Unincorporated Bannock County building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Unincorporated Bannock County, Idaho.
Last verified 2026-07-08 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 5500 S. 5th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83204
- Phone
- 208-236-7230
- Office hours
- Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM; closed all federal holidays
- Website
- Official site
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Unincorporated Bannock County — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Idaho adopts a statewide baseline building code set under the Idaho Building Code Act (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 41) and IDAPA rules administered by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Effective January 1, 2021, the statewide baseline includes the 2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2020 Idaho Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC Parts I–III and IX with Idaho amendments), 2020 Idaho Energy Conservation Code (based on the 2018 IECC with Idaho amendments), 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and 2018 International Fire Code (IFC). The National Electrical Code is adopted separately by the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10), not bundled with the building code: Idaho enforces the 2023 NEC, effective July 1, 2024 (the state used the 2017 NEC with amendments before that and skipped the 2020 edition). Local jurisdictions must enforce the state baseline and may adopt amendments only where those amendments are at least as stringent as the state-adopted editions; local amendments may not be less restrictive. Enforcement is local — each city or county issues permits and performs inspections. Always confirm the current adopted edition and any local amendments with your specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07, Building Code Ordinance of Bannock County
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), Parts I–III and Part IX — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07
- 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07, with Idaho-specific amendments to Sections R402.6 (log home thermal envelope), R403.5.3 (hot water pipe insulation), R404.1 (lighting equipment), and R406.3/R406.4 (Energy Rating Index, Climate Zone 6 = ERI 68)
- 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07
- 2018 International Solar Energy Provisions (ISEP) — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07
- 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07
- 2018 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07
- Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1994 edition — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07
- ANSI 117.1 Accessibility and Usable Building and Facilities, 2003 edition — adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07
- Bannock County Zoning Ordinance No. 1998-1 (as amended)
- Bannock County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition)
Required for new single-family dwellings, additions, and alterations, and most accessory structures (garages, shops, pole barns) in unincorporated Bannock County. Governed by the Building Code Ordinance of Bannock County (Ordinance No. 2020-07, effective January 1, 2021), which adopts the 2018 IBC/IRC/IECC/IEBC with local amendments. Plan review and permitting are handled by Bannock County Planning and Development Services; applications are submitted through the County's online ViewPoint Cloud portal or in person at the Planning and Development office.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mount solar photovoltaic systems in unincorporated Bannock County. Per the County's own Building Permit Exemptions guide, a 'Photovoltaic System' always needs a building permit regardless of size — it is listed alongside habitable space and communication towers as a category with no exemption threshold. The structural/mounting portion is billed under the County's standard valuation-based fee table (Ordinance No. 2020-07, Appendix A); electrical interconnection work is permitted separately by the State of Idaho (DOPL/Division of Building Safety), not the County.
EV Charger / EVSE Electrical Permit
Installation of an electric vehicle charging station (EVSE) in unincorporated Bannock County is an electrical permit. Per Section 301.B of the county's Building Code Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2020-07), all electrical work is referred to the State of Idaho — Bannock County issues no electrical permits at all. The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) issues the EVSE electrical permit under its statewide fee rule (IDAPA 24.39.10.500), which has no distinct EV-charger/EVSE line item: a residential retrofit is billed as an 'Existing Dwelling Unit' inspection, and commercial installations use the wiring-cost-based commercial/industrial formula.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- 63units
33 buildings · $9.8M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 577units
12 of 12 months reported · #14 in Idaho coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-05)
- 235units
139 buildings · $35.4M valuation
- Full year 2025
- 592units
356 buildings · $112.3M valuation
County-wide figures: BPS reports county-wide totals; jurisdiction is the unincorporated remainder — county totals include incorporated cities (Pocatello, Chubbuck, McCammon, Arimo, Downey, Inkom, Lava Hot Springs, Swanlake); county file row: 'Bannock County' (co2605c.txt, 16/005)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Idaho building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Bannock County does NOT issue electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or fuel-gas permits in unincorporated areas. These are administered by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) per Section 301.B of the County's Building Code Ordinance and Idaho Code Title 54, Chapters 10 and 26. Contact DOPL Licensing/Permits/Inspection Support at 1-800-955-3044 (also listed as 208-334-3233) or dbs.idaho.gov.
- Apply for county permits online through the ViewPoint Cloud portal at bannockcountyid.viewpointcloud.com, or in person at 5500 S. 5th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83204.
- Building permit fees are calculated from a valuation table dating to the 1997 Uniform Building Code (Appendix A of Ordinance No. 2020-07) — not the more commonly used current ICC Building Valuation Data Table that some other Idaho counties (e.g., Ada County) use.
- Building codes currently in effect are the 2018 editions of the IBC, IRC, IECC, IEBC, ISEP, ISPSC, and IWUIC, adopted via Ordinance No. 2020-07, effective January 1, 2021 (replacing the prior 2017-09 ordinance, which had adopted 2015-cycle codes).
- Agricultural buildings on land actively devoted to agriculture are exempt from the Building Code (but not from Zoning Ordinance placement requirements) — exemption does not apply if the building is used for human habitation/employment or agriculture is not the primary land use.
- A permit is required before electrical service can be connected to any structure in unincorporated Bannock County.
- Manufactured and mobile homes require an installation permit (treated as a building permit) and must be placed on a permanent foundation meeting the Idaho Manufactured Home Installation Standard.
- Prebuilt structures (manufactured homes, modular buildings, metal shipping containers, mobile homes, park trailers) may require a bond — 110% of a licensed Idaho contractor's quote to complete remaining work, minimum $2,000 — before placement or before a temporary certificate of occupancy is issued.
- Snow/roof loads vary by elevation across the County, from 35 PSF (below 4,600 ft) to 100 PSF (above 6,800 ft) roof live load — verify the design load for the specific parcel elevation.
- For inspections, call 208-236-7090 (24-hour advance notice required); for permitting/application questions, call the Planning and Development main line at 208-236-7230 or email development@bannockcounty.gov.
- If the property relies on a septic system, contact Southeastern Idaho Public Health (208-239-5276) early — new septic systems and any increase in bedroom count on an existing system require separate health-district approval before or alongside the building permit.
- Bannock County Planning and Development Services is drafting a comprehensive Land Use & Development Ordinance to replace the current 1998-1 zoning code; monitor bannockcounty.gov/ourfuture for the status of that rewrite, which could affect future zoning/permitting requirements.