Skip to main content
PermitBase

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in Unincorporated Ada County, Idaho

Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mount solar photovoltaic systems in unincorporated Ada County. The structural/mounting portion is a building permit issued by Ada County Development Services, using the same valuation-based fee table as other building work, with a solar-specific valuation rule: the taxable valuation for a solar PV permit includes the structural elements, racking, mounting elements, rails, and labor, but EXCLUDES the solar panels/equipment and inverters themselves. Electrical interconnection work is permitted separately by the State of Idaho (DOPL/Division of Building Safety), not the County, since no electrical-permit type is issued by Ada County Development Services.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required for the structural/mounting portion, issued by Ada County Development Services under the Ada County Building Code
  • Valuation for fee purposes includes the structural elements, racking, mounting elements, rails, and labor — but excludes the solar panels/equipment and inverters, per the County's own Building Permit Valuation Guidelines
  • The ELECTRICAL interconnection portion of a solar PV installation (inverter tie-in, NEC compliance) requires a SEPARATE permit issued by the State of Idaho DOPL/Division of Building Safety, not Ada County — Ada County Development Services issues no electrical-permit type
  • General inspection minimum fee of $100 applies per the County's Plan Review and Inspection Fees table

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 2 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — Valuation $1 to $2,000Ada County Development Services Fee Schedule, Building-Fees.pdf — Building Permit Valuation Guidelines table
$65.00 for the first $2,000
Building Permit Fee — Valuation $2,000.01 to $25,000Ada County Development Services Fee Schedule, Building-Fees.pdf
$65.00 for the first $2,000 + $11.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
General Inspection (minimum)Ada County Development Services Fee Schedule, Building-Fees.pdf — Plan Review and Inspection Fees table
$100

Review timeline

Plan reviewUnincorporated Ada County’s published plan-review target
5–21 business days

How long did your Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit 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

    Structural/Mounting Final (County)

    Racking attachment, roof penetration sealing, and structural load compliance verified by Ada County

  2. 2

    Electrical Interconnection (DOPL, separate permit)

    Conduit, disconnects, inverter, and interconnection point verified by a state-assigned inspector under the separate DOPL electrical permit

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

Tips

  • Ada County's own Building Permit Valuation Guidelines state explicitly: 'Valuation of solar photovoltaic systems include the structural elements, racking, mounting elements, rails, and labor (excludes solar equipment and inverters).' Budget your declared valuation accordingly — including the panels/inverters in your valuation will overstate the county building-permit fee.
  • A rooftop solar installation in unincorporated Ada County typically requires TWO separate permits: a County building permit for the mounting/structural work and a State (DOPL/Division of Building Safety) electrical permit for the interconnection — Ada County Development Services does not issue electrical permits at all.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Ada County requires a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit for: Building permit required for the structural/mounting portion, issued by Ada County Development Services under the Ada County Building Code; Valuation for fee purposes includes the structural elements, racking, mounting elements, rails, and labor — but excludes the solar panels/equipment and inverters, per the County's own Building Permit Valuation Guidelines; The ELECTRICAL interconnection portion of a solar PV installation (inverter tie-in, NEC compliance) requires a SEPARATE permit issued by the State of Idaho DOPL/Division of Building Safety, not Ada County — Ada County Development Services issues no electrical-permit type; General inspection minimum fee of $100 applies per the County's Plan Review and Inspection Fees table. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Ada County Development Services — Building Division at 208-287-7900 before starting work.

Only the structural elements, racking, mounting elements, rails, and labor — the solar panels/equipment and inverters themselves are excluded from the valuation used to calculate the building permit fee, per Ada County Development Services' own Building Permit Valuation Guidelines.

Unincorporated Ada County's published plan-review target for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit is 5–21 business days.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (Building Division); DOPL/Division of Building Safety Electrical Permit. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Ada County requires 2 inspection(s) for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit, in order: Structural/Mounting Final (County), Electrical Interconnection (DOPL, separate permit). 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.

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

Other permits in Unincorporated Ada County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition)Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Tenant Improvement)Mechanical / HVAC PermitGrading & Drainage PermitSwimming Pool / Spa PermitAgricultural Structure Permit (Zoning Certificate)EV Charger / EVSE Electrical Permit

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in other cities

American Falls, IdahoAmmon, IdahoBlackfoot, IdahoBoise, IdahoBuhl, IdahoBurley, IdahoCaldwell, IdahoCascade, Idaho

Compare solar photovoltaic (pv) permit fees across Idaho →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Unincorporated Ada County project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Unincorporated Ada County — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →