.00 for the first $2,000.00 |
| $2,000.01 – $25,000.00 | $65.00 for the first $2,000.00 + $11.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof |
| $25,000.01 – $50,000.00 | $318.00 for the first $25,000.00 + $7.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof |
| $50,000.01 – $100,000.00 | $493.00 for the first $50,000.00 + $5.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof |
| $100,000.01 – $1,000,000.00 | $743.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $4.15 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof |
| $1,000,000.01 and up | $4,478.00 for the first $1,000,000.01 + $2.60 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof |
Source: Ada County Development Services Fee Schedule, Building Division. Verify current fees before applying — schedules update.
These fees stack on top of the base building permit. For a residential remodel, plan the 50% IRC plan review addition into the paper cost from the start.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plan review — International Residential Code (residential) | 50% of building permit fee |
| Plan review — International Building Code (commercial) | 65% of building permit fee |
| Accessibility plan review — IBC | 25% of building plan review fee |
| Energy plan review — IBC | 25% of building plan review fee |
| General inspection minimum fee | $100 |
| Reinspection (after first reinspection) | $100 per reinspection, per inspection type |
| Plan review changes/revisions minimum | $100 |
| Building Division Administrative Fee (location changes) | $100 |
| Demolition Permit | $100 |
| Appeal of Building Official decision | $150 |
| Manufactured Home Installation Permit, per section | $120 |
Grading permits apply when soil is being moved for additions, ADU pads, or subdivision work — most kitchen and bath remodels do not trigger these. Mechanical permits itemize each unit and each duct connection.
Grading & Drainage
| Work | Fee |
|---|---|
| Disturbances of one (1) acre or less of land | $100 |
| Single-Family Dwelling or work on single lot/parcel | $500 |
| New residential subdivision or commercial project | $1,500 |
Mechanical (Residential + Commercial)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential Mechanical Base Permit Fee | $35 |
| Furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, condenser, boiler (each) | $25 |
| Exhaust duct or ventilation duct (dryer, range hood, bath fan, crawl exhaust, mini-split head unit, fireplace, hydronic closed loop, energy storage) — each | $15 |
| Fuel Gas Piping | $5 per outlet |
| Commercial Mechanical Permit | $35 base + 2% of total mechanical job value |
Plumbing and electrical are separately licensed trades under Idaho law (Idaho Code § 54-2601 for plumbing, § 54-1001 for electrical). Those trade permits are pulled through the state licensing framework rather than the Ada County Building Division fee schedule. Any remodel that involves plumbing or electrical work needs a licensed plumber or electrician on record.
These are worked examples using the November 2025 fee schedule. Numbers exclude separate trade permits (plumbing, electrical) and rounded to reflect the actual selection of mechanical line items.
Cosmetic kitchen refresh (no permit trigger)
Valuation: N/A
No permit required for cabinet paint, counter swap at existing sink, appliance swap on same circuits.
Kitchen remodel with new circuits + fixture relocation
Valuation: $50,000
$493 building + $246.50 IRC plan review (50%) + $35 mechanical base + a few $15 duct fees for range hood/exhaust upgrades.
Bathroom remodel with layout change + new mechanical
Valuation: $30,000
$318 + $35.00 ($7 × 5) = $353 building + $176.50 IRC plan review (50%) + $35 mech base + $15 exhaust duct + $25 mini-split head (if adding).
Full home addition (500 sf living area, structural)
Valuation: $180,000 (BVD figure varies)
$743 + $332.00 ($4.15 × 80) = $1,075 building + $537.50 IRC plan review (50%) + $500 grading (single lot) + mechanical line items.
These are county-side paper fees only. Trade permits (plumbing, electrical) and city-side fees do not apply here because Ada County only issues for unincorporated parcels.
The questions Iron Crest is asked most about Ada County permits. Every answer is drawn from the November 2025 Ada County Development Services Fee Schedule and the Ada County Development Services web resources referenced below.
What does Ada County Development Services issue permits for?
Ada County Development Services issues building, mechanical, grading, and manufactured-home permits for parcels in unincorporated Ada County — properties that sit outside the city limits of Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Star, and Garden City. If your parcel is inside any of those cities, that city's building department issues your permit, not the county. The fastest way to confirm which authority applies to your specific address is the Ada County Assessor parcel lookup: the record shows the jurisdiction and taxing districts.
How are Ada County residential building permit fees calculated?
Ada County uses a valuation-based fee table (Ada County Development Services Fee Schedule, Building Division, updated November 2025). The fee ladder: $1.00–$2,000 valuation = $65.00; $2,000.01–$25,000 = $65.00 for the first $2,000 plus $11.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; $25,000.01–$50,000 = $318.00 for the first $25,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000; $50,000.01–$100,000 = $493.00 for the first $50,000 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000; $100,000.01–$1,000,000 = $743.00 for the first $100,000 plus $4.15 for each additional $1,000; $1,000,000.01+ = $4,478.00 for the first million plus $2.60 for each additional $1,000. Valuation is set from the Building Safety Journal Building Valuation Data (BVD) figures for the current year, or the applicant's stated value — whichever is higher. Ada County can adjust the BVD figure using a Regional Cost Modifier from Assessor records.
