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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Meridian, Idaho

Required for construction of a new accessory dwelling unit on a residential property in Meridian. ADUs require planning/zoning approval and a building permit. A dedicated ADU Submittal Checklist and Standards document is available from Meridian Building Services. Apply through the Citizen Access Portal.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Planning/zoning approval required — confirm zone allows ADU use (contact Meridian Planning Division at (208) 884-5533)
  • Building permit required for all ADU construction
  • Submit Residential ADU Submittal Checklist and Standards (available from the Residential Checklists page)
  • ACCA-approved Manual J, D, and S load calculations required
  • Separate trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) required
  • Apply through the Citizen Access Portal at citizenportal.meridiancity.org

Required documents

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Fee schedule

ADU Building Permit Application FeeCity of Meridian Fee Schedule, Section 1.1, Resolution No. 18-2110 (apps.meridiancity.org/CITYFEEWEB/)
$150 (non-refundable, applied to permit fee — same as new residential)
ADU Building Permit — valuation-basedCity of Meridian Fee Schedule, Section 1.1, Resolution No. 18-2110
$50 base fee plus $5.50 per $1,000 of project value or fraction thereof

Review timeline

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

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit permit actually take in Meridian?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Pre-Construction

    Required before any footing work begins

  2. 2

    Foundation

    Footings and foundation before concrete pour

  3. 3

    Framing

    Structural framing, egress windows, fire separation

  4. 4

    MEP Rough-In

    Mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-ins before walls closed — separate trade permits required

  5. 5

    Final

    All work complete, smoke/CO detectors, address posted, ready for occupancy

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

Tips

  • Confirm ADU zoning eligibility with the Meridian Planning Division at (208) 884-5533 before applying for a building permit.
  • Planning/zoning approval is a required step before the building permit for ADUs.
  • The Residential ADU Submittal Checklist and Standards document is available from the Residential Checklists page.
  • Separate trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are required for ADU construction.
  • Manual J, D, and S load calculations from an ACCA-approved software are required.

Frequently asked questions

Meridian requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: Planning/zoning approval required — confirm zone allows ADU use (contact Meridian Planning Division at (208) 884-5533); Building permit required for all ADU construction; Submit Residential ADU Submittal Checklist and Standards (available from the Residential Checklists page); ACCA-approved Manual J, D, and S load calculations required; Separate trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) required; Apply through the Citizen Access Portal at citizenportal.meridiancity.org. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Meridian Community Development — Building Services at (208) 887-2211 before starting work.

In Meridian, the published ADU Building Permit Application Fee is: $150 (non-refundable, applied to permit fee — same as new residential). Additional published fees: ADU Building Permit — valuation-based — $50 base fee plus $5.50 per $1,000 of project value or fraction thereof. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit in Meridian typically runs 10–10 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Meridian Community Development — Building Services at (208) 887-2211.

You'll need: Residential Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Submittal Checklist and Standards; Building Permit Application; Construction Drawings; Energy Compliance Documentation; ACCA Manual J, D, and S Load Calculations. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Meridian requires 5 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Pre-Construction, Foundation, Framing, MEP Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through Meridian Community Development — Building Services ((208) 887-2211).

Apply through Meridian Community Development — Building Services at 33 E. Broadway Avenue, Suite 102, Meridian, ID 83642. Phone: (208) 887-2211, email: building@meridiancity.org. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://meridiancity.org/community-development/building/.

Meridian, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — with local amendments; effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — with local amendments; effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — with local amendments; effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — with local amendments; effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — with local amendments; effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Fuel & Gas Code (IFGC) — with local amendments; effective January 1, 2021; 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (ISPC, based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code) — effective January 1, 2021; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted via Idaho HB337 (IC 54-1001), effective July 1, 2023. Local amendments apply — see the Meridian overview page for the full list.

ADUs are permitted in Meridian subject to zoning eligibility. Contact the Meridian Planning Division at (208) 884-5533 to confirm your property's zone allows an ADU. Once zoning approval is obtained, apply for a building permit through the Citizen Access Portal at citizenportal.meridiancity.org with the Residential ADU Submittal Checklist.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.

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 Meridian building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in other cities

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