Ketchum building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Ketchum, Idaho.
Last verified 2026-07-08 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 191 5th St. West (P.O. Box 2315), Ketchum, ID 83340
- Phone
- (208) 726-7801
- Office hours
- Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Ketchum's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Ketchum — 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) — as amended by the Idaho Building Code Board, with Appendix O
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — as amended by the Idaho Building Code Board, Parts I–III and IX, with Appendix F
- 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — as amended by the Idaho Building Code Board
- 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — as amended by the Idaho Building Code Board
- 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted by State and City without amendment
- 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — adopted by City of Ketchum
- 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — with Appendix Chapters B, C, D, E, and F
- ICC A117.1 — Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (as referenced in the adopted IBC)
- Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trade work is regulated and permitted by the State of Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS) / Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) — Ketchum does not issue its own trade permits
- Modular buildings and structures are regulated by the State of Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS)
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions)
Required for new single-family dwellings and additions in Ketchum. Covers structural construction, framing, envelope, and associated systems reviewed against the 2018 IBC/IRC/IECC as locally amended. As of February 27, 2026, the City buckets permit review into Short/Medium/Standard timelines based on project complexity; new construction and additions fall in the Standard tier.
Residential Remodel / Repair Permit
Covers internal and external remodels, internal/external repairs, siding replacement, decks, and window/door replacement in Ketchum. As of the February 2026 process update, these project types are grouped into Short and Medium review tiers with streamlined affidavit-based review for less complex scopes.
Re-Roof Permit
Required for roof replacement/re-roofing in Ketchum. As of February 2026, re-roofs use a Building Affidavit in place of a full Building Plan Check and are the only permit type exempted from the mandatory pre-final inspection step.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
Required for rooftop or ground-mounted solar PV installation in Ketchum. The City issues a flat-fee Solar Permit for the structural/building portion (using a Building Affidavit and CAP Affidavit in place of full review); the electrical interconnection is separately permitted and inspected by the State of Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS/DOPL), not the City.
Electrical Permit (State of Idaho)
The City of Ketchum does not issue electrical permits. All electrical work in Ketchum — including new construction wiring, panel upgrades, circuits, and fixture installation — is permitted and inspected directly by the State of Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS) / Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), confirmed on the City's own Inspections page: 'All mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspections are handled by the State of Idaho.'
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger / EVSE Permit (State of Idaho)
The City of Ketchum does not issue electrical permits — like all other electrical work, EV charger/EVSE circuit installation is permitted and inspected directly by the State of Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS)/DOPL, confirmed on the City's own Inspections page ('All mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspections are handled by the State of Idaho.'). No dedicated EV charger/EVSE fee category exists in IDAPA 24.39.10 (Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board) — a new EV charger circuit added to an existing residence is billed under the flat $65 Existing Residential Dwelling Unit Permit fee, confirmed directly against DOPL's currently published electrical board rules (the same statewide schedule verified for Idaho City, Jerome, and Kellogg, ID in this same research pass). A grid-connected renewable-energy Plan Check Fee line exists on DOPL's older Homeowner Electrical Permit Application & Fee Worksheet, but it is scoped to solar/renewable generation interconnection, not EV charging load.
Plumbing Permit (State of Idaho)
The City of Ketchum does not issue plumbing permits. All plumbing work in Ketchum — new fixtures, water heater replacement, re-piping, sewer/water service lines — is permitted and inspected directly by the State of Idaho State Plumbing Board (DOPL), per the City's own Inspections page.
Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of structures in Ketchum, whether an entire structure or internal/partial demolition. Demo-Entire Structure and Demo-Internal Only or Partial Structure are both in the City's Short review tier.
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)
- 1units
1 buildings · $800,000 valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 15units
11 of 12 months reported · #39 in Idaho coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-05)
- 5units
3 buildings · $12M valuation
5 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 15units
14 buildings · $48.1M valuation
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
- Ketchum does NOT issue electrical, plumbing, or mechanical/HVAC permits. All trade permits and inspections for those disciplines are handled directly by the State of Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS/DOPL) at dbs.idaho.gov or (208) 332-4700 — this is stated on the City's own Inspections page.
- The City's building permit application and tracking platform is CommunityConnect, used for building, demolition, dig, ROW encroachment, TURP, and solar (structural) permits only.
- As of February 27, 2026, Ketchum re-bucketed all building permit types into Short (7 calendar days), Medium (15 calendar days), and Standard (25 calendar days) first-review timelines, with all additional review rounds fixed at 7 calendar days.
- New permit categories added February 2026: Deck ONLY, Window/Door Replacement LIKE-FOR-LIKE, and Window/Door Replacement WITH CHANGES (replacing the prior single Window/Door Replacement permit).
- A Construction Activity Plan (CAP) is required for all Community Core/downtown projects; a CAP Affidavit substitutes for eligible less-complex project types outside the Community Core.
- All permits except re-roofs now require a mandatory Pre-Final inspection before departmental finals (Fire, Planning, Engineering) and the ultimate Final Building Inspection can proceed.
- Construction activity is limited to 7:30 AM–7:00 PM on weekdays and Saturdays; work is prohibited on Sundays and holidays per Ketchum Municipal Code 8.08.050.14.
- Ketchum ADUs (300–1,200 net livable sq ft) generally only require the standard building permit — no separate ADU permit type or fee schedule exists. ADUs are exempt from parking requirements and design review, and Fire/Parks/Police/Streets impact fees are waived.
- 24-hour advance notice is required for all City-scheduled building inspections; the City-issued permit must be visibly posted on site with approved plans available.
- Plan Check Fee is 65% of the Building Permit Fee; Planning & Zoning and Fire Department each add a further 70% of the Plan Check Fee where applicable.