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EV Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit) in Preston, Idaho

Required for installation of a Level 2 (or higher) electric vehicle charging station/EVSE within Preston city limits. As with solar PV, Idaho does not allow the City of Preston to administer its own electrical permitting: the electrical-connection scope (new circuit, panel/service work, and the charger's hardwired or receptacle connection) is permitted directly by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), not the City. No separate City building permit is required for a standalone EVSE install unless it triggers a service/panel upgrade or new structure (e.g. a carport), in which case the City's standard Building Permit process applies to that scope.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Electrical work must be performed by an Idaho-licensed electrical contractor (or the homeowner on their own primary residence, per Idaho Code Section 54-1016 exemptions), permitted through Idaho DOPL rather than the City of Preston
  • Installation must comply with National Electrical Code Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) as adopted by Idaho under IDAPA 24.39.10.250
  • A dedicated branch circuit sized to the EVSE manufacturer's specifications is required; GFCI protection applies per NEC 625 where the EVSE is cord-and-plug connected
  • If the installation requires a panel or service upgrade to support the added electrical load, that scope is also permitted through DOPL as part of the same or a companion electrical permit
  • No dedicated EV/EVSE fee line item is published by DOPL — the statewide 'Other Installation' fee schedule under IDAPA 24.39.10, Rule 500 applies, the same category this file's solar-pv-permit entry uses for the electrical-connection scope of a solar installation

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Idaho DOPL Electrical Permit — 'Other Installation' fee schedule (applies to EV charging station circuits since no dedicated EVSE fee line is published)Idaho Electrical Board Rules, IDAPA 24.39.10, Rule 500 (Permits and Inspections). Statewide fee schedule — Idaho does not permit local jurisdictions to set their own electrical permit fees; Preston has no local electrical-permitting program. Same fee category this file's solar-pv-permit entry documents for its electrical-connection scope.
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

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your EV Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit) permit actually take in Preston?

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 (if applicable)

    Required only if new circuit wiring is enclosed before final; conduit runs, wire sizing, and grounding verified (DOPL electrical inspection)

  2. 2

    Electrical Final

    EVSE circuit breaker sizing, GFCI protection (where applicable), working clearances, and charger mounting verified against NEC Article 625 (DOPL electrical inspection)

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

Tips

  • Idaho does not allow the City of Preston to issue its own electrical permits — an EV charger's electrical scope is a STATE permit through DOPL, not a city permit, the same as this file's solar-pv-permit entry.
  • A homeowner installing EVSE wiring on their own primary residence may use DOPL's Homeowner Electrical Permit Application instead of hiring a licensed contractor, subject to Idaho Code Section 54-1016. Contractor
  • If the charger install requires upgrading the electrical panel or service size, budget that as part of the same DOPL electrical permit scope — Preston's Building Department is not involved unless a new structure (e.g. carport) is also being built.
  • DOPL publishes no EVSE-specific fee line item; contractors and homeowners should expect the statewide 'Other Installation' wiring-cost-based fee schedule under IDAPA 24.39.10, Rule 500.

Frequently asked questions

Preston requires an ev charging station permit (state-issued electrical permit) for: Electrical work must be performed by an Idaho-licensed electrical contractor (or the homeowner on their own primary residence, per Idaho Code Section 54-1016 exemptions), permitted through Idaho DOPL rather than the City of Preston; Installation must comply with National Electrical Code Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) as adopted by Idaho under IDAPA 24.39.10.250; A dedicated branch circuit sized to the EVSE manufacturer's specifications is required; GFCI protection applies per NEC 625 where the EVSE is cord-and-plug connected; If the installation requires a panel or service upgrade to support the added electrical load, that scope is also permitted through DOPL as part of the same or a companion electrical permit; No dedicated EV/EVSE fee line item is published by DOPL — the statewide 'Other Installation' fee schedule under IDAPA 24.39.10, Rule 500 applies, the same category this file's solar-pv-permit entry uses for the electrical-connection scope of a solar installation. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Preston Building Department at (208) 852-1817 before starting work.

In Preston, the published Idaho DOPL Electrical Permit — 'Other Installation' fee schedule (applies to EV charging station circuits since no dedicated EVSE 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. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Preston does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Preston Building Department at (208) 852-1817 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Idaho DOPL Electrical Permit Application (Contractor). Depending on your project, Preston may also ask for: Idaho DOPL Homeowner Electrical Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Preston requires 2 inspection(s) for an ev charging station permit (state-issued electrical permit), in order: Electrical Rough-In (if applicable), Electrical Final. Schedule each through City of Preston Building Department ((208) 852-1817).

Apply through City of Preston Building Department at 70 West Oneida, Preston, ID 83263. Phone: (208) 852-1817, email: curtf@prestonid.us. Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, per prestonidaho.net main contact info. Building Inspector: Curt Fuller (208-540-0417, curtf@prestonid.us). Permit Administrator: Shawn Oliverson (208-852-1817, shawno@prestonid.us), per the city's Building Department page and Employee Directory. Note: the city's Employee Directory lists Shawn Oliverson's title as 'Director of City Planning and Land Use' rather than 'Permit Administrator' — both titles appear on different city-published pages and are reported here without resolving the discrepancy. No separate 'City Engineer' position appears in the Employee Directory despite being referenced in the Building Permit Application Instructions document; Public Works Director is Scott Montgomery..

Yes. The electrical connection is permitted through the State of Idaho DOPL (Preston has no local electrical-permitting program), using the statewide 'Other Installation' fee schedule since DOPL does not publish a dedicated EV/EVSE fee line. No separate City of Preston permit is required unless the project also involves a panel/service upgrade beyond the electrical scope or a new structure.

Yes, on their own primary residence, using DOPL's Homeowner Electrical Permit Application under the exemptions in Idaho Code Section 54-1016, in place of hiring a licensed contractor.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

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

Other permits in Preston

Solar PV Permit (State-Issued Electrical + City Building Permit)Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions / Accessory Buildings)

EV Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit) in other cities

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