Do I Need a Permit to Install Solar Panels in Idaho?
Solar panel permit requirements. Permits, inspections, utility interconnection, and available incentives.
Yes — both a building and electrical permit are required.
Idaho-specific rules
Adopted code: The 2018 IBC governs structural rooftop mounting under Idaho's statewide building-code baseline (Idaho Building Code Act, effective January 1, 2021). Electrical work is permitted separately under Idaho's adopted National Electrical Code (administered by the Idaho Electrical Board) — confirm the current edition with your jurisdiction.
Two Permits Required
Solar installations require a building permit (for structural mounting on your roof or ground) and an electrical permit (for wiring from panels to inverter to panel). Most solar installers handle the entire permitting process as part of their service.
Roof Access Requirements
Fire code requires 3-foot access pathways on the roof for firefighter access. Panels cannot cover the entire roof — specific setbacks from ridges, valleys, and edges are required. Your installer will design the layout to comply.
Utility Interconnection
Before your system can be energized and connected to the grid, you need an interconnection agreement with your local utility. This is separate from the city permit. Your installer typically handles this, but it can add 2-4 weeks to the timeline.
Incentives (Read This Carefully — They Change Often)
Solar incentives shift frequently and vary by state and utility, so don't rely on older guides. State tax credits and the federal residential Clean Energy Credit (the ITC, Section 25D) have changed eligibility windows in recent years, and some may no longer apply to new installations. Your utility may offer net-billing terms or limited rebates. Because programs change often, confirm exactly what is available the week you sign — and never let an installer's quote assume a credit that no longer exists.
Yes, permits are required but your solar installer handles them. Budget 5-14 days for permit review plus 2-4 weeks for utility interconnection.
Permit fees by city in Idaho
Verified from each city’s published fee schedule. Where a city has no separate fee listed for this project, open the city page for the current requirements and amount.
| City | Permit fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| American Falls | $23.50Verifiedvia Consolidated Building-Development Permit (New Construction, Additions, Alterations, Repairs, Moving, Demolition, Signs, Grading) | Consolidated Building-Development Permit (New Construction, Additions, Alterations, Repairs, Moving, Demolition, Signs, Grading) → |
| Ammon | $160.00 (includes 3 inspections)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Blackfoot | $100Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Boise | $135 per dwelling unitVerified | Residential Electrical Permit → |
| Buhl | $23.50Verifiedvia Building Permit (Residential New Construction, Additions, Remodels, Repairs) | Building Permit (Residential New Construction, Additions, Remodels, Repairs) → |
| Burley | $65.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Caldwell | $160.00 per dwelling unitVerified | Residential Electrical Permit → |
| Cascade | 40% of the building permit fee (65% of the building permit fee if an outside plan reviewer is used)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Chubbuck | $30.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| City of St. Maries | $24.00Verifiedvia Building Permit | Building Permit → |
| Coeur d'Alene | $69.25 minimum (valuation up to $500-$1,700 tier), scaling per the published valuation tableVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Donnelly | $24.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Driggs | $305Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Eagle | $130.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Emmett | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit fee | Residential Building Permit → |
| Fruitland | $23.50Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels) | Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels) → |
| Garden City | $150.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Grangeville | $15.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Alterations, Repairs) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Alterations, Repairs) → |
| Greenleaf | $50.00 flat, due upon submission of all building permit applicationsVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Hailey | $27.78Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels — Commercial & Residential) | Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels — Commercial & Residential) → |
| Harrison | Per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code, applied to project valuation determined from ICBO Building Valuation Data (or the most recent available data if that publication has been discontinued)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Hayden | $130 / $195 / $260 / $325 / $325 plus $65 per additional 1,000 sq ft or portion thereofVerified | Electrical Permit (State-Issued — Idaho DOPL, not the City) → |
| Heyburn | See city page for the current Residential Home Permit (New Construction — Single Family, Duplex, Zero Lot Line, Townhouse) fee | Residential Home Permit (New Construction — Single Family, Duplex, Zero Lot Line, Townhouse) → |
| Idaho City | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Alterations) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Alterations) → |
| Idaho Falls | $5.85 per each electrical serviceVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Jerome | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Kellogg | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Ketchum | $130Verified | Electrical Permit (State of Idaho) → |
| Kimberly | $150.00Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels, Repairs, Demolition, Re-Roof) | Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels, Repairs, Demolition, Re-Roof) → |
| Kootenai County | $130 / $195 / $260 / $325 / $325 plus $65 per additional 1,000 sq ft or portion thereofVerified | Electrical Permit (State-Issued — Idaho DOPL, not the County) → |
| Kuna | $65Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lewiston | $72.20Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Malad City | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Accessory) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Accessory) → |
| Melba | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Dwelling / Addition / Remodel) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Dwelling / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Meridian | $120 per dwelling unit (includes structure and attached garage wired at same time)Verified | Residential Electrical Permit → |
| Middleton | $130.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Minidoka County (Building Authority for Unincorporated County and the Cities of Acequia, Minidoka, Paul, and Rupert) | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel) → |
