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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Caldwell, Idaho

Required for all new one- and two-family dwellings, duplexes, and townhouses in Caldwell. Apply through the Citizenserve online portal at citizenserve.com (installation ID 263). Separate trade permits required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Verify proposed use is compatible with current zoning with the Planning & Zoning Division before applying
  • Submit permit application through the Citizenserve online portal — paper submittals not accepted for residential subdivision projects
  • Plans must comply with 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC with State Amendments
  • Two full sets of plans required for new single-family dwellings, duplexes, and townhouses
  • Site plan at 1/20 scale minimum with lot lines, easements, drainage, north arrow, lot corner and foundation elevations
  • Foundation plan with reinforcement details, ventilation
  • Floor plan with building dimensions, window and door sizes, smoke detectors
  • Wall section with framing, insulation, roof system details
  • Elevations — front, back, and both sides
  • Energy compliance form — Prescriptive Report or RESCHECK (2018 IECC)
  • Floodplain certificate if project is in a designated flood plain
  • Plan review fees paid in full at time of submittal
  • Approved plans must remain on site for all inspections

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — valuation $0–$499Caldwell Building Safety Fees Resolution No. 300-25, Table 1
$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
Residential Building Plan Review FeeResolution No. 300-25, Section I-D-2a; covers initial review through 3rd review
40% of building permit fee
Planning & Zoning Plan Review Fee (residential)Resolution No. 300-25, Section I-D-2b
35% of building permit fee (minimum $55.00)
Engineering Plan Review Fee (residential)Resolution No. 300-25, Section I-D-2c
20% of building permit fee
Reinspection (3rd inspection / 2nd reinspection for same work segment)Resolution No. 300-25, Section V-C; first reinspection is no charge; reinspection fee levy is at building official's discretion
$60.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewCaldwell’s published plan-review target
7–10 business days

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction) 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

    Footing / Foundation

    Before concrete pour — verify depth (24-inch frost line), forms, reinforcement

  2. 2

    Framing

    After structural framing, sheathing, and rough-in trades complete — before insulation or wall cover

  3. 3

    Insulation / Energy

    Insulation installed per 2018 IECC with State Amendments before drywall

  4. 4

    Final

    All work complete per approved plans; Certificate of Occupancy issued for residential structures upon passing

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

Tips

  • Caldwell's published plan review timeframe for one- and two-family residential is approximately 7–10 business days for the initial review (up to 5 additional business days may be added based on workload).
  • Plan review fees must be paid in full at time of submittal — work does not begin until fees are paid and the submission is accepted.
  • All commercial, multi-family, and residential subdivision permit submittals must go through the Citizenserve online portal; paper submittals are not accepted for these categories.
  • Verify zoning compatibility with Planning & Zoning Division before submitting — zoning issues discovered during review cause costly delays.
  • Permits expire if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance or is abandoned for 180 days. Expired permits are not eligible for extension.
  • For concrete pours, call the inspection line early to ensure the project is ready at the requested time — rescheduling requires a next-business-day inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The Building Safety Division requires applicants to check with the Planning & Zoning Division to verify the proposed use is compatible with the current zoning and that no other entitlements are required before submitting a building permit application.

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; Residential Building Plan Review Fee — 40% of building permit fee; Planning & Zoning Plan Review Fee (residential) — 35% of building permit fee (minimum $55.00); Engineering Plan Review Fee (residential) — 20% of building permit fee; 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.

Per the Building Safety Division's published timeframes, one- and two-family residential applications take approximately 7–10 business days for the initial plan review (may be extended by up to 5 business days based on workload). Timelines start only after the submittal is deemed complete, fees are paid, and the submission is accepted.

You'll need: Residential Building Permit Application; Residential Permit Packet; Contractor Registration Declaration; Energy Compliance Form (RESCHECK or Prescriptive Report); IECC Residential Energy Compliance Certificate. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Caldwell requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Footing / Foundation, Framing, Insulation / Energy, Final. 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

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-16.

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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