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Commercial & Industrial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodel/TI, Change of Use) in Priest River, Idaho

Required for new construction, additions, remodels (including tenant-improvement work in existing commercial space), and change-of-use projects on Commercial or Industrial buildings within the City of Priest River. Building plan review and inspections are performed by James A. Sewell & Associates, LLC under contract as the City's Building Official — the same firm used for the City's residential building permit — but Priest River publishes a distinct 'Commercial & Industrial Building Permit Application Procedures' document (with a parallel 'Change of Use' variant of the same document) separate from its residential procedures, imposing unconditional site-plan-approval and Stormwater-Management-Plan requirements and a mandatory Idaho-licensed-design-professional stamp on all plans. NO SEPARATE TENANT-IMPROVEMENT (TI) PERMIT PRODUCT EXISTS: the shared 'Building Permit and Sign Application' form's Class-of-Work checkboxes (New, Addition, Remodel, Change of Use, Sign, Other) show that TI/remodel work in existing commercial space is filed under this same Commercial & Industrial Building Permit — checking 'Remodel' or 'Change of Use' — using the same application procedures, plan-stamping requirements, and Table 1-A (1997 UBC) valuation-based fee schedule as new commercial construction, not a distinct TI-specific application or fee line.

Verified 2026-08-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Recorded copy of warranty deed or lease agreement showing name and legal description
  • Compliance with zoning, subdivision, stormwater, and floodplain regulations
  • Commercial and Industrial projects MUST have site plan approval AND a city-approved Stormwater Management Plan — unconditional requirements, unlike the residential permit's conditional 300-foot/15%-slope stormwater trigger
  • Completed plot plan showing all setbacks from structure to property lines, with the property line and survey pins marked by the owner or agent (a survey may be required to verify setbacks)
  • Water and sewer approval signature from the City of Priest River obtained before the application is accepted
  • Other approvals may be required depending on the project: Idaho Transportation Department, EPA, Idaho DEQ, Fire Department, or other City departments
  • TWO (2) 11x17 complete sets of STAMPED ENGINEERED construction plans (full-size sets may be required if 11x17 sets are not legible)
  • Plans for Commercial, Industrial, and Public Pole Buildings MUST be wet-stamped by an Idaho Licensed Design Professional per state law — unconditional for this permit type, unlike the residential permit where a Design Professional stamp is only explicitly required for pole buildings
  • Roof/truss specifications must include STAMPED engineered truss specifications
  • A Development Permit is required if the parcel is located in a Floodplain and/or Floodway; Floodway structures require an Idaho-licensed architect or engineer to design the foundation
  • Separate state-issued Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits required via Idaho DOPL — not issued by the City
  • If the construction site disturbs one acre or more of land, an EPA Notice of Intent (NOI) under the Construction General Permit is required directly from the EPA, separate from the City's stormwater plan approval
  • If the proposed commercial use is not permitted outright in its zoning district, a separate Conditional or Special Use Permit application ($1,500 application fee, per Resolution No. 25-056) is required in addition to the building permit

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit FeeCity of Priest River Resolution No. 25-056 (effective 11/3/2025), Appendix A, 'Building Permits' section — the same valuation-based fee table used for all building permits in this file; no separate commercial line item is published. Building valuation determined using the 2010 Building Valuation Data Sheet.
Per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code (valuation-based)
Plan Review FeeResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Building Permits' section
65% of the Building Permit Fee
Additional Plan Review FeeResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Building Permits' section
$50/hour
Plan Addendum / Change ReviewResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Building Permits' section
$47/hour
Re-Inspection FeeResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Building Permits' section
$47/hour
New Construction Building Permit DepositResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Building Permits' section — listed generally, not residential-only, so applies to new commercial construction too
$500
Violation for Failure to Obtain a PermitResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Building Permits' section
Double the Building Permit Fee
Commercial Stormwater Plan Review & InspectionResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Stormwater Plan' section — a distinct line item from the Residential Stormwater Plan Review & Inspection fee ($100 application fee + $50/hour, $750 engineering retainer) in the same table. Since Commercial and Industrial projects must have a city-approved Stormwater Management Plan unconditionally (per the Commercial & Industrial Building Permit Application Procedures), this fee effectively applies to every commercial project, unlike the residential entry where the underlying stormwater plan itself is only conditionally required.
$250 application fee + $50/hour, plus a $1,250 engineering-fee retainer
Conditional or Special Use Permit (Commercial Use)Resolution No. 25-056, Appendix A, 'Conditional or Special Use' section. CONDITIONAL — only applies if the proposed commercial use is not permitted outright in its zoning district and requires a separate Conditional/Special Use Permit; not charged on every commercial building permit.
$1,500 application fee + cost of notifications and mailings
Water/Sewer Service Connection FeesRequired if the project site was not previously provided with sewer and water service; new commercial builds are also subject to established impact fees per the applicable adopted fee schedule
Varies by service line size — see Water and Sewer Connection Application

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Commercial & Industrial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodel/TI, Change of Use) permit actually take in Priest River?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation / Footings

    Before concrete pour — footing size, rebar schedule, and 24-inch minimum frost depth verified

  2. 2

    Framing

    After framing and rough-in trades, before insulation or wall cover — structural components, header/beam sizes verified

  3. 3

    Fire/Life-Safety (if applicable)

    Verified where the project's Occupancy Group and Division trigger a fire-sprinkler requirement — the shared Building Permit and Sign Application form includes a 'Fire Sprinklers Required? Yes/No' field completed during plan review

  4. 4

    Final

    All work complete per approved plans, ready for occupancy

See the full Priest River inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Priest River uses the SAME 'Building Permit and Sign Application' form for residential and commercial projects — the 'Class of Work' checkbox (New/Addition/Remodel/Change of Use/Sign/Other) and the applicable procedures document (Residential vs. Commercial & Industrial) determine which submittal rules apply, not a separate commercial-specific form.
  • Unlike the residential permit, a Stormwater Management Plan and formal site plan approval are UNCONDITIONALLY required for every Commercial and Industrial project, and carry their own distinct fee ($250 application + $50/hour + $1,250 engineering retainer) separate from the general Building Permit Fee.
  • State law requires ALL Commercial, Industrial, and Public Pole Building plans to be wet-stamped by an Idaho-licensed architect or engineer — there is no 'may be required' language for commercial the way there is for some residential structures.
  • If the construction site disturbs one acre or more, a separate EPA Notice of Intent (NOI) / stormwater permit under the EPA's Construction General Permit is required directly from the EPA — this is federal, not a City permit, and is documented in the SWPPP guidance sheet bundled in the City's own Commercial & Industrial Building Permit packet.
  • If the proposed commercial use is not allowed outright in its zoning district, budget for a separate Conditional or Special Use Permit application ($1,500 + notification/mailing costs) in addition to the building permit — this is a zoning process, not part of the building permit fee itself.
  • There is no separate tenant-improvement (TI) permit or fee schedule in Priest River — TI and remodel work in existing commercial space is filed under this same Commercial & Industrial Building Permit, checking 'Remodel' or 'Change of Use' on the shared application form.
  • The City's Building Department Permit Application Policy and Procedure (adopted 7/7/2025) documents Priest River's own internal permit-processing steps for the first time: after an application is deemed complete, departmental routing must be completed within 5 business days, the Building Official should endeavor to prepare the permit within 15 business days, and final fee assessment/issuance follows within 2 business days — but the 15-business-day step is an aspirational target, not a guaranteed maximum.
  • Planning & Zoning Administrator Bryan Quayle, (208) 290-7700, is listed as an additional contact on the Commercial & Industrial procedures documents, alongside the Building Department's main line (208) 448-2123 and contract Building Official James A. Sewell & Associates, LLC, (208) 263-4160.

Frequently asked questions

Priest River requires a commercial & industrial building permit (new construction, additions, remodel/ti, change of use) for: Recorded copy of warranty deed or lease agreement showing name and legal description; Compliance with zoning, subdivision, stormwater, and floodplain regulations; Commercial and Industrial projects MUST have site plan approval AND a city-approved Stormwater Management Plan — unconditional requirements, unlike the residential permit's conditional 300-foot/15%-slope stormwater trigger; Completed plot plan showing all setbacks from structure to property lines, with the property line and survey pins marked by the owner or agent (a survey may be required to verify setbacks); Water and sewer approval signature from the City of Priest River obtained before the application is accepted; Other approvals may be required depending on the project: Idaho Transportation Department, EPA, Idaho DEQ, Fire Department, or other City departments; TWO (2) 11x17 complete sets of STAMPED ENGINEERED construction plans (full-size sets may be required if 11x17 sets are not legible); Plans for Commercial, Industrial, and Public Pole Buildings MUST be wet-stamped by an Idaho Licensed Design Professional per state law — unconditional for this permit type, unlike the residential permit where a Design Professional stamp is only explicitly required for pole buildings; Roof/truss specifications must include STAMPED engineered truss specifications; A Development Permit is required if the parcel is located in a Floodplain and/or Floodway; Floodway structures require an Idaho-licensed architect or engineer to design the foundation; Separate state-issued Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits required via Idaho DOPL — not issued by the City; If the construction site disturbs one acre or more of land, an EPA Notice of Intent (NOI) under the Construction General Permit is required directly from the EPA, separate from the City's stormwater plan approval; If the proposed commercial use is not permitted outright in its zoning district, a separate Conditional or Special Use Permit application ($1,500 application fee, per Resolution No. 25-056) is required in addition to the building permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Priest River Building, Planning and Zoning Department at (208) 448-2123 before starting work.

In Priest River, the published Building Permit Fee is: Per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code (valuation-based). Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — 65% of the Building Permit Fee; Additional Plan Review Fee — $50/hour; Plan Addendum / Change Review — $47/hour; Re-Inspection Fee — $47/hour; New Construction Building Permit Deposit — $500; Violation for Failure to Obtain a Permit — Double the Building Permit Fee; Commercial Stormwater Plan Review & Inspection — $250 application fee + $50/hour, plus a $1,250 engineering-fee retainer; Conditional or Special Use Permit (Commercial Use) — $1,500 application fee + cost of notifications and mailings; Water/Sewer Service Connection Fees — Varies by service line size — see Water and Sewer Connection Application. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Idaho Code Section 39-4117 gives the City up to 20 business days to determine whether a submitted commercial application is complete (a completeness check, not a full-approval guarantee). The City's own Building Department Permit Application Policy and Procedure (adopted 7/7/2025) then targets 5 business days for departmental routing, up to 15 business days (an aspirational target) for the Building Official to prepare the permit, and 2 business days for final fee assessment and issuance after completeness is confirmed. No single guaranteed end-to-end turnaround time is published.

You'll need: Commercial & Industrial Building Permit Application Procedures; Building Permit and Sign Application; Two Sets of STAMPED ENGINEERED Construction Drawings (11x17); Plot Plan / Site Plan; City-Approved Stormwater Management Plan; Recorded Warranty Deed or Lease Agreement; Water and Sewer Connection Application. Depending on your project, Priest River may also ask for: EPA Notice of Intent (NOI) / Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP); Development Permit; Conditional or Special Use Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Priest River requires 4 inspection(s) for a commercial & industrial building permit (new construction, additions, remodel/ti, change of use), in order: Foundation / Footings, Framing, Fire/Life-Safety (if applicable), Final. Schedule each through City of Priest River Building, Planning and Zoning Department ((208) 448-2123).

Apply through City of Priest River Building, Planning and Zoning Department at 552 High St, P.O. Box 415, Priest River, ID 83856. Phone: (208) 448-2123, email: jgabell@priestriver-id.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (City Hall; closed holidays). Official information: https://priestriver-id.gov/building.

Yes. The City publishes a distinct 'Commercial & Industrial Building Permit Application Procedures' document (with a parallel 'Change of Use' variant), separate from its residential procedures, requiring unconditional site plan approval, a city-approved Stormwater Management Plan, and Idaho-licensed-design-professional-stamped plans for all Commercial, Industrial, and Public Pole Building projects.

No. Priest River has no distinct tenant-improvement permit product or fee schedule. TI/remodel work in existing commercial space is filed under the same Commercial & Industrial Building Permit, checking 'Remodel' or 'Change of Use' on the shared Building Permit and Sign Application form, and is billed under the same Table 1-A (1997 UBC) valuation-based fee schedule as new commercial construction.

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