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Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in Star, Idaho

Required for installation of a rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system in Star. The City's own Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-03, approved 6/17/2025) explicitly lists 'solar' as one of the project types billed under the Electrical Permit's 'Commercial/Other — valuation-based' fee tier, rather than under the flat per-square-footage residential wiring tiers — a real, distinct, City-published fee mechanism for solar. A separate Building Permit (Table 1-A, valuation-based) applies to the mounting/racking structural scope.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Electrical interconnection/wiring for a solar PV system is billed under the Electrical Permit's 'Commercial/Other' valuation-based fee tier, per the City's MEP Fee Schedule, which explicitly states this tier 'applies to commercial, industrial, solar, fire alarm, new SF residential over 4,500 sq. ft., multi-family'
  • Mounting/racking structural work is permitted via the standard Residential or Commercial Building Permit (Table 1-A, valuation-based), using the same IWORQ Permit Portal process documented elsewhere in this file
  • Apply via IWORQ Permit Portal (staridpermit.portal.iworq.net); contractor must be registered in the City system before accessing the portal
  • Homeowners may perform their own electrical work on their primary/secondary residence; commercial-scope work requires an Idaho state-licensed electrical contractor Owner-builderContractor
  • Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted statewide by the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10), effective July 1, 2024 — for the interconnection scope, and the 2018 IBC/IRC for the structural mounting scope

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Solar Electrical Interconnection — Commercial/Other valuation-based tierCity of Star MEP Fee Schedule, Resolution 2025-03, approved 6/17/2025 (staridaho.org/DocumentCenter/View/1603/Mechanical-Electrical--Plumbing-Fee-Schedule) — this Commercial/Other tier is explicitly stated to apply to 'commercial, industrial, solar, fire alarm, new SF residential over 4,500 sq. ft., multi-family,' rather than the flat per-square-footage residential wiring tiers used for ordinary new-home wiring.
Up to $10,000: multiply by 2% add $60; $10,001-$100,000: subtract $10,000, multiply by 1%, add $260; over $100,001: subtract $100,001, multiply by 0.5%, add $1,160
Building Permit Fee (structural mounting/racking, Table 1-A)City of Star Building Permit Fees (Table 1-A) — applies to the racking/mounting structural scope of a solar installation, same as any other structural work.
$23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers documented in the Residential Building Permit entry of this file
Re-inspection FeeCity of Star Fee Information page (staridaho.org/1249/Fee-Information).
$65.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewStar’s published plan-review target
1–1 business days

How long did your Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit permit actually take in Star?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough Electrical

    Interconnection wiring, disconnect placement, and conduit before energizing; schedule online via IWORQ Portal before 4:00 PM for next-business-day inspection.

  2. 2

    Final Electrical / Interconnection

    Panel/array wiring complete, disconnect labeled, system ready for utility interconnection.

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

Tips

  • Star's own Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-03) is one of the few documents in this batch of jurisdictions to explicitly name 'solar' as its own billed category — it is priced on the Commercial/Other valuation-based tier, not the flat per-square-footage new-home wiring tiers.
  • Budget for two separate permits: an Electrical Permit (interconnection, billed on the Commercial/Other valuation tier) and, if the racking/mounting changes the structure, a Building Permit (Table 1-A valuation-based).
  • Electrical permits are typically issued same-day if the associated building permit (if one is required) is already approved, per the Star Building Department FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Star requires a residential/commercial solar photovoltaic (pv) permit for: Electrical interconnection/wiring for a solar PV system is billed under the Electrical Permit's 'Commercial/Other' valuation-based fee tier, per the City's MEP Fee Schedule, which explicitly states this tier 'applies to commercial, industrial, solar, fire alarm, new SF residential over 4,500 sq. ft., multi-family'; Mounting/racking structural work is permitted via the standard Residential or Commercial Building Permit (Table 1-A, valuation-based), using the same IWORQ Permit Portal process documented elsewhere in this file; Apply via IWORQ Permit Portal (staridpermit.portal.iworq.net); contractor must be registered in the City system before accessing the portal; Homeowners may perform their own electrical work on their primary/secondary residence; commercial-scope work requires an Idaho state-licensed electrical contractor; Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted statewide by the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10), effective July 1, 2024 — for the interconnection scope, and the 2018 IBC/IRC for the structural mounting scope. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Star Building Department at 208-286-7247 before starting work.

The City's MEP Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-03) explicitly lists solar under the Electrical Permit's 'Commercial/Other' valuation-based tier: up to $10,000 in valuation is billed at 2% plus $60; $10,001-$100,000 at 1% of the amount over $10,000 plus $260; and over $100,001 at 0.5% of the amount over $100,001 plus $1,160. A separate valuation-based Building Permit (Table 1-A) applies if the racking/mounting work requires structural review.

Star's published plan-review target for a residential/commercial solar photovoltaic (pv) permit is 1–1 business days.

You'll need: Permit Application (online via IWORQ Portal). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Star requires 2 inspection(s) for a residential/commercial solar photovoltaic (pv) permit, in order: Rough Electrical, Final Electrical / Interconnection. Schedule each through City of Star Building Department (208-286-7247).

Apply through City of Star Building Department at 10769 W. State St., P.O. Box 130, Star, ID 83669. Phone: 208-286-7247, email: building@staridaho.org. Office hours: Inspections scheduled online by 4:00 PM prior business day; next-day inspections only (no weekend inspections). Official information: https://staridaho.org/1243/Building-Department.

Star, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — with amendments; effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC, Parts I, II, III, IX) — with Idaho amendments (Idaho Residential Code 2020 Edition); effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — with amendments (Idaho Energy Conservation Code 2020 Edition); effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective January 1, 2021; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted statewide by the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10), effective July 1, 2024; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Fuel and Gas Code (IFGC) — effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Residential Code Parts V and VI (mechanical) — effective January 1, 2021; 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (ISPC) — based on 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code; effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — administered by Idaho Fire Marshal; effective January 1, 2021. Local amendments apply — see the Star overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

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

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