You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-07-19.
City of St. Maries building permits
VerifiedCity of St. Maries, Idaho — as published 2026-07-19.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Codes adopted
2018 International Building Code (IBC), with Idaho amendments (as 'Building Code 2018 of Idaho' adopted by the Idaho Building Code Board) — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(1).2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), with Idaho amendments — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(2).2018 International Residential Code (IRC), Parts I, II, III and IX, with Idaho amendments (as 'Idaho Residential Code (2020 edition)') — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(3).2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), with amendments (as 'Idaho Energy Conservation Code (2020 edition)') — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(4).Uniform Building Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 edition — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(5).2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), with Idaho amendments — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(6).2018 International Fire Code (IFC), as adopted and amended by the Idaho State Fire Marshal — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(7).2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), with Idaho amendments — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(8).2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code, with Idaho amendments — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(9).St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A) states adopted code editions are automatically superseded by successive Idaho Building Code Board versions effective January 1 of the year following state-level adoption — so the city's in-force edition can advance without a separate local ordinance.
Permit types & fees
Building Permit
VerifiedRequired for construction, improvement, extension, alteration, or other action regulated by the city-adopted building codes, within St. Maries city limits — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A). The single Building Permit Application covers a broad range of project types (the form's 'Building Type' checkboxes include Commercial, Single Family Dwelling, Duplex, Garage, Town Home, Multi-Family Dwelling, Shop, Shed, and Other) and 'Scope of Work' options (New Build, Addition, Remodel, Reroof, Change of Use, Other). Fees are valuation-based per the City's adopted Fee Schedule.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Unlawful to construct, improve, extend, or alter any structure requiring a building permit within St. Maries city limits without first procuring the permit — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A).
- A written statement from a licensed surveyor, certifying a completed field survey with property corners located and marked, must be submitted with the application, unless the work is demolition-only, is fully contained within the existing building envelope, or an acceptable prior survey with visible original corner markers already exists — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A)(1)-(2).
- No building permit shall be issued until all city requirements for extension of streets, water, and sewer are complied with — St. Maries City Code 9-2-4.
- Architectural drawings sufficient to meet a recognized financial lending agency's requirements are required for all building permit applications not concerning a simple boundary structure (fence/wall) — St. Maries City Code 9-2-2(A).
- A survey plat completed and filed by a licensed surveyor, with property pins visibly positioned (and, where appropriate, sewer/water hookup points and structure location shown), must accompany the application — St. Maries City Code 9-2-2(B).
- Separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are required — noted as an 'Important Notice' on the Building Permit Application; the City's own Fee Schedule does not list separate city-issued electrical/plumbing/mechanical permit fee lines, consistent with these trade permits being administered outside the City Building Department (commonly via the state) rather than confirmed as separately city-issued.
- Initial applications may require review by the Planning and Zoning Commission for compliance with Title 11 (Zoning and Subdivisions) of the city code — St. Maries City Code 9-2-2(E).
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCity of St. Maries fillable PDF application; includes site/owner/applicant/contractor information, building type and scope-of-work checkboxes, total square footage, and a Design Criteria/Expiration/Appeals page.
- RequiredSite PlanPer the City's Site Plan Guidelines (attached to the Building Permit Application): must show north arrow, an even-number scale, entire parcel dimensions and boundaries, rights-of-way/easements/other structures, distances between structures and property lines, all utilities (existing vs. proposed, including septic, water, power, gas, telephone/cable), driveways/parking/patios/decks/walkways, and land features such as streams and slopes. No site plan is required for reroofing.
