Post Falls building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Post Falls, Idaho.
Last verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Building department
- Address
- 1st Floor of City Hall, 408 N Spokane St, Post Falls, ID 83854
- Phone
- (208) 773-8708
- Office hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Dedicated Building Inspections line: (208) 457-3334 — leave permit number, job address, inspection type, and desired inspection date; requests left after midnight the night before cannot be scheduled for the following day.
- Website
- Official site
Codes adopted
Idaho adopts a statewide baseline building code set under the Idaho Building Code Act (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 41) and IDAPA rules administered by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Effective January 1, 2021, the statewide baseline includes the 2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2020 Idaho Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC Parts I–III and IX with Idaho amendments), 2020 Idaho Energy Conservation Code (based on the 2018 IECC with Idaho amendments), 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and 2018 International Fire Code (IFC). The National Electrical Code is adopted separately by the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10), not bundled with the building code: Idaho enforces the 2023 NEC, effective July 1, 2024 (the state used the 2017 NEC with amendments before that and skipped the 2020 edition). Local jurisdictions must enforce the state baseline and may adopt amendments only where those amendments are at least as stringent as the state-adopted editions; local amendments may not be less restrictive. Enforcement is local — each city or county issues permits and performs inspections. Always confirm the current adopted edition and any local amendments with your specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction)
Required for construction of new single-family homes, duplexes, and townhouse units in Post Falls. Reviewed against the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC (with 2012 Residential Amendments) as adopted by the City of Post Falls, plus the City's Design Criteria. Applications are submitted through the Community Development Portal (OpenGov/ViewPoint Cloud).
Residential Addition / Remodel / Alteration Permit
Required for additions, interior finish/remodels, decks, patio covers, garages, and other alterations to existing residential structures in Post Falls, governed by the 2018 IRC as locally adopted, with dedicated per-square-foot valuation rates distinct from new-home construction.
Electrical Permit
Required for electrical installation, alteration, or repair work in Post Falls, governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the City. The City of Post Falls Building Division issues and inspects electrical permits directly within city limits.
Plumbing Permit
Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Post Falls, governed by the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (ISPC) as adopted by the City. The City of Post Falls Building Division issues and inspects plumbing permits directly within city limits.
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and related mechanical installations in Post Falls, governed by the 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as adopted by the City.
Re-Roofing Permit
Required for residential and commercial re-roofing in Post Falls, reviewed under the 2018 IBC/IRC roofing provisions and the City's Design Criteria (40 psf roof snow load; Ice Shield underlayment required per IRC R905.1.2 due to occasional severe weathering conditions). Billed as a flat fee rather than a valuation-based Building Permit fee.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in Post Falls. The City has no separate solar-specific application or fee category; solar PV installations are permitted through the standard Building Permit (structural/mounting, valuation-based) and Electrical Permit (system wiring/interconnection, governed by the 2023 NEC, including Article 690 PV-specific provisions) processes.
Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of any building within Post Falls city limits, billed as a flat per-lot fee plus a required Engineering Bond distinct from the general Building Permit valuation schedule.
Fence and Retaining Wall Permit
Fences in Post Falls do NOT require a Building Division permit — only compliance with Post Falls Municipal Code Section 18.24.020(K) height/placement standards. Retaining walls, however, are a listed Building Permit fee item billed per linear foot.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit
Post Falls permits Accessory Dwelling Units (attached, detached, or basement conversions) as secondary dwellings on single-family lots under Post Falls Municipal Code Sections 18.24.020, 18.24.030, and 18.20.040. ADUs are processed through the standard Residential Building Permit, priced under the same per-square-foot valuation categories as other residential construction (new living space, addition, interior finish, or basement finish, depending on the ADU type).
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- 47units
47 buildings · $10.3M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 685units
12 of 12 months reported · #10 in Idaho coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-05)
- 432units
235 buildings · $75.4M valuation
5 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 376units
296 buildings · $73.5M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Idaho building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Post Falls is administratively distinct from Kootenai County: the City of Post Falls Building Division issues and inspects building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits within its own city limits via the Community Development Portal (postfallsid.portal.opengov.com); unincorporated Kootenai County uses the separate Kootenai County Building Department.
- Two historical city domains exist online: postfallsidaho.org (legacy/stale, some pages no longer resolve or serve outdated content) and postfalls.gov (current, active site as of this review). Always prefer postfalls.gov links; postfallsidaho.org content should be treated as potentially stale.
- City of Post Falls Design Criteria (Current Adopted Codes and Design Criteria, rev 02/16/25): 40 psf roof snow load, 56 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind speed (3-second gust, Exposure B) for residential, Seismic Design Category C, 'Severe' weathering (triggering IRC R905.1.2 Ice Shield underlayment for roofing), 24-inch frost line depth, 1,500 psf soil bearing capacity without a soils investigation.
- Currently adopted codes (same source): 2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, 2018 IEBC, 2018 IECC (2012 Residential Amendments), 2018 IMC, 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (ISPC — not the UPC or IPC), 2018 IFGC, 2023 NEC, ICC A117.1-2009, 2009 IPMC.
- Post Falls publishes no permit-type-specific plan-review turnaround (none found after exhausting the Building Division page, Document Center, Fee Schedule, Residential/Commercial Submittal Requirements PDFs, ADU page, Fence Requirements FAQ, and the Community Development Portal). For building-permit-type applications the governing figure is the statutory completeness-review window of Idaho Code § 39-4117 (Processing Building Permits — Timely Review, added 2025 ch. 272), which binds any 'local government that requires building permits': 10 business days for a residential building permit and 20 business days for a commercial building permit to review an application for completeness and give written notice. That window is a completeness-determination deadline, not a full-approval promise (§ 39-4117(3): a completeness determination 'shall not constitute approval but shall authorize the application to proceed to formal plan review'), and it may be extended by written agreement (§ 39-4117(4)). Standalone electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trade permