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Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness in Idaho City, Idaho

Required BEFORE a building permit can be issued for any exterior change, new signage, or demolition on a structure located within the Idaho City Historic District. Issued by the Idaho City Historic Preservation Commission (a five-member advisory commission), governed by City Ordinance No. 270 and the Idaho City Design Guide (updated September 2011).

Verified 2026-07-08 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Applies only to properties within the boundaries of the Idaho City Historic District (see Historic District Map)
  • Required for any exterior change to a structure, new/changed signage, or demolition — beyond routine maintenance
  • Contributing (historic) buildings must follow the stricter Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation
  • Non-contributing buildings in the district still require a Certificate of Appropriateness, under a less restrictive set of guidelines
  • Application must be submitted at least one week before the next monthly Commission meeting (3rd Wednesday of the month, 6:00 PM at City Hall)
  • Applicant attendance at the meeting is encouraged but not required
  • Required submittals: detailed scaled plans/elevations of proposed changes; for signage, a colored rendering and scaled drawing; a scaled site plan; and a vicinity map

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Filing fee
Not published — contact the department

Review timeline

Plan reviewIdaho City’s published plan-review target
7–37 business days

How long did your Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness permit actually take in Idaho City?

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Inspection process

    See the full Idaho City inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

    Tips

    • The Historic Preservation Commission meets only once a month (3rd Wednesday, 6:00 PM at City Hall) — plan your building permit application timeline accordingly, since the Certificate of Appropriateness must be obtained BEFORE the City will issue a building permit.
    • There is no application fee for a Certificate of Appropriateness.
    • If a project is completed without a required Certificate of Appropriateness, an after-the-fact application can be submitted, but the Commission can require the work to be removed or changed, or issue a stop-work order, if it is not approved.
    • Use the Idaho City Design Guide (Sept 2011) to determine whether your structure is 'contributing' (historic) — contributing buildings face the stricter Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
    • Applications should include as much detail as possible (materials, design, location, dimensions, colors) to avoid delays.

    Frequently asked questions

    Yes. Any exterior change to a structure, sign, or demolition within the Historic District requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Idaho City Historic Preservation Commission before a building permit can be issued.

    The Commission meets once a month, on the 3rd Wednesday. Applications must be submitted at least one week before the next meeting, so review can take anywhere from about a week to over a month depending on when in the cycle you apply.

    You'll need: Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness; Idaho City Design Guide (updated September 2011). Depending on your project, Idaho City may also ask for: Historic District Map. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Idaho City — Building Permits and Inspections Department at 511 Main St., PO Box 130, Idaho City, ID 83631. Phone: (208) 392-4584, email: idahocityclerk@cityofic.org. Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM); Fri by appointment. Official information: https://idahocity.municipalimpact.com/building-permits-and-inspections.

    Idaho City, Idaho has adopted: 2015 International Building Code (IBC), including rules for ADA and Federal Fair Housing Act accessibility equivalency, as adopted per Idaho City Code 8-1-2 and Idaho Code section 39-4116(1); 2017 Idaho Residential Code (IRC), Parts I-IV and IX; 2017 Idaho Energy Conservation Code (IECC); Per Idaho City Code 8-1-2, adopted codes are automatically superseded by successive versions as approved by the Idaho Building Code Board — confirm current statewide-mandated edition with the City or the Idaho Building Code Board before relying on a specific year; Idaho City Code Title 8 — Building Regulations. Local amendments apply — see the Idaho City overview page for the full list.

    No fee is listed on the City's Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The Commission is an advisory arm of the City and does not charge for this review.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-08.

    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 Idaho City building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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    Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness in other cities

    Clifton, ArizonaTombstone, Arizona

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