| Moscow | $73.75Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Mountain Home | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Nampa | $180.00 per dwelling unitVerified | Residential Electrical Permit → |
| Notus | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels) → |
| Osburn | $140.00 per sq. ft. (valuation input)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Payette | $24Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Plummer | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Pocatello | $130Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Post Falls | $130.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Preston | Set by city inspector, based on valuationVerifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction / Additions / Accessory Buildings) | Building Permit (New Construction / Additions / Accessory Buildings) → |
| Priest River | Per Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code (valuation-based)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Rathdrum | See city page for the current Electrical Permit (State-Issued — Idaho DOPL, not the City) fee | Electrical Permit (State-Issued — Idaho DOPL, not the City) → |
| Rexburg | $130.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Rigby | $26.46Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (Single-Family Dwelling, Townhouse, New Construction & Additions) | Residential Building Permit (Single-Family Dwelling, Townhouse, New Construction & Additions) → |
| Rupert | Calculated from Project Value using the Building Department's fee schedule; no dollar-per-valuation-bracket table was found published onlineVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Salmon | $24Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Sandpoint | $61.10Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Construction) → |
| Shelley | $21.00Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels) | Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels) → |
| Soda Springs | $25.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Spirit Lake | See city page for the current Electrical Permit (State-Administered) fee | Electrical Permit (State-Administered) → |
| Star | $130.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Twin Falls | $120.00Verified | Electrical Permit (MEP) → |
| Unincorporated Ada County | Valuation-based per Ada County 2025 Fee Schedule (Resolution 3149, effective November 2025); see Building-Fees.pdf at adacounty.id.gov/developmentservices/permitting-division/fees/Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) → |
| Unincorporated Bannock County | $23.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) → |
| Unincorporated Bingham County | $1–$500: $16.50 | $501–$2,000: $16.50 + $2.20/each add'l $100 | $2,001–$25,000: $49.50 + $9.90/each add'l $1,000 | $25,001–$50,000: $277.30 + $7.15/each add'l $1,000 | $50,001–$100,000: $455.95 + $4.95/each add'l $1,000 | $100,001–$500,000: $762.85 + $3.85/each add'l $1,000 | $500,001–$1,000,000: $2,243.45 + $3.30/each add'l $1,000 | $1,000,001–$5,000,000: $3,915.45 + $2.20/each add'l $1,000Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Unincorporated Bonneville County | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) → |
| Unincorporated Canyon County | $280.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Unincorporated Cassia County | Calculated based on square footage using the IBC 2003 Valuation Table 1Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) → |
| Unincorporated Elmore County | $100.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) → |
| Unincorporated Franklin County | 1% of the assessed value of the proposed buildingVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Remodel Changing Outside Dimensions) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Remodel Changing Outside Dimensions) → |
| Unincorporated Gem County | $1–$500: no fee listed at base tier; $501–$2,000: $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof; $2,001–$25,000: $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction; $25,001–$50,000: $391.25 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 per additional $1,000; $50,001–$100,000: $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 per additional $1,000; $100,001–$500,000: $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 per additional $1,000; $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 per additional $1,000; $1,000,001+: $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 per additional $1,000Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Unincorporated Jefferson County | $26.46Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (Single-Family Dwelling / New Construction, Additions, ADUs) | Residential Building Permit (Single-Family Dwelling / New Construction, Additions, ADUs) → |
| Unincorporated Latah County | $50.00 flatVerifiedvia Residential/General Building Permit | Residential/General Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Madison County | $500 for dwellings/non-accessory structures; $100 for accessory structuresVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Accessory Structure) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Accessory Structure) → |
| Unincorporated Nez Perce County | $112.65 per sq ft (minimum)Verifiedvia Single Family Residence Building Permit | Single Family Residence Building Permit → |
| Unincorporated Power County | $24 for valuation $1–$500; $24 + $3 per additional $100 (or fraction) up to $2,000; $69 + $11 per additional $1,000 up to $40,000; $487 + $9 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $1,027 + $7 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000; $3,827 + $5 per additional $1,000 up to $1,000,000; $6,327 + $3 per additional $1,000 up to $5,000,000; $18,327 + $1 per additional $1,000 above $5,000,000Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) → |
| Unincorporated Twin Falls County | $82.65 per sq ft (Single Family Home); Finished Basement $42.78/sq ft; Unfinished Basement $32.29/sq ft; Carport/Lean-to $32.12/sq ft; Ag Shop/Res Shop $41.71/sq ft; Deck/Covered Porch/Patio $18.66/sq ftVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) → |
| Unincorporated Valley County | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Victor | $22.50Verifiedvia Standard Building Permit (Residential New Construction) | Standard Building Permit (Residential New Construction) → |
| Wallace | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Wilder | $24.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel / Accessory Structure) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel / Accessory Structure) → |
| Worley | $23.50 for valuation $1-$500; $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 per additional $100 (or fraction) to $2,000; $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14 per additional $1,000 to $25,000; scaling further per Table 1-A for higher valuationsVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |