Garden City building permits

Building department

Address

6015 N Glenwood St, Garden City, ID 83714-1347

Phone

208-472-2921

Email

building@gardencityidaho.org

Office hours

Mon & Fri 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM; Tue & Thu 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM; Wed 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM; closed daily 12:00–1:00 PM for lunch

Website

Official site

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Garden City — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.

Codes adopted

Idaho adopts a statewide baseline building code set under the Idaho Building Code Act (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 41) and IDAPA rules administered by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Effective January 1, 2021, the statewide baseline includes the 2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2020 Idaho Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC Parts I–III and IX with Idaho amendments), 2020 Idaho Energy Conservation Code (based on the 2018 IECC with Idaho amendments), 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and 2018 International Fire Code (IFC). The National Electrical Code is adopted separately by the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10), not bundled with the building code: Idaho enforces the 2023 NEC, effective July 1, 2024 (the state used the 2017 NEC with amendments before that and skipped the 2020 edition). Local jurisdictions must enforce the state baseline and may adopt amendments only where those amendments are at least as stringent as the state-adopted editions; local amendments may not be less restrictive. Enforcement is local — each city or county issues permits and performs inspections. Always confirm the current adopted edition and any local amendments with your specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.

• International Building Code (IBC) — as adopted by the State of Idaho / Idaho Building Code Board; Garden City adoption via Ord. 995-18 (2-26-2018)
• International Residential Code (IRC), Parts I through IV and IX — as adopted by the State of Idaho / Idaho Building Code Board; Garden City adoption via Ord. 995-18
• International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — as adopted by the State of Idaho / Idaho Building Code Board; Garden City adoption via Ord. 995-18
• International Mechanical Code (IMC) — as adopted by the State of Idaho
• International Fuel and Gas Code (IFGC) — as adopted by the State of Idaho
• National Electrical Code (NEC) — administered through Idaho Division of Occupational & Professional Licenses (DOPL); electrical permits issued directly by DOPL
• Idaho State Plumbing Code (ISPC) — administered through Idaho Division of Occupational & Professional Licenses (DOPL); plumbing permits issued directly by DOPL

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)

  Required for residential new construction, additions, remodels, re-roofs, and other projects that require a building permit in Garden City. Building permits are submitted to Garden City; plan review is performed by SAFEbuilt and IDOPL under contract. Work exempt from permit is listed in Garden City Code 7-2-3 F (Section R105.2). Garden City's valuation-based fee table is established by Resolution 1239-26 (effective February 23, 2025).

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• Non-Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Tenant Improvement)

  Required for all non-residential new construction, additions, remodels, re-roofs, tenant improvements, and change-of-occupancy projects in Garden City. Design Review approval from Planning & Zoning is required before submitting a building permit for new construction or substantial alterations. A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance is required prior to occupancy of any tenant space. Work exempt from permit is listed in Garden City Code 7-2-2 I (Section 105.2). NOTE: Garden City does not offer a separate 'Commercial Building Permit' or 'Tenant Improvement (TI) Permit' product — new commercial construction and TI/remodel projects for existing commercial space are both permitted through this single non-residential-building-permit entry (project type selected via checkbox on one application), confirmed by direct read of the Building Permit Application — Non-Residential PDF and the Development Services Fee Schedule; see 'CONFIRMED ABSENCE' note in localAmendments.

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• Sign Permit

  Required for all signs in Garden City requiring a permit. Design Review is required for signs subject to Design Review standards. Sign permit fees are based on sign type per the Development Services Fee Schedule (Resolution 1239-26). Illuminated signs add an additional fee. The Sign Permit Application is submitted to Garden City Development Services.

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• Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit

  Rooftop or ground-mount residential solar PV installation in Garden City follows the same structural/electrical split as all other construction in this file: the racking/mounting structural scope is billed as a City of Garden City Building Permit under the standard valuation-based fee table (Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A, effective 2/23/2025), which has no solar-specific line item — confirmed by direct keyword search of the full published Fee Schedule PDF — while the electrical/interconnection scope is a state-issued permit from the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL, formerly the Division of Building Safety), since Garden City does not issue its own electrical permits. DOPL's rules (IDAPA 24.39.10) direct that solar/renewable-energy installations not otherwise itemized be billed under the electrical fee schedule's 'Other Installation (Including Industrial and Commercial) Permit' category.

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• EV Charger / EVSE Permit

  Required for installation of a residential or commercial electric vehicle charging station (EVSE) in Garden City, Idaho. As with all electrical work in this jurisdiction (see solar-pv-permit entry), the City does not administer electrical permits at all — a standalone EVSE circuit is a state-issued permit from the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), billed under DOPL's 'Other Installation' catch-all fee schedule since no EV/solar-specific line item exists in the rule. No separate City of Garden City permit is required for a standalone EVSE circuit (unlike solar PV, which also has a City structural/racking permit component) unless the installation is bundled with new construction, an addition, or a City-regulated structural scope.

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• Demolition Permit

  Required for any removal of building structures or land-disturbing activity in Garden City. Per Garden City's official applications page, a demolition permit must be accompanied by a General Erosion and Sediment Control Application (Title 4 Chapter 15 of Garden City Code). The Demolition Permit Application is submitted to Garden City Development Services.

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• Manufactured Home Installation Permit

  Required for installation of a manufactured home in Garden City. A Manufactured Home Safety Checklist must be submitted prior to issuance of a final certificate. If placement is outside a manufactured home park, the home must be declared real property and meet single-family dwelling standards (fees are the same as a single-family home plus a permit for the foundation). Removal or demolition of a manufactured home requires a separate Removal/Demo Permit Application.

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