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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Priest River, Idaho

Required for all new single-family residential construction in 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 permit itself is issued by the City.

Verified 2026-07-08 · 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
  • Completed plot plan showing all setbacks from structure to property lines (survey may be required)
  • Stormwater plan required if building site is within 300 feet of surface water or on a slope of 15% or greater
  • Water and sewer approval signature from the City of Priest River obtained before application is accepted
  • TWO (2) 11x17 complete sets of construction plans drawn to scale (full-size sets may be required if not legible)
  • Plans for all pole buildings must be stamped by an Idaho Licensed Design Professional
  • Commercial, industrial, and pole buildings must be wet-stamped by an Idaho-licensed architect or engineer per state law
  • Separate state-issued Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits required via Idaho DOPL — not issued by the City

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 Permit Fee — Table 1-A 1997 UBC.' Building valuation is determined using the 2010 Building Valuation Data Sheet referenced in the same resolution.
Per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code (valuation-based)
Plan Review FeeResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A
65% of the Building Permit Fee
Additional Plan Review FeeResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A
$50/hour
Plan Addendum / Change ReviewResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A
$47/hour
Re-Inspection FeeResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A
$47/hour
New Construction Building Permit DepositResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A
$500
Violation for Failure to Obtain a PermitResolution No. 25-056, Appendix A
Double the Building Permit Fee
Water/Sewer Service Connection FeesRequired if the project site was not previously provided with sewer and water service; new residential/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 Residential Building Permit (New Construction) 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

    Final

    All work complete per approved plans, ready for occupancy

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

Tips

  • Building plan review and inspections in Priest River are performed by James A. Sewell & Associates, LLC (208-263-4160) under contract as the City's Building Official — the permit is still issued by and filed with the City.
  • Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits are NOT issued by the City — they are issued and regulated by the State of Idaho through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), (208) 332-4700.
  • An Energizing Permit allowing connection of electricity to the building is issued only after a completed building permit is filed with the City.
  • Local design criteria: 85 PSF ground snow load, 90 mph wind speed, Seismic Design Category C, 24-inch minimum frost line depth, -10°F winter design temperature.
  • The building permit becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days, or if suspended/abandoned for 180 days, without prior Building Department approval.
  • Structures exempt from a building permit: one-story detached accessory structures (tool/storage sheds) up to 200 sq ft, fences not over 6 feet high, retaining walls not over 4 feet, water tanks up to 5,000 gallons, and sidewalks/driveways.
  • A stormwater plan is required if the building site is within 300 feet of surface water or on a slope of 15% or greater.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas installation permits are not issued by the City — they are issued and regulated by the State of Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), (208) 332-4700.

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; 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.

The City has not published a specific review-timeframe SLA for residential building permits. Contact the Building Department at (208) 448-2123 or the contract Building Official, James A. Sewell & Associates, at (208) 263-4160, for a current estimate.

You'll need: Building Permit and Sign Application; Recorded Warranty Deed or Lease Agreement; Two Sets of Construction Drawings (11x17, scaled); Plot Plan; Water and Sewer Connection Application. Depending on your project, Priest River may also ask for: Stormwater Management Plan; Development Permit. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Priest River requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Foundation / Footings, Framing, 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/departments/building-planning-and-zoning/.

Priest River, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), with Idaho amendments; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), Parts I, II, III and IX, with Idaho amendments — collectively named the Idaho Residential Code (2020 Edition); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), with Idaho amendments — collectively named the Idaho Energy Conservation Code (2020 Edition); 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — state-administered via Idaho DOPL; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — state-administered via Idaho DOPL; 2018 International Residential Code Parts V & VI (mechanical/fuel gas) — state-administered via Idaho DOPL; 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code, based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code — state-administered via Idaho DOPL; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), with amendments — state-administered via Idaho DOPL; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — administered by the Idaho State Fire Marshal; Priest River City Code Title 9 (Building Codes and Regulations), adopting the above codes for city-administered building permits. Local amendments apply — see the Priest River overview page for the full list.

The City of Priest River contracts with James A. Sewell & Associates, LLC for building plan review and inspections. The permit application itself is filed with and issued by the City at 552 High St.

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

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