Residential Building Permit (New Dwelling / Addition / Remodel) in Melba, Idaho

Melba requires a residential building permit (new dwelling / addition / remodel) for: Building permit required before starting construction, per Melba City Code §9-2-1(A); Two (2) plot plans drawn to scale showing proposed work; Two (2) complete sets of plans and specifications (one set is returned to applicant); A copy of the full legal description (recorded) or Subdivision, Lot & Block of property; Contractor Registration Number required on the application; Zoning classification must be identified on the application; Mechanical permits are required separately through the City of Melba, with a copy of the Manual J calculation kept on site; Commercial new construction, commercial additions and remodels, and interior tenant improvements to existing commercial space all use this same Building Permit Application and the same process — Melba publishes no separate commercial application, no commercial fee schedule, and no design-review or site-plan-review step. The Melba City Code bears this out: Title 9 (Building Regulations) contains only Chapter 1 (Building Codes) and Chapter 2 (General Building Regulations, §9-2-1 and §9-2-2), and Title 10 (Zoning Regulations) — General Provisions, Definitions, Residential Zones, Mixed Use Zones, Commercial and Industrial Zones, Planned Unit Developments, Supplementary Regulations, Manufactured Housing, Amendment Procedure, Conditional Use Permit Procedure, Variance Procedure — contains no Design Review or Site Plan Review chapter.. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Melba — Building Department (Development Services) at (208) 495-2722 before starting work.

The exact building permit fee is set by a fee schedule (Exhibit A) that is on file with the City under Melba City Code §9-2-1(B), but is not published online. The City's own Building Permit Application form leaves the Permit Fee and Plan Review Fee lines blank for staff to fill in. Water and sewer hookup fees are published and fixed at $1,800 and $4,500 respectively. Contact Melba City Hall at (208) 495-2722 for current permit and plan review pricing.

Melba does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Melba — Building Department (Development Services) at (208) 495-2722 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Melba Building Permit Application; Plot Plans (2 copies, drawn to scale); Construction Plans and Specifications (2 complete sets); Legal Description or Subdivision/Lot/Block Documentation. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Per the City's current Building Permit Application, contact Chuck Pavelka at (208) 249-4244. Inspections are completed after 5:00 PM or on weekends, and 24-48 hours notice is required.

Apply through City of Melba — Building Department (Development Services) at 401 Carrie Rex Ave, PO Box 209, Melba, ID 83641. Phone: (208) 495-2722, email: cityclerk@cityofmelba.org. Office hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon and 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Official information: https://cityofmelba.org/planning-zoning/.

Melba, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), with Idaho amendments — Melba City Code §9-2-1 adopts "the International Building Code" by reference and binds the Building Department to it and State laws pertaining to buildings; Idaho Code §39-4116 requires local building-permit-issuing jurisdictions to enforce the edition currently adopted by the Idaho Building Code Board, which is the 2018 IBC (per DOPL's 2025 Updated Idaho Adopted Codes notice); 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), Parts I, II, III, and IX — Idaho Residential Code (2020 Edition amendments), statewide baseline applicable in Melba absent a more specific local amendment; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Idaho Energy Conservation Code (2020 Edition amendments); 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — statewide baseline; Melba additionally requires its own separate Mechanical Permit (with published flat fees) per city practice; 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), with Idaho amendments; Melba City Code Title 9, Chapter 2 ("General Building Regulations"), §9-2-1 (Building Permits and Fees) and §9-2-2 (Fences). Local amendments apply — see the Melba overview page for the full list.

Melba has its own independent Building Department, codified at Melba City Code Title 9, Chapter 2, §9-2-1. The City contracts with outside inspection and engineering professionals to perform the work, but the permit itself, its fee, and its legal authority belong to the City of Melba — not Canyon County. Canyon County's Development Services Department handles building permits only for unincorporated Canyon County land outside Melba's city limits.