- RequiredLicensed Surveyor Field Survey StatementWritten statement prepared and stamped by a licensed surveyor confirming property corners are located and marked, per St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A)(1); exceptions apply for demolition-only work, work within the existing building envelope, or a valid prior survey.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Valuation $1 to $500 | $24.00 | City of St. Maries Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362, updated 06.22.2026), Table 3-A. |
| Total Valuation $501 to $2,000 | $24.00 for the first $500 plus $3.00 for each additional $100, or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3-A. |
| Total Valuation $2,001 to $40,000 | $69.00 for the first $2,000 plus $11.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $40,000 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3-A. |
| Total Valuation $40,001 to $100,000 | $487.00 for the first $40,000 plus $9.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3-A. |
| Total Valuation $100,001 to $500,000 | $1,027.00 for the first $100,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3-A. |
| Total Valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,827.00 for the first $500,000 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3-A. |
| Total Valuation $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 | $6,327.00 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $5,000,000 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3-A. |
| Total Valuation $5,000,001 and up | $18,327.00 for the first $5,000,000 plus $1.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof | City Fee Schedule, Table 3-A. |
| Plan Review | 40% of the Building Permit fee, per plan review | City Fee Schedule, Table 3. |
| Residential Building Permit Review by Planner | $60.00 | City Fee Schedule, Table 2 (Planning and Zoning — Land Use & Development Miscellaneous), in addition to the Building Official's Table 3 plan review. |
| Commercial/Industrial/Non-Residential Building Permit Review by Planner | $100.00 | City Fee Schedule, Table 2. |
| Re-Review of Building Permit by Planner | 1/2 of the fee for initial review | City Fee Schedule, Table 2. |
| Commencing Work Before Permit Issuance | $100.00 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3. |
| Reinspection — 1st reinspection | $0 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3. A reinspection is an inspection following a failed inspection; the fee schedule permits one (1) failed inspection per required inspection. |
| Reinspection — 2nd and subsequent reinspection | $50.00 or 10% of the Building Permit fee, whichever is lower | City Fee Schedule, Table 3. |
| Lifting of Notice of Title | $300.00 | City Fee Schedule, Table 3. |
Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
VerifiedRequired for installation of a rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system within St. Maries city limits. The City has no standalone solar-specific application, checklist, or fee line published on its website (cityofstmaries.org) or in its Fee Schedule (Resolution No. 2026-362, updated 06.22.2026) as of 2026-07-20 — a solar PV system is processed and billed as a standard Building Permit under St. Maries City Code 9-2-1, using the same valuation-based Table 3-A fee table and the Building Permit Application's 'Other' Scope of Work checkbox.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Unlawful to construct, install, or alter any structure or electrical system requiring a building permit within St. Maries city limits without first procuring the permit — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A), applied to solar PV mounting/racking and interconnection the same as any other structural/electrical work
- Governed by the 2018 IBC/IRC (structural mounting) and the 2017 National Electrical Code (electrical interconnection) as adopted by the Town — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)
- Idaho has no statewide HOA-restriction-on-solar statute of the kind some states carry, and no independent statewide solar-permit-fee cap statute was located as of this review — confirm any HOA-level restriction directly with the property's own covenants rather than assuming a state override applies
- A survey/site plan requirement (per the general Building Permit Application) applies unless the specific exception at St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A)(1)-(2) is met (demolition-only, fully within existing building envelope, or a valid prior survey exists) — a rooftop-only PV retrofit with no new footprint would typically qualify for this exception
- Plan Review Fee (40% of the Building Permit fee) and the separate Planner review fee (Table 2) both apply to solar PV the same as any other Building Permit, per the City's Fee Schedule
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCity of St. Maries fillable PDF application; no dedicated solar-specific form exists — select 'Other' under Scope of Work and describe the PV system.
- RequiredElectrical/Interconnection DetailsPanel location, array layout, disconnect placement, and interconnection point, submitted as part of the general Building Permit plan set since no standalone solar plan-set checklist is published by the City.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solar PV Permit Fee — Table 3-A valuation-based (no separate solar line item) | $24.00 for the first $500 valuation; $24.00 plus $3.00 per additional $100 (to $2,000); $69.00 for the first $2,000 plus $11.00 per additional $1,000 (to $40,000); $487.00 for the first $40,000 plus $9.00 per additional $1,000 (to $100,000); $1,027.00 for the first $100,000 plus $7.00 per additional $1,000 (to $500,000); higher tiers continue scaling per Table 3-A | City of St. Maries Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362, updated 06.22.2026), Table 3-A — the full valuation-based table already documented and verified in this jurisdiction's Building Permit entry; no solar-specific line item exists, but the general table itself is complete, current, and citable, so a solar applicant's exact fee is computable from this schedule. |
| Plan Review | 40% of the Building Permit fee, per plan review | City Fee Schedule, Table 3, same mechanism as the Building Permit entry. |
| Residential Building Permit Review by Planner | $60.00 | City Fee Schedule, Table 2 — applies in addition to the Building Official's plan review. |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Permit