Is there a separate plan review fee in Ada County?
Yes. For residential remodels reviewed under the International Residential Code (IRC), Ada County charges an additional 50% of the building permit fee for plan review. Commercial projects reviewed under the International Building Code (IBC) add 65% of the building permit fee. Accessibility plan review adds 25% of the building plan review fee; energy-code plan review adds another 25% of the building plan review fee. So on a $50,000 residential remodel with a building permit fee of roughly $493 + $0 = $493 base, plan review adds ~$247, putting the paper cost around $740 before any sub-permits. Add the mechanical permit and any grading fees separately.
What sub-permits does Ada County itemize separately?
Ada County itemizes mechanical permits (HVAC, exhaust ducts, fuel gas piping) and grading permits separately from the base building permit. Residential mechanical permits carry a $35 base fee plus $25 for each furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, condenser, or boiler; $15 for each exhaust or ventilation duct (dryer duct, range hood duct, bath fan duct, crawl exhaust duct, mini-split head unit, hydronic system, or residential energy storage system); and $5 per fuel-gas piping outlet. Plumbing and electrical are separately licensed trades under Idaho law (Idaho Code § 54-2601 for plumbing, § 54-1001 for electrical) — those trades pull their permits through the state licensing framework rather than the county building division. Ada County does not currently list plumbing or electrical fees on the Building Division fee schedule.
How do I submit a permit application to Ada County?
Ada County Development Services runs a client portal at adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices/permitting-division/client-portal/. The portal accepts building permits, manufactured home permits, and mechanical permits. Submit plans, application forms, and any required supporting documents through the portal. Once accepted, the Permitting Division routes the application to Building for plan review, to Engineering if grading/drainage or subdivision work is involved, and to Planning if a land-use approval is required first. For questions that do not fit the portal workflow, the main office is at the Ada County Courthouse, Second Floor, 200 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702; phone (208) 287-7900, fax (208) 287-7909.
How do I schedule an inspection with Ada County?
Ada County uses an online building inspection request system at apps.adacounty.id.gov/cobra/publicbuildinginspectionrequest. Most Idaho jurisdictions ask for inspection requests 24 to 48 hours in advance and dispatch an inspector within a half-day window on the requested day. The inspection sequence for a residential remodel typically runs: rough framing (before insulation), rough mechanical (before drywall), insulation (before drywall), and final (after all work is complete). Iron Crest Remodel schedules all inspections as part of the project on Ada County jobs — the homeowner does not need to interact with the inspection portal.
What are the grading and drainage fees for a residential remodel in Ada County?
Ada County's Grading & Drainage fees are set separately from the building permit. Site disturbances of one acre or less carry a $100 fee. A single-family dwelling or work on a single lot/parcel that triggers a grading permit is $500. A new residential subdivision or commercial project pays $1,500. Most kitchen and bathroom remodels do not trigger a grading permit — the requirement applies when soil is being moved for an addition foundation, an ADU pad, or significant site work. Confirm applicability with the Permitting Division before submitting.
Does Ada County publish plan review turnaround times?
Ada County Development Services does not publish a guaranteed turnaround. In practice for the Treasure Valley, residential plan review runs 5 to 15 business days most of the year, and can reach 3 to 5 weeks during the peak construction season (spring and early summer). We build 2 to 3 weeks of permit lead time into every Ada County project schedule and confirm the current review queue at the time of submission. Reinspection fees are $100 per reinspection per inspection type (Building Division Fee Schedule) — every failed rough or final adds a paper cost and 2 to 5 business days to the schedule.
How does Ada County set valuation if my project cost is higher than the BVD figure?
Per the Ada County Building Division Fee Schedule, valuation for permit-fee purposes is set from the Building Safety Journal Building Valuation Data (BVD) figures for the current year, OR the applicant's stated value — whichever is higher. That means you cannot lower your permit fee by reporting a lower construction value than the BVD baseline. If the BVD figure for your scope produces a valuation that is genuinely lower than actual construction cost (rare on remodels), Ada County uses your higher stated value. Ada County can also apply a Regional Cost Modifier from Assessor records to adjust the BVD figure. This valuation approach is standard practice among Idaho jurisdictions that follow ICC guidance.
Does Iron Crest Remodel pull Ada County permits directly?
Yes. Iron Crest Remodel is Idaho-registered (RCE-6681702) and pulls building and mechanical permits from Ada County Development Services on projects located in unincorporated Ada County — properties in Boise Foothills fringe, unincorporated pockets north of Boise, rural Meridian-area parcels, and other areas outside city limits. We handle the permit application through the Ada County client portal, coordinate plan review responses, schedule inspections through the county's online request system, and clear the final inspection to close the permit.
If your parcel is inside a city — Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Star — the city's building department is the correct authority, not Ada County.
Remodeling in Unincorporated Ada County?
Iron Crest Remodel (RCE-6681702) pulls Ada County Development Services permits directly — client portal submission, plan review coordination, inspection scheduling, and final sign-off. Free estimates with a full written scope and line-item pricing.