Skip to main content
PermitBase

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

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.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required for the structural/mounting portion of a solar PV installation — per the County's Building Permit Exemptions guide, photovoltaic systems 'always' need a building permit with no size exemption, unlike sheds, fences, or small decks
  • Issued by Bannock County Planning and Development Services under Building Code Ordinance No. 2020-07
  • The ELECTRICAL interconnection portion of a solar PV installation requires a SEPARATE permit issued by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL, formerly Division of Building Safety), not Bannock County — per Section 301.B of the County's Building Code Ordinance and Idaho Code Title 54, Chapters 10 and 26
  • No solar-specific valuation guidance (e.g., excluding panels/inverters from valuation) was found published by Bannock County, unlike neighboring Ada County — confirm declared valuation treatment directly with Planning and Development before submitting

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 — $1.00 to $500 valuationBannock County Building Code Ordinance No. 2020-07, Appendix A, Table No. 1-A (1997 UBC), effective January 1, 2021 — same general valuation table used for all building permits; no distinct solar line item published
$23.00
Building permit fee — $2,001 to $25,000 valuationOrdinance No. 2020-07, Appendix A, Table No. 1-A
$69.25 for the first $2,000, plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof

Review timeline

Plan reviewUnincorporated Bannock County’s published plan-review target
7–10 business days

How long did your Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Bannock 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 Bannock County

  2. 2

    Electrical Interconnection (DOPL, separate permit)

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

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

Tips

  • Unlike small sheds, fences, or decks, a photovoltaic system has NO size-based exemption in unincorporated Bannock County — per the County's own Building Permit Exemptions guide, it 'always' requires a building permit.
  • A rooftop solar installation in unincorporated Bannock County typically requires TWO separate permits: a County building permit for the mounting/structural work and a State (DOPL) electrical permit for the interconnection — the County issues no electrical permits at all.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, always. Bannock County's own Building Permit Exemptions guide lists 'Photovoltaic System' under structures that always need a building permit, with no size-based exemption (unlike small sheds or fences). The electrical interconnection portion additionally requires a separate permit from the Idaho DOPL, since the County does not issue electrical permits.

In Unincorporated Bannock County, the published Building permit fee — $1.00 to $500 valuation is: $23.00. Additional published fees: Building permit fee — $2,001 to $25,000 valuation — $69.25 for the first $2,000, plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Unincorporated Bannock County's published plan-review target for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit is 7–10 business days.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (ViewPoint Cloud portal); DOPL Electrical Permit. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Bannock 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 Bannock County Planning and Development Services (208-236-7230).

Apply through Bannock County Planning and Development Services at 5500 S. 5th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83204. Phone: 208-236-7230, email: development@bannockcounty.gov. Office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM; closed all federal holidays. Official information: https://www.bannockcounty.gov/planning/.

Unincorporated Bannock County, Idaho has adopted: 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. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Bannock 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 Bannock County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Other permits in Unincorporated Bannock County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition)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 Bannock County project checklist

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

Get started →