VerifiedInstalling an EV charging station (EVSE) within St. Maries city limits has no standalone application, checklist, or fee line published on the City's website (cityofstmaries.org) or in its Fee Schedule (Resolution No. 2026-362, updated 06.22.2026) as of 2026-07-20 — the same gap already documented for solar PV in this jurisdiction (see solar-pv-permit). An EV charger is electrical work covered by St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A)'s general permit requirement and is processed and billed as a standard Building Permit ('Building Permit - Other Work,' Table 3) under the City's valuation-based Table 3-A fee table, using the Building Permit Application's 'Other' Scope of Work checkbox. Re-fetched the current Fee Schedule PDF directly for this review and confirmed Table 3-A's exact tiers.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Unlawful to install or alter any electrical system requiring a building permit within St. Maries city limits without first procuring the permit — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A), applied to EV charger circuits and panel work the same as any other electrical installation
- Governed by the 2017 National Electrical Code (with Idaho amendments) as adopted by the City — St. Maries City Code 9-1-1(A)(8)
- The Building Permit Application's 'Important Notice' states separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are required, but the City's own Fee Schedule does not list distinct city-issued electrical permit fee lines — consistent with electrical trade permitting being folded into the general valuation-based Building Permit fee (Table 3-A) rather than billed as a separate city permit type
- Plan Review Fee (40% of the Building Permit fee) and the separate Planner review fee (Table 2) both apply the same as any other Building Permit, per the City's Fee Schedule
- A field survey is not typically required if the installation does not expand the building footprint, per the exception at St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A)(1)-(2)
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCity of St. Maries fillable PDF application; no dedicated EV-charger-specific form exists — select 'Other' under Scope of Work and describe the charging equipment.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit - Other Work (EV charger circuit; cost of work applied to Table 3-A) — valuation $1 to $500 | $24.00 | City of St. Maries Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362, updated 06.22.2026), Table 3 / Table 3-A. 'Other Work' fee is the contractor's total estimate (labor, materials, overhead, and all other associated costs) applied to Table 3-A; no dedicated EV/EVSE line item exists, so this valuation-based table is the governing mechanism. |
| Building Permit - Other Work — valuation $501 to $2,000 | $24.00 for the first $500 plus $3.00 for each additional $100 (or fraction thereof) | Table 3-A, City of St. Maries Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362) |
| Building Permit - Other Work — valuation $2,001 to $40,000 | $69.00 for the first $2,000 plus $11.00 for each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof) | Table 3-A, City of St. Maries Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362) — the tier most EV Level 2 charger installations (equipment + labor) will fall into |
| Plan Review | 40% of the Building Permit fee, per plan review | City Fee Schedule, Table 3, same mechanism as the Building Permit entry. |
| Residential Building Permit Review by Planner | $60.00 | City Fee Schedule, Table 2 — applies in addition to the Building Official's plan review. |
Demolition Permit
VerifiedRequired for demolition of commercial or residential structures within St. Maries, via a dedicated Demolition Permit Application distinct from the general Building Permit Application. Covers interior-only, partial, or complete demolition, and structures with or without a basement.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Submit the completed Demolition Permit Application and fee (cash or check) to City Hall, 602 College Avenue — Demolition Permit Application.
- A site plan is required for a complete demolition and/or if the structure has a basement; a floor plan showing the specific location and scope of work is required for a partial or interior-only demolition — Demolition Permit Application.
- Applicant must contact City Hall both before starting and upon completion of demolition; demolition must be completed within 120 days of the issued permit date — Demolition Permit Application.
- If the structure has a connection to the City water and wastewater system, City Public Works must inspect and preserve/protect the existing sewer and water line before demolition begins — schedule via City Hall, (208) 245-2577.
- Applicant is advised they may need to separately contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding possible asbestos-containing materials on site — Demolition Permit Application.
- A field survey is NOT required for demolition-only work, per the general Building Permit survey-exception at St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(A)(2)(a).
Required documents
- RequiredDemolition Permit ApplicationCity of St. Maries dedicated demolition application (owner, contractor, and demo-site information; commercial/residential and basement/interior/partial/complete-demolition checkboxes).
- RequiredSite Plan or Floor PlanSite plan required for complete demolition or where a basement is present; a floor plan reflecting the demolition scope is required for partial or interior-only demolition.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition Permit Fee | Not separately itemized in the City's published Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362) as its own line item | The Demolition Permit Application states 'Fee is based on the most recent adopted fee schedule.' The Fee Schedule's Table 3 ('Building Permit — Other Work') applies a valuation-based fee (Table 3-A) using 'the contractor's total estimate (labor, materials, overhead, and all other associated costs)' to determine the cost of work, which by its general terms would appear to cover demolition, but no demolition-specific line item or example calculation is separately published — confirm the exact assessed fee with the Building Department, (208) 245-2577, before budgeting. |
Boundary Structure Permit (Fences and Retaining Walls)
VerifiedRequired for construction, extension, or alteration (other than routine maintenance) of a boundary structure — defined as a fence, retaining wall, or other such structure located on or within 10 feet of a city street or alley — within St. Maries city limits. Unlike a general Building Permit, a Boundary Structure Permit is issued by the City Clerk rather than the Building Inspector, per St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(B). Trees and hedges are not considered boundary structures and do not require this permit.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Required for any fence, retaining wall, or similar structure located on or within 10 feet of a city street or alley — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(B), (D).
