City of Boise Building Permits — The Complete Guide
City of Boise Planning & Development Services (PDS) issues building permits for parcels inside city limits. This page covers the Table 1-A fee ladder, the 20% residential plan review adder, the portal, and the Historic Preservation Commission Certificate of Appropriateness process for the ten historic districts.
Quick answer
City of Boise Planning & Development Services (PDS, 150 N Capitol Blvd, (208) 608-7100) issues building permits for parcels inside Boise city limits. Building permit fees use Table 1-A (effective October 1, 2021): $70.76 base on the $2,001–$25,000 valuation tier ($12.71 per additional $1,000), $362.80 on the $25,001–$50,000 tier ($9.30 per additional $1,000), and $913.09 on projects over $100,000 ($5.17 per additional $1,000). Add 20% for residential plan review. Ten historic districts require a Historic Preservation Commission Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work. Interior-only cosmetic work is exempt.
Quick answer
The City of Boise Planning & Development Services department (PDS). PDS runs five divisions — Building, Planning, Housing and Community Development, Operations and Administration, and Code Compliance — from 150 N Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702.
PDS runs five divisions from a single downtown office. Only parcels inside city limits fall under Boise PDS authority — unincorporated parcels are Ada County Development Services.
Boise PDS at a Glance
- Department
- Planning & Development Services (PDS)
- Divisions
- Building · Planning · Housing and Community Development · Operations and Administration · Code Compliance
- Address
- 150 N Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702
- Main phone
- (208) 608-7100
- TTY
- (800) 377-3529
- Hours
- M–W 8 a.m.–5 p.m. · Th 8 a.m.–4 p.m. · Fri by appointment
- Portal
- Permitting and Licensing System + ePlanReview — served from cityofboise.org/departments/planning-and-development-services/
When Boise PDS is the Right Authority
Boise PDS issues your permit only if the parcel is inside Boise city limits. If your property is in unincorporated Ada County — Foothills-fringe above the city, north-county acreage, or unincorporated pockets between Boise and Meridian — Ada County Development Services is the correct authority.
Confirm your parcel's jurisdiction at the Ada County Assessor property lookup — the record shows the city (if any) and taxing districts.
Ada County Development Services (unincorporated parcels)City of Boise building permit fees follow the adopted Table 1-A fee schedule (effective October 1, 2021). Fees are calculated from the declared project valuation. Residential plan review adds a flat 20% on top of the building permit fee. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are separate sub-permits.
| Valuation Range | Fee Structure |
|---|---|
| $2,001.00 – $25,000.00 | $70.76 for the first $2,000 + $12.71 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $25,001.00 – $50,000.00 | $362.80 for the first $25,000 + $9.30 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $50,001.00 – $100,000.00 | $595.30 for the first $50,000 + $6.35 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $100,000.01 and up | $913.09 for the first $100,000 + $5.17 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
Source: City of Boise FY27 Building Code Fee Schedule, Table 1-A, effective 10-1-26 (cityofboise.org/media/21942 — the table is unchanged from the 10-1-21 schedule; re-read 2026-10-10), also carried in the Iron Crest permit-jurisdictions dataset. Confirm current fees with Boise PDS at time of application — fee schedules update.
Sub-permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are separate. Under Idaho law, electrical (§ 54-1001) and plumbing (§ 54-2601) are state-licensed trades. Those permits are pulled through the state licensing framework. Mechanical permits are typically issued alongside the building permit through PDS.
Boise's HPC is the single most consequential local overlay for remodeling volume. Ten historic districts mean a meaningful share of Boise's pre-1940 housing stock needs a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work before the exterior permit is issued.
How many historic districts?
Boise maintains ten designated historic districts. The two with the highest remodeling volume are the North End Historic District and the East End / Warm Springs overlay.
When is a Certificate of Appropriateness required?
For exterior modifications 'outside of standard maintenance' inside a designated district. Windows, siding, doors, roofing, additions, exterior color, deck construction, and new construction all typically trigger COA review. Interior work generally does not.
Staff review vs. full Commission hearing
PDS uses a Decision Matrix to determine whether staff can approve the COA at the counter (COA-Staff) or the item requires a public hearing before the full Historic Preservation Commission. District, building status, and scope of work determine the path.
Timeline
Staff-level COA adds 2 to 4 weeks. A full Commission hearing adds 6 to 12 weeks depending on the hearing calendar and any continuances. Schedule the HPC path in parallel with plan review, not in series.
