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Agricultural Structure Permit (Zoning Certificate) in Unincorporated Ada County, Idaho

An agricultural structure in unincorporated Ada County requires the issuance of a Zoning Certificate before construction begins. Qualifies only for structures on a 'farm' (5 acres or more in agricultural use with agricultural exemption) that are used exclusively for agricultural purposes — not for dwellings or personal item storage. Application fee is $100. Governed by Ada County Code ACC 8-2-23-2.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Property must be a 'farm' — 5 acres or larger in agricultural use with agricultural exemption
  • Structure must be for agricultural use only (not a dwelling; not personal item storage)
  • Accessory Use / Zoning Certificate approval required through Ada County Development Services before construction
  • Site plan (drawn to scale/dimensioned) including all existing and proposed easements, property lines, structures, setbacks, and well/septic locations
  • Detailed letter describing the proposed structure and its use
  • Property owner signature consenting to the application and site inspections

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Agricultural Structure Zoning Certificate — Application feeAda County Agricultural Structure Application (2025), ACC 8-2-23-2
$100.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Ada County building department
~5–14 business days

How long did your Agricultural Structure Permit (Zoning Certificate) permit actually take in Unincorporated Ada County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Site Inspection (if required)

    Ada County Development Services staff may enter the property for site inspections related to the Zoning Certificate; property owner consents as part of the application

See the full Unincorporated Ada County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • This Zoning Certificate is for agricultural structures only — not for personal storage sheds, equipment not used for farming, or dwellings.
  • The property must be at least 5 acres in agricultural use AND hold agricultural exemption status to qualify.
  • For non-agricultural accessory structures, a standard building permit is required instead.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Ada County requires an agricultural structure permit (zoning certificate) for: Property must be a 'farm' — 5 acres or larger in agricultural use with agricultural exemption; Structure must be for agricultural use only (not a dwelling; not personal item storage); Accessory Use / Zoning Certificate approval required through Ada County Development Services before construction; Site plan (drawn to scale/dimensioned) including all existing and proposed easements, property lines, structures, setbacks, and well/septic locations; Detailed letter describing the proposed structure and its use; Property owner signature consenting to the application and site inspections. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Ada County Development Services — Building Division at 208-287-7900 before starting work.

In Unincorporated Ada County, the published Agricultural Structure Zoning Certificate — Application fee is: $100.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for an agricultural structure permit (zoning certificate) in Unincorporated Ada County typically runs 5–14 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Ada County Development Services — Building Division at 208-287-7900.

You'll need: Agricultural Structure Application (2025); Site Plan (drawn to scale/dimensioned); Detailed Letter. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Ada County requires 1 inspection(s) for an agricultural structure permit (zoning certificate), in order: Site Inspection (if required). Schedule each through Ada County Development Services — Building Division (208-287-7900).

Apply through Ada County Development Services — Building Division at 200 W. Front Street (Ada County Courthouse, 2nd Floor), Boise, ID 83702-7300. Phone: 208-287-7900, email: mechanical@adacounty.id.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices/building-division/.

Unincorporated Ada County, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted via Ordinance #919, Ada County Code; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Commercial Provisions; Residential as modified by Idaho Statute Title 39 Chapter 41; adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Urban-Wildland Interface Code (IUWIC) — adopted via Ordinance #919; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted via Ordinance #919. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Ada County overview page for the full list.

Yes, but the process is a Zoning Certificate ($100), not a standard building permit. The property must be a 'farm' of at least 5 acres with agricultural exemption, and the structure must be for agricultural use only. Submit the Agricultural Structure Application (2025) with a site plan and a detailed use description. Source: Ada County Agricultural Structure Application (2025), ACC 8-2-23-2.

Sources & verification

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

Applications & forms

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

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