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Commercial Tenant Improvement (TI) Permit in Caldwell, Idaho

Required for tenant improvements (interior remodels, build-outs, and improvements) within existing commercial, non-residential, or multi-family (triplex and above) buildings in Caldwell. Reviewed by the same four-member Development Team (Planning & Zoning, Engineering, Building, Fire) used for new commercial construction, but with a shorter published review goal and a lighter submittal package since the base building and site work already exist. Apply through the Citizenserve online portal.

Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Project must be a tenant improvement to an existing commercial, non-residential, or multi-family (triplex and above) building — new shell construction uses the Commercial Building Permit process instead
  • Submit digitally through the Citizenserve online portal (citizenserve.com) — paper submittals are not accepted for commercial projects
  • Completed Building Permit Application and Checklist for Commercial Use (tenant improvement version)
  • Completed Contractor Registration Declaration form Contractor
  • Two complete sets of Building Plans
  • Two sets of Building calculations and specifications
  • Structural engineering calculations required (two sets, stamped by an Idaho-licensed architect/engineer) for structural improvements/remodels/retrofits within the existing building
  • All plans and calculations stamped and originally signed by an architect or engineer currently licensed in Idaho, unless waived by the Building Department for a specific scope
  • All contractors must be currently licensed in Idaho
  • Plan review fees paid in full at time of submittal
  • Parking layout shown on site plan (assumes landscaping and paving were already completed with the building shell)
  • Fire Sprinkler, Fire Alarm/Monitoring, and Hood Suppression systems require a separate application to the Building Department with separate fees
  • Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are separate permit applications with separate fees, submitted after the Building Permit has been obtained
  • Food-related establishments (restaurants, bars, markets, delis, snack bars, etc.) must also be reviewed and approved by Southwest District Health, (208) 455-5400

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — valuation $0–$499Caldwell Building Safety Fees Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1 — the same valuation-based Table 1 used for all building permits (residential and commercial), including tenant improvements; no separate TI-specific valuation table exists for the base building permit fee
$34.00 flat
Building Permit — valuation $500–$1,999Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$34.00 base + $0.02624 per dollar above $500
Building Permit — valuation $2,000–$24,999Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$64.37 base + $0.01135 per dollar above $2,000
Building Permit — valuation $25,000–$49,999Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$326.54 base + $0.0085 per dollar above $25,000
Building Permit — valuation $50,000–$99,999Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$549.65 base + $0.00565 per dollar above $50,000
Building Permit — valuation $100,000–$499,999Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$846.27 base + $0.004546 per dollar above $100,000
Building Permit — valuation $500,000–$999,999Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$2,755.45 base + $0.004336 per dollar above $500,000
Building Permit — valuation $1,000,000+Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$5,031.78 base + $0.003650 per dollar above $1,000,000
Commercial Building Plan Review FeeResolution No. 300-25, Section I-D-1a; same rate applies to tenant improvements as new commercial construction — covers initial review through 3rd review
65% of building permit fee
Commercial Fire Plan Review FeeResolution No. 300-25, Section I-D-1b
20% of building permit fee
Engineering Plan Review Fee (commercial)Resolution No. 300-25, Section I-D-1c; applies if the TI scope touches civil/engineering elements
20% of building permit fee
Planning & Zoning Plan Review Fee (commercial)Resolution No. 300-25, Section I-D-1d
35% of building permit fee (minimum $55.00)
Reinspection (3rd inspection / 2nd reinspection for same work segment)Resolution No. 300-25, Section V-C; first reinspection is no charge
$60.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewCaldwell’s published plan-review target
10–10 business days

How long did your Commercial Tenant Improvement (TI) Permit permit actually take in Caldwell?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Framing / Structural (if applicable)

    For TI scopes involving wall changes or structural modifications — verify against stamped plans before wall cover; not applicable to finish-only TI scopes

  2. 2

    MEP Rough-In

    Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical rough-ins before wall cover, under their own separate trade permits

  3. 3

    Fire

    Fire Department inspection of any fire-rated separations, hydrants/hose access, and any fire sprinkler/alarm/hood suppression systems (submitted and inspected under separate applications)

  4. 4

    Final / Certificate of Occupancy

    All applicable Development Team disciplines sign off; ADA accessibility features verified; Certificate of Occupancy (or Certificate of Completion) issued upon passing

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

Tips

  • TI submittals are lighter than new-construction commercial submittals: no civil engineering drawings, storm water calculations, or landscape plan are required in the base checklist since the site work already exists — only building plans and calculations.
  • Structural engineering calculations are only required if the TI scope includes structural improvements, remodels, or retrofits — a finish-only TI (paint, flooring, non-structural partitions) may not need them; confirm scope with the assigned Team Leader.
  • The 10-business-day Complete Plan Review goal only applies to complete submittals with every checklist item and attachment included.
  • Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work within a TI still requires separate trade permits, applied for after the Building Permit is issued, using commercial-specific valuation-based fee tables (Tables 4, 7, and 10 of Resolution No. 300-25).
  • Food-related tenant build-outs (restaurants, bars, markets, delis, snack bars) must also secure approval from Southwest District Health, (208) 455-5400.

Frequently asked questions

Caldwell treats tenant improvements as their own permit product with a dedicated Commercial Tenant Improvement Packet, a lighter submittal checklist than new construction (no civil/storm water/landscape requirements), and a shorter 10-business-day review goal (vs. 12 for new construction/additions). It uses the same underlying valuation-based Building Permit fee table and the same commercial plan review percentages as new commercial construction.

In Caldwell, the published Building Permit — valuation $0–$499 is: $34.00 flat. Additional published fees: Building Permit — valuation $500–$1,999 — $34.00 base + $0.02624 per dollar above $500; Building Permit — valuation $2,000–$24,999 — $64.37 base + $0.01135 per dollar above $2,000; Building Permit — valuation $25,000–$49,999 — $326.54 base + $0.0085 per dollar above $25,000; Building Permit — valuation $50,000–$99,999 — $549.65 base + $0.00565 per dollar above $50,000; Building Permit — valuation $100,000–$499,999 — $846.27 base + $0.004546 per dollar above $100,000; Building Permit — valuation $500,000–$999,999 — $2,755.45 base + $0.004336 per dollar above $500,000; Building Permit — valuation $1,000,000+ — $5,031.78 base + $0.003650 per dollar above $1,000,000; Commercial Building Plan Review Fee — 65% of building permit fee; Commercial Fire Plan Review Fee — 20% of building permit fee; Engineering Plan Review Fee (commercial) — 20% of building permit fee; Planning & Zoning Plan Review Fee (commercial) — 35% of building permit fee (minimum $55.00); Reinspection (3rd inspection / 2nd reinspection for same work segment) — $60.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

The Development Team's published goal is to issue a Complete Plan Review — combining Planning & Zoning, Building, Fire, and Engineering comments — within 10 business days of a complete TI submittal. This is a goal for the first full review round, not a guarantee of total time to permit issuance.

You'll need: Building Permit Application and Checklist for Commercial Use (Tenant Improvement); Commercial Tenant Improvement Packet; Certificate of Value Form; Contractor Registration Declaration; Construction Drawings and Calculations; ComCheck Energy Analysis. Depending on your project, Caldwell may also ask for: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Caldwell requires 4 inspection(s) for a commercial tenant improvement (ti) permit, in order: Framing / Structural (if applicable), MEP Rough-In, Fire, Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Caldwell Department of Building Safety ((208) 455-3024).

Apply through City of Caldwell Department of Building Safety at 205 South 6th Ave, Caldwell, ID 83605. Phone: (208) 455-3024, email: rcollins@cityofcaldwell.org. Office hours: Mon–Fri (inspection requests must be called in by 7:00 AM for same-day scheduling). Official information: https://www.cityofcaldwell.org/Departments/Community-Development/Building-Safety-Division.

Caldwell, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — Parts I, II, III, IV and IX; 2018 International Building Code (IBC); 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2018 International Fire Code (IFC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — Administrative Rules IDAPA 24.39.10 (Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board; renumbered from IDAPA 07.01.01–07.01.11); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code — Based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code; Administrative Rules IDAPA 24.39.20 (Rules Governing Plumbing; renumbered from IDAPA 07.02.02–07.02.07); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with State Amendments; 2018 International Property Maintenance Code; 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings; 1997 Uniform Sign Code. Local amendments apply — see the Caldwell overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-02.

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

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