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Non-Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Tenant Improvement) in Garden City, Idaho

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.

Verified 2026-08-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Design Review approval from Planning & Zoning required before submitting a building permit for new construction or substantial alterations to existing structures
  • Submit Building Permit Application — Non-Residential to Garden City Development Services; project type is declared via checkbox on this single form (New Construction, Multi-Family (3+ Units), Re-roof, Interior TI/Remodel (no external work), Exterior TI/Remodel (including interior work), Accessory Building Shell, Non-Residential with Residential, or Change of Occupancy (no construction)) — Garden City has no separate Tenant Improvement-specific application, permit product, or fee line item
  • Business Compliance Application (BUS) required for new or changing businesses
  • Commercial Occupancy Analysis Application (OCC) required for new businesses with no structural changes or change of occupancy
  • A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or Certificate of Compliance (C of C) is required prior to use or occupancy of any tenant space
  • Design Professional Building Plans Certification Form required for projects approved through Design Review, P&Z, or City Council
  • Civil engineering review required for nonresidential projects at cost + $40/review; engineer review $205/hour
  • Fire review and inspection fees administered through NACFR (North Ada County Fire and Rescue District)
  • ACHD impact fee receipt required prior to permit issuance — EXCEPTION: tenant improvement projects with no exterior changes to the building/site are NOT required to submit ACHD-stamped plans as part of that requirement (per the Non-Residential Building Permit Application checklist)
  • New commercial construction and TI commercial projects must complete the plumbing fixture-count worksheet on the application (existing vs. new fixture counts) for water/sewer sizing
  • Small interior tenant improvements — no change of use/occupancy, total tenant space ≤1,500 sq ft, occupancy groups A, B, E, F1, F2, M, S1, or S2 — are exempt from the requirement that plans be prepared/sealed by an Idaho-licensed design professional, per Garden City Code § 7-2-2 (local amendment to IBC § 107)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — $0.01 to $2,000 valuationGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A (effective 2/23/2025)
$150.00
Building Permit — $2,000.01 to $25,000 valuationGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A (effective 2/23/2025)
$150.00 for the first $2,000 + $17.08 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — $25,000.01 to $100,000 valuationGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A (effective 2/23/2025)
$542.84 for the first $25,000 + $12.32 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — $100,000.01 to $1,000,000 valuationGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A (effective 2/23/2025)
$1,466.84 for the first $100,000 + $7.97 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Structure Plan Review — Non-Residential (value > $20,000)Garden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A. Must be paid prior to review.
65% of Building Permit fee
Design Compliance Review — Multi-Family / Mixed Use / Non-ResidentialGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A (planning review for non-residential)
$80.00/hour
Design Review — New Construction or Substantial AlterationGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A (Title 8 permits — design review)
$1,800.00 base fee + $100.00 for each: adjacent to river; proposed art
Design Review — Storefront Renovation / Site ModificationGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A
$600.00 + $100.00 for each: adjacent to river; proposed art
Business or Occupancy Change (Certificate of Occupancy update)Garden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A
$160.00
Business ownership or name update on Certificate of OccupancyGarden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A
$40.00
Change of Occupancy Without Structural Changes (structural plan review)Garden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A
$370.00 + $115.00 per hour after the first 2 hours of review
Administrative Set Up (all permits)Garden City Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A
$80.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Garden City building department
~15–45 business days

How long did your Non-Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Tenant Improvement) permit actually take in Garden City?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation

    Before concrete pour — schedule by 4:00 PM prior day via Inspection Hotline (208) 472-2920 or online Inspection Request Form

  2. 2

    Framing / Structural

    After structural framing and before wall cover — reviewed by SAFEbuilt or IDOPL

  3. 3

    Final

    All work complete; Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or Certificate of Compliance (C of C) issued upon passing all required inspections

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

Tips

  • Design Review approval from Planning & Zoning is required before submitting a non-residential building permit for new construction or substantial alterations.
  • Non-residential structure plan review is 65% of the permit fee (vs. 50% for residential) and must be paid prior to review.
  • A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance is mandatory for all businesses before occupancy — Garden City enforces this requirement.
  • Speak with staff prior to leasing or buying — Garden City offers free Early Assistance consultations.
  • Fire review and inspection fees (sprinklers, alarms, hoods) are administered separately through NACFR (North Ada County Fire and Rescue District).
  • ACHD impact fees and NACFR fire impact fees must be paid before permit issuance.
  • Civil engineering review is required for nonresidential projects at $175/hour plus cost.
  • Garden City does not have a separate 'Tenant Improvement Permit' or 'Commercial Building Permit' — new commercial construction and TI/remodel projects for existing commercial space are both permitted through this same Non-Residential Building Permit Application and the same valuation-based fee table; only the project-type checkbox and required attachments differ. Confirmed by direct read of the application PDF and the Fee Schedule (no separate TI fee line item exists).
  • TI projects with no exterior building/site changes skip the ACHD-stamped-plans submittal requirement — answer 'Are there any exterior changes to the building?' accurately on the application, since this determines whether ACHD-stamped drawings must be submitted before permit issuance.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Design Review from Planning & Zoning is required before submitting a non-residential building permit application for new construction or substantial alterations. The Design Review base fee is $1,800 for new construction or substantial alteration. Contact Garden City's Planning & Zoning staff (Wyatt King, 208-472-2905) early in the process.

No. Garden City uses one Building Permit Application — Non-Residential for all non-residential project types, including new commercial construction and tenant improvements — selected via a project-type checkbox on that single form (New Construction, Interior TI/Remodel (no external work), Exterior TI/Remodel (including interior work), Change of Occupancy, etc.). Both are billed under the same valuation-based Building Permit fee table plus the 65% non-residential structure-plan-review fee; there is no separate TI-specific fee line item anywhere in the Development Services Fee Schedule (Resolution 1239-26 Exhibit A — confirmed by direct keyword search of the full published PDF). The TI-specific differences that do exist: (1) TI projects with no exterior site changes are not required to submit ACHD-stamped plans, and (2) small interior TI spaces (≤1,500 sq ft total tenant space, no change of use/occupancy, occupancy groups A/B/E/F1/F2/M/S1/S2) are exempt from the requirement that plans be prepared by an Idaho-licensed design professional, per Garden City Code § 7-2-2 (local amendment to IBC § 107).

Plan review for a non-residential building permit (new construction / tenant improvement) in Garden City typically runs 15–45 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Garden City Development Services — Building Division at 208-472-2921.

You'll need: Building Permit Application — Non-Residential. Depending on your project, Garden City may also ask for: Building Permit Application — Temporary Structure — Non-Residential; Business Compliance Application (BUS); Commercial Occupancy Analysis Application (OCC); Design Professional Building Plans Certification Form. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Garden City requires 3 inspection(s) for a non-residential building permit (new construction / tenant improvement), in order: Foundation, Framing / Structural, Final. Schedule each through City of Garden City Development Services — Building Division (208-472-2921).

Apply through City of Garden City Development Services — Building Division at 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. Official information: https://gardencityidaho.org/departments/development-services/building-services/.

Garden City, Idaho has adopted: 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. Local amendments apply — see the Garden City overview page for the full list.

Garden City requires: (1) confirm zoning permits the use; (2) obtain Design Review if making structural/exterior changes, then a Non-Residential Building Permit, or an Occupancy Analysis/Business Compliance verification if no changes; (3) receive a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance; (4) obtain a business license from the Clerk's Office if required. A C of O or C of C is mandatory before occupancy of any tenant space.

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