Iron Crest tactic: on any historic-district project, we schedule an HPC pre-application meeting with PDS staff before the design is locked. A 45-minute conversation with HPC staff frequently prevents a 4-week design revision cycle later — worth the calendar slot every time.
Worked examples using Table 1-A tiers and the 20% plan review adder. Trade permits (plumbing, electrical) and HPC fees are listed separately.
Cosmetic kitchen refresh (no permit trigger)
Valuation: N/A
Same-footprint cabinet paint, counter swap at existing sink, appliance swap on existing circuits. No PDS permit required.
Bathroom remodel — same layout, plumbing rough-in
Valuation: $25,000
$362.80 building (top of $2k–$25k tier) + $72.56 plan review (20%) + separate plumbing + electrical sub-permits.
Kitchen remodel with new circuits + fixture relocation
Valuation: $50,000
$362.80 + $232.50 ($9.30 × 25) = $595.30 building + $119.06 plan review (20%) + electrical/plumbing/mechanical sub-permits.
Primary suite addition with HPC (North End)
Valuation: $180,000
$913.09 + $413.60 ($5.17 × 80) = $1,326.69 building + $265.34 plan review (20%) + separate trade permits + HPC COA (staff or Commission). Timeline adds 6–12 weeks for HPC.
The questions Iron Crest is asked most about Boise PDS permits and the HPC process. Every answer is drawn from Table 1-A, current PDS web resources, or the HPC Decision Matrix — cited in-line where a specific number applies.
Who issues building permits inside the City of Boise limits?
The City of Boise Planning & Development Services department (PDS). PDS runs five divisions — Building, Planning, Housing and Community Development, Operations and Administration, and Code Compliance — from 150 N Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702. The Building Division reviews and issues residential building permits; the Planning Division handles zoning, land use, and Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) review. Main phone (208) 608-7100. Hours: Monday–Wednesday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Friday by appointment. If your parcel sits outside city limits (Foothills-fringe, north-county acreage, unincorporated pockets), Ada County Development Services is the correct authority, not Boise PDS.
How much does a Boise residential building permit cost?
City of Boise building permit fees are set by Table 1-A (effective October 1, 2021) and calculated from the declared project valuation. The full ladder: $2,001–$25,000 valuation = $70.76 plus $12.71 per additional $1,000 or fraction; $25,001–$50,000 = $362.80 plus $9.30 per additional $1,000; $50,001–$100,000 = $595.30 plus $6.35 per additional $1,000; above $100,000 = $913.09 plus $5.17 per additional $1,000. Residential plan review adds a flat 20% on top of the building permit fee. Sub-permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are separate. A $50,000 kitchen remodel prices out to roughly $700–$950 in the building permit line before plan review and sub-permits; verify with PDS at time of application because the fee schedule updates.
What is the Boise Historic Preservation Commission Certificate of Appropriateness?
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is a Boise city commission that reviews exterior work in the city's ten designated historic districts. A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is the HPC's approval that a proposed exterior modification is 'in line with historically appropriate designs' before the city will issue the exterior building permit. The requirement applies to exterior changes 'outside of standard maintenance' — most exterior alterations, additions, window and siding changes, and new construction inside a historic district. PDS uses a Decision Matrix to determine whether a project needs staff-level review or full HPC hearing based on the district, the building's status, and the scope of work. Interior remodeling generally does not trigger HPC review.
Which Boise neighborhoods are inside a historic district?
Boise maintains ten historic districts. The two most consequential for remodeling volume are the North End Historic District (bungalow, foursquare, and craftsman stock north of downtown, largely 1900–1940) and the East End / Warm Springs historic overlay (early 1900s–1920s original stock plus post-2000s infill along Warm Springs Avenue). Kitchens and bathrooms inside these districts still get built, but any exterior work — new windows, siding changes, foundation venting, exterior color, additions, deck construction — should be checked for COA applicability before the design is locked. PDS's HPC staff will confirm district boundaries and scope-specific requirements for your parcel. Interior-only remodels do not trigger HPC.
How do I submit a permit application to Boise PDS?
Boise PDS routes permit applications through a Permitting and Licensing System with an ePlanReview submission portal for plan-set upload. The specific system link is served from cityofboise.org/departments/planning-and-development-services/ — start there and follow the current portal login. For questions before submission, PDS accepts calls at (208) 608-7100 during posted hours; walk-ins are accepted on the Friday-by-appointment schedule. Iron Crest Remodel handles the entire Boise PDS submission on client projects — plan set, application, valuation declaration, plan-review response cycles, and inspection scheduling.
What plan review turnaround should I expect at Boise PDS?
Boise PDS does not publish a guaranteed turnaround — reviews are 'subject to current workload.' In practice for the Treasure Valley in recent years, residential plan review runs 5 to 15 business days most of the year and reaches 3 to 5 weeks during the peak construction season (spring and early summer). We build 2 to 3 weeks of Boise permit lead time into every project schedule. Projects that require HPC review add another 2 to 6 weeks depending on whether staff can approve at the counter (COA-Staff) or the full Commission must hear the item at a public hearing. Complex historic-district additions can add 8 to 12 weeks combined.
What building code does Boise use, and are there local amendments?
Boise adopts the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted statewide by Idaho Code § 39-4109, along with the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) for commercial work. The most consequential local amendment for residential remodeling in the Boise area is the frost-depth footing requirement: Table R403.1.4.1 sets minimum footing depth, and the Boise / Ada County design criterion calls for 24-inch minimum depth for heated structures and deck footings — deeper than some national defaults. Other IRC chapters that matter for kitchen and bath work: R303 (natural light and ventilation), R311 and R312 (stairways, guards, and handrails), M1503 (kitchen range hood and make-up air), and P2905 (water supply pipe sizing). Verify current code adoption with PDS before design; amendments update.
Does Boise require a permit for interior-only cosmetic work?
No — Boise, like most Idaho jurisdictions, exempts cosmetic-only interior work from the permit requirement. Cabinet paint or door swap on the same footprint, countertop replacement without moving plumbing, faucet or fixture swap at the same rough-in, appliance swap with matching electrical service, flooring replacement without subfloor structural work, tile backsplash without backer-board removal, and interior paint do not need a permit. The moment scope adds new plumbing supply or drain, new or modified electrical circuits, or any structural change (wall removal, new opening, new beam), permit territory begins. When in doubt, PDS accepts scope-specific questions by phone at (208) 608-7100 and would rather you ask than guess.
Do the Boise Foothills or Harris Ranch have HOA or design review on top of PDS?
Yes for many subdivisions, though HOA / ARC review is not a city function — it is a private contractual approval that runs parallel to the city permit. The Foothills (Hidden Springs, Crane Creek, and other planned communities) and Harris Ranch each maintain architectural review committees that review exterior-visible changes: siding color, roof material, exterior window replacement, deck design, addition footprint. Interior kitchen and bathroom work generally does not trigger HOA review. When both apply, we run the HOA submission in parallel with the PDS permit application rather than in series — the two paths take 1 to 4 weeks each and cost 1 to 3 weeks of overall schedule if sequenced instead.
Does Iron Crest Remodel pull City of Boise permits directly?
Yes. Iron Crest Remodel is Idaho-registered (RCE-6681702) and pulls City of Boise PDS permits every week — for kitchens, bathrooms, additions, tub-to-shower conversions, and structural interior work across every Boise neighborhood, including inside the historic districts. We handle the plan set, valuation declaration, PDS application, plan-review response, HPC coordination when required, and inspection scheduling. On historic-district projects we schedule HPC pre-application meetings before design is locked — a 45-minute conversation with HPC staff frequently prevents a 4-week design revision cycle later.
Every claim on this page traces to a Boise city primary source or to Iron Crest's own Boise permit application experience.
Boise Planning & Development Services
Department overview, division structure, contact info, portal access.
Boise PDS Fees
Current fee schedule downloads (Building Division, Fire Review, Planning, Impact Development Fees).
Boise Historic Preservation
Ten historic districts, Certificate of Appropriateness process, HPC Decision Matrix, staff contacts.
Idaho Code § 39-4109
Statewide adoption of the 2018 IRC / IBC — the base code Boise builds on with local amendments.
Idaho Code § 54-1001 (electrical licensing)
Why electrical sub-permits are pulled separately through the state licensing framework, not by Boise PDS.
Idaho Code § 54-2601 (plumbing licensing)
Why plumbing sub-permits are pulled separately through the state licensing framework, not by Boise PDS.
If your parcel is outside Boise city limits — Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Star, or an unincorporated area — that city's (or the county's) building department is the correct authority.
Remodeling Inside Boise City Limits?
Iron Crest Remodel (RCE-6681702) pulls City of Boise PDS permits every week — including inside the historic districts. Plan set, valuation, application, HPC coordination when needed, inspection scheduling. Free estimates with a full written scope.