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Solar PV Permit (State-Issued Electrical + City Building Permit) in Priest River, Idaho

Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems within the City of Priest River. Idaho does not allow cities to administer their own electrical permitting: the electrical-connection scope of a solar install is permitted directly by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL, formerly the Division of Building Safety), while the structural/roof-mounting scope requires a City of Priest River Building Permit, with plan review performed under contract by James A. Sewell & Associates, LLC as the City's Building Official.

Verified 2026-07-19 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Electrical work on a solar PV system must be performed by an Idaho-licensed electrical contractor whose electrician holds (or is supervised by someone holding) the Solar Photovoltaic limited electrical license category, which requires proof of NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) installer certification or equivalent, per IDAPA 24.39.10.153.09
  • Grid-tied renewable energy systems require a mandatory electrical plan review by DOPL before the installation permit can be purchased
  • All PV electrical work must comply with the applicable provisions of the National Electrical Code as adopted by Idaho (IDAPA 24.39.10.250)
  • The structural/roof-mounting scope requires a City of Priest River Building Permit: recorded deed, plot plan with setbacks, two 11x17 sets of construction plans, and (for pole-mounted or ground-mounted racking on a pole-type structure) plans stamped by an Idaho Licensed Design Professional
  • Water and sewer approval is not applicable to a solar-only project but standard City review still applies to the structural building permit
  • Separate permits are required for electrical work in addition to the City building permit — the City does not issue electrical permits itself

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Idaho DOPL Electrical Permit — 'Other Installation' fee schedule (applies to solar/renewable energy since no dedicated PV fee line is published)Idaho Electrical Board Rules, IDAPA 24.39.10, Rule 500 (Permits and Inspections), current administrative rule text (adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/24/243910.pdf). Statewide fee schedule — Idaho does not permit local jurisdictions to set their own electrical permit fees; Priest River has no local electrical-permitting program.
Wiring cost up to $10,000: $60 plus 2% of total wiring cost; $10,000-$100,000: $260 plus 1% of the amount over $10,000; over $100,000: $1,160 plus 0.5% of the amount over $100,000
DOPL Electrical Plan Review (required for grid-tied renewable energy systems before permit purchase)IDAPA 24.39.10, Rule 500 plan review fee; grid-tied solar/renewable systems require a passing plan review before the installation permit itself may be purchased
$65 minimum for one hour or less, plus $65 per additional hour
City of Priest River Building Permit Fee (structural/roof-mounting scope)City of Priest River Resolution No. 25-056 (effective 11/3/2025), Appendix A — same valuation-based schedule used for all other building permits in this file; no dedicated solar line item is published, so the general Building Permit Fee table applies, plus the 65% Plan Review Fee also charged on other building permits.
Per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code (valuation-based)

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Solar PV Permit (State-Issued Electrical + City Building Permit) 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

    Electrical Rough-In

    Grounding and listing of all components verified before the system is covered or energized (DOPL electrical inspection)

  2. 2

    Electrical Final

    Wiring methods, labeling at the shut-off, working clearances, and system operation verified (DOPL electrical inspection)

  3. 3

    Building Final

    Panel mounting and roof/structural attachment verified against approved plans (City building inspection, performed by James A. Sewell & Associates under contract)

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

Tips

  • Idaho does not allow the City of Priest River to issue its own electrical permits — the electrical scope of any solar installation is a STATE permit through DOPL, not a city permit.
  • Because grid-tied systems require a passing DOPL plan review before the installation permit itself can be purchased, budget the plan-review fee ($65/hour, one-hour minimum) and lead time separately from the installation permit fee.
  • The structural/roof-mounting scope still requires the City's standard Building Permit process, reviewed by the contract Building Official James A. Sewell & Associates, LLC, (208) 263-4160 — confirm which fee category applies to a solar-only project, since the City's Resolution No. 25-056 fee schedule does not list a dedicated solar line item.
  • A contractor performing the installation must hold Idaho's Solar Photovoltaic limited electrical license category (requiring NABCEP certification or equivalent), per the Idaho Electrical Board's own rules — homeowners may self-install on their own residence subject to Idaho Code Section 54-1016 exemptions.
  • An Energizing Permit allowing connection of electricity to the building is issued only after a completed building permit is filed with the City, per the City's own residential building permit tips.

Frequently asked questions

Priest River requires a solar pv permit (state-issued electrical + city building permit) for: Electrical work on a solar PV system must be performed by an Idaho-licensed electrical contractor whose electrician holds (or is supervised by someone holding) the Solar Photovoltaic limited electrical license category, which requires proof of NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) installer certification or equivalent, per IDAPA 24.39.10.153.09; Grid-tied renewable energy systems require a mandatory electrical plan review by DOPL before the installation permit can be purchased; All PV electrical work must comply with the applicable provisions of the National Electrical Code as adopted by Idaho (IDAPA 24.39.10.250); The structural/roof-mounting scope requires a City of Priest River Building Permit: recorded deed, plot plan with setbacks, two 11x17 sets of construction plans, and (for pole-mounted or ground-mounted racking on a pole-type structure) plans stamped by an Idaho Licensed Design Professional; Water and sewer approval is not applicable to a solar-only project but standard City review still applies to the structural building permit; Separate permits are required for electrical work in addition to the City building permit — the City does not issue electrical permits itself. 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 Idaho DOPL Electrical Permit — 'Other Installation' fee schedule (applies to solar/renewable energy since no dedicated PV fee line is published) is: Wiring cost up to $10,000: $60 plus 2% of total wiring cost; $10,000-$100,000: $260 plus 1% of the amount over $10,000; over $100,000: $1,160 plus 0.5% of the amount over $100,000. Additional published fees: DOPL Electrical Plan Review (required for grid-tied renewable energy systems before permit purchase) — $65 minimum for one hour or less, plus $65 per additional hour; City of Priest River Building Permit Fee (structural/roof-mounting scope) — Per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code (valuation-based). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Priest River does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Priest River Building, Planning and Zoning Department at (208) 448-2123 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Idaho DOPL Electrical Permit Application (Alternative Energy / Solar PV); Building Permit and Sign Application (structural/roof-mounting scope). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Priest River requires 3 inspection(s) for a solar pv permit (state-issued electrical + city building permit), in order: Electrical Rough-In, Electrical Final, Building 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/.

Yes, generally two permits: a State of Idaho DOPL electrical permit for the grid connection (Priest River has no local electrical-permitting program — DOPL fees are set statewide under IDAPA 24.39.10), and a City of Priest River Building Permit for the structural roof-mounting scope, reviewed under contract by James A. Sewell & Associates, LLC and billed per Resolution No. 25-056's Table 1-A (1997 UBC) valuation-based fee schedule.

The Idaho Electrical Board (administered by DOPL) issues a dedicated Solar Photovoltaic limited electrical license category requiring proof of NABCEP installer certification or equivalent, per IDAPA 24.39.10.153.09. Grid-tied systems also require a passing DOPL plan review before the installation permit can be purchased.

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

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