- A field survey in accordance with 9-2-1(A)(1) is generally required, unless an original licensed-surveyor corner marking is already in place and visible, or the property owner signs a liability waiver acknowledging potential city right-of-way encroachment and agreeing to remove the structure if later found to encroach — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(B)(1)-(2).
- If a field survey is provided showing the structure entirely on the owner's property, the City Clerk shall issue the permit; if no survey is provided or the structure is shown encroaching on the right-of-way, the City Clerk may only issue the permit if the owner signs the liability waiver AND the City Clerk determines the structure will not interfere with sight lines, street maintenance, snow removal, or utility maintenance/monitoring — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(B)(3).
- A denied Boundary Structure Permit may be appealed to City Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(B)(3)(c).
- Each boundary structure waiver/acknowledgement/removal agreement must be recorded by the City Clerk within 30 days of permit approval and runs with the land — St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(B)(3)(d).
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSt. Maries uses the same Building Permit Application form for boundary structures, with 'Fence' listed as one of the form's Building Type checkboxes; the underlying City Code process and issuing authority (City Clerk) differ from a standard building permit as described above.
- RequiredSurvey or Liability WaiverEither a licensed-surveyor field survey/plat, OR — where an exception applies — a signed liability waiver acknowledging potential right-of-way encroachment and agreeing to remove the structure if the City later determines it encroaches, per St. Maries City Code 9-2-1(B)(2).
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boundary Structure / Fence Permit Fee | Not separately itemized in the City's published Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362) | The Fee Schedule's Table 3/3-A valuation-based Building Permit fee schedule is the only construction-permit fee table published; since the Building Permit Application (which lists 'Fence' as a Building Type option) is the form used, the same Table 3-A valuation-based fee appears to apply, but no boundary-structure-specific fee line or minimum was found — confirm with the City Clerk's office, (208) 245-2577, before budgeting. |
Agricultural Building Site Permit
VerifiedA structure meeting the City's definition of 'agricultural building' (livestock shelters/buildings, poultry buildings, barns, storage of equipment/machinery used exclusively in agriculture, horticultural structures such as detached production greenhouses and crop protection shelters, sheds, grain silos, or stables) is EXEMPT from the city-adopted building codes, per St. Maries City Code 9-1-2(D), citing Idaho Code section 39-4116 — but the owner must still obtain a Site Permit from the City Building Department and meet zoning placement standards.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Building must be used solely for one or more of the listed agricultural purposes in St. Maries City Code 9-1-2(C) to qualify for the building-code exemption.
- The property on which the building is sited must be determined by the Benewah County Assessor to be 'land actively devoted to agriculture,' per the eligibility criteria in Idaho Code section 63-604 — St. Maries City Code 9-1-2(D)(2).
- An agricultural building may not be used as a place of human habitation, used as a place of employment where agricultural products are processed/treated/packaged, or opened to use by the public — St. Maries City Code 9-1-2(E)(1).
- The building must conform to the minimum placement standards established under the St. Maries zoning ordinance — St. Maries City Code 9-1-2(E)(2).
- The owner must obtain a Site Permit for the building from the City of St. Maries Building Department — St. Maries City Code 9-1-2(E)(3).
Required documents
- RequiredSite Permit ApplicationSt. Maries City Code 9-1-2(E)(3) requires the owner to obtain a site permit from the City Building Department; a dedicated, separately named 'Agricultural Site Permit' application form was not found among the Forms page's 19 listed documents as of 2026-07-19 — likely processed by the Building Department directly rather than via a standalone published form. Confirm the specific intake document with the Building Department, (208) 245-2577.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Building Site Permit Fee | Not separately published | No distinct fee line for an 'Agricultural Building Site Permit' or 'Siting Permit' was found in the City's Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-362) as of 2026-07-19, unlike Nez Perce County's fee schedule which separately prices agricultural Siting Permits. Confirm the applicable fee with the City Building Department before budgeting. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-19.
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 City of St. Maries building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.