Skip to main content
PermitBase

Residential Plumbing Permit in Boise, Idaho

Required for plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs in Boise, including water heater replacements, fixture additions, re-piping, and sewer/water service line work. Governed by the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (based on the 2015 UPC).

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Repair, replace, relocate, or add to the plumbing system
  • Water heater installation or replacement
  • New fixtures (toilets, sinks, showers, bathtubs)
  • Water or waste re-piping
  • Sewer or water service line replacement
  • Homeowner may self-permit plumbing work on their own primary or secondary residence per Idaho statute
  • Note: Boilers, gas piping, hydronic heating, and solar thermal water heating require a Mechanical Permit, not a Plumbing Permit

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 1 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

New SFD / Duplex plumbing — up to 1,500 sq ftBoise Plumbing Code Fee Schedule, Table B(1) (Oct 2021)
$130 per dwelling unit
New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 1,501 to 2,500 sq ft
$180 per dwelling unit
New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 2,501 to 3,500 sq ft
$250 per dwelling unit
New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 3,501 to 4,500 sq ft
$290 per dwelling unit
New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 4,501 sq ft or more
$325 per unit, plus $65 per each additional 1,000 sq ft over 4,501 sq ft
Single fixture installation (existing residence) — water heater, toilet, sink, bathtub, shower, backflow preventer, etc.Table B(3) — miscellaneous residential plumbing, single fixture
$55
Water or waste re-piping (interior)Table B(3)
$80
Re-plumbing entire house or unitTable B(3)
$110
Sewer or water service line replacement (single line)Table B(3)
$55
Base fee for residential addition/alteration with multiple fixturesTable B(2) — applies to alterations with multiple fixtures; $12 each for water heaters, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, showers, etc.
$32 base, plus $12 per fixture
Reinspection Fee
$55

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Boise building department
~1–10 business days

How long did your Residential Plumbing Permit permit actually take in Boise?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Underground / Slab Plumbing

    Before concrete pour — verify pipe slope, materials, cleanouts

  2. 2

    Rough-In

    After pipes installed, before walls closed — pressure test required

  3. 3

    Final

    All fixtures connected, no leaks, proper venting verified

See the full Boise inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Idaho state law allows homeowners to perform plumbing work on their own primary or secondary residence without a contractor license. Contractor
  • A preliminary conference inspection is recommended (but not required) for homeowners doing their own plumbing work.
  • Boilers, gas piping, hydronic heating systems, and solar thermal water heating require a Mechanical Permit — not a Plumbing Permit.
  • Boise uses the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code), which differs from the International Plumbing Code used in many other states.
  • Water heater replacement is a single-fixture permit: $55 fee.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Water heater replacement requires a Plumbing Permit (420) in Boise. The fee for a single water heater installation is $55 per the Boise Plumbing Code Fee Schedule, Table B(3). Homeowners may pull the permit themselves.

In Boise, the published New SFD / Duplex plumbing — up to 1,500 sq ft is: $130 per dwelling unit. Additional published fees: New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 1,501 to 2,500 sq ft — $180 per dwelling unit; New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 2,501 to 3,500 sq ft — $250 per dwelling unit; New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 3,501 to 4,500 sq ft — $290 per dwelling unit; New SFD / Duplex plumbing — 4,501 sq ft or more — $325 per unit, plus $65 per each additional 1,000 sq ft over 4,501 sq ft; Single fixture installation (existing residence) — water heater, toilet, sink, bathtub, shower, backflow preventer, etc. — $55; Water or waste re-piping (interior) — $80; Re-plumbing entire house or unit — $110; Sewer or water service line replacement (single line) — $55; Base fee for residential addition/alteration with multiple fixtures — $32 base, plus $12 per fixture; Reinspection Fee — $55. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a residential plumbing permit in Boise typically runs 1–10 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Boise Planning and Development Services — Building Division at (208) 608-7070.

You'll need: Plumbing Permit Application (Form 420-540). Depending on your project, Boise may also ask for: Water Heater Installation Guide. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Boise requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential plumbing permit, in order: Underground / Slab Plumbing, Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through Boise Planning and Development Services — Building Division ((208) 608-7070).

Apply through Boise Planning and Development Services — Building Division at 150 N Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702. Phone: (208) 608-7070, email: permits@cityofboise.org. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed holidays). Official information: https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/planning-and-development-services/building/.

Boise, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — with Appendices H (Signs) and J (Grading); Mass Timber provisions only of the 2021 IBC; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), Parts I–IV and IX — with Appendices Q (Tiny Houses) and S (Strawbale Construction); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code, including Chapter 13 – Medical Gas); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective April 26, 2024; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — with Appendices B, C, D, F and L; 2019 NFPA 13; 2019 NFPA 72; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — commercial and residential projects with 3+ units; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — commercial and residential projects with 3+ units; 2018 IRC Parts V and VI — single- and two-family residential mechanical and fuel gas. Local amendments apply — see the Boise overview page for the full list.

Yes. Idaho state law permits homeowners to perform plumbing work on their own primary or secondary residence without a contractor license. A permit is still required and work must pass inspection.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-16.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Boise building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Other permits in Boise

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Alteration PermitResidential Electrical PermitEV Charger / EVSE Installation PermitResidential Mechanical / HVAC PermitResidential Roofing PermitSolar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitWater Heater PermitNew Commercial Building and Commercial Additions Permit (502)Tenant Improvement Permit — Minor (518) and Major (520)

Residential Plumbing Permit in other cities

Ammon, IdahoBurley, IdahoCaldwell, IdahoChubbuck, IdahoCoeur d'Alene, IdahoEagle, IdahoHayden, IdahoIdaho Falls, Idaho

Compare residential plumbing permit fees across Idaho →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Related guides

Water HeaterBasement Finish

Now live

Build your Boise project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Boise — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →