Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Pocatello, Idaho

Pocatello requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: Building permit required for new single-family, duplex, and other residential construction; Plans reviewed against the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC as adopted by the City of Pocatello, plus the 2018 Idaho Administrative Code amendments; Completed Residential Development Application with legal description, parcel size, zoning district, and estimated construction cost; Completed MECcheck or REScheck energy compliance form must be completed prior to submitting the application; Manual D, J, and S (HVAC sizing) calculations must be submitted with the building plans prior to review (effective Oct. 1, 2021); every fifth home built by a builder must be blower-door tested to meet current thermal-envelope requirements; Individual site-specific Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) plan required at time of application; City of Pocatello ESC Permit required alongside any EPA NOI/Construction General Permit obligations; Full plan set including plot plan (no smaller than 8.5x11 inches) with north arrow/scale, lot boundary dimensions, structure locations, setbacks from property lines, driveway with dimensions/grade, utility locations, floor plans, elevation views, and footing/foundation cross-sections; Retaining walls over 4 feet in height require engineered plans; Flood Plain Determination required if parcel is in the Flood Plain (pre-development Flood Plain Certificate); Evidence of septic permit from the state Health Department required if sanitary sewer is not available; Apply online via the eTRAKiT portal (pocatello.gov/etrakit/) or submit the paper Residential Development Application. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Pocatello Building Department (Development Services Center) at (208) 234-6158 before starting work.

In Pocatello, the published Building Permit Fee — total valuation $1 to $500 is: $23.50. Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee — total valuation $501 to $2,000 — $23.50 for the first $500, plus $3.05 for each additional $100; Building Permit Fee — total valuation $2,001 to $25,000 — $69.25 for the first $2,000, plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee — total valuation $25,001 to $50,000 — $391.75 for the first $25,000, plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee — total valuation $50,001 to $100,000 — $643.75 for the first $50,000, plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee — total valuation $100,001 to $500,000 — $993.75 for the first $100,000, plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee — total valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000 — $3,233.75 for the first $500,000, plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee — total valuation $1,000,001 and higher — $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000; Plan Review Fee — Residential — 35% of the building permit fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

There is a minimum of 10 working days for residential plan review. That 10-day timeline restarts whenever any new piece of information is submitted, per the City of Pocatello Residential Development Application.

You'll need: Residential Development Application; Residential Plan Checklist; MECcheck or REScheck Energy Compliance Form; Site-Specific Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Plan; Construction Drawings (plot plan, floor plans, elevations, foundation/footing details, roof plan). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Pocatello requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Footing/Foundation, Framing, Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) — Initial, Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Pocatello Building Department (Development Services Center) ((208) 234-6158).

Applications are submitted through the City's eTRAKiT portal (pocatello.gov/etrakit/) or as a paper Residential Development Application at the Development Services Center, 911 N 7th Avenue.

Pocatello, Idaho has adopted: Idaho has a mandatory statewide building code framework under the Idaho Building Code Act (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 41), administered by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses' Building Safety Program, which sets the statewide-adopted editions of the IBC, IRC, IECC, and related codes; local jurisdictions administer and enforce permitting and inspections within their boundaries and may adopt local amendments. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page (pocatello.gov/164/General-Building-Information).; The City of Pocatello operates its own Building Department and Development Services Center — it is not a DOPL-administered jurisdiction for permit issuance. The Building Department 'ensures the safety of all buildings and structures in the city of Pocatello through the administration and enforcement of codes and ordinances regarding new construction, remodeling, and the abatement of dangerous buildings,' and 'coordinates plan checks and issues building permits for all construction including electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas installation; building demolitions; excavations; signs and sidewalks.' Source: City of Pocatello Building Department page (pocatello.gov/163/Building).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (Idaho's state-amended plumbing code, administered locally) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2018 Idaho Fire Code — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted by City of Pocatello. Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; 2018 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — referenced on the City's Residential Plan Checklist for fire access/turnaround review. Source: City of Pocatello Residential Development Application & Plan Checklist (PDF), pocatello.gov/DocumentCenter/View/81.; All codes amended per the 2018 Idaho Administrative Code (IDAPA rules). Source: City of Pocatello General Building Information page.; Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) administers statewide contractor/tradesperson licensing (electrical, plumbing, mechanical contractors and journeymen) — DOPL issues the underlying trade licenses, but the City of Pocatello Building Department issues the construction permits and performs inspections within city limits. Source: City of Pocatello Contractor Licenses page (pocatello.gov/166/Contractor-Licenses), which requires electrical/mechanical/plumbing contractors to hold and present 'a copy of State of Idaho license' (DOPL) rather than issuing a separate city trade license for those disciplines.. Local amendments apply — see the Pocatello overview page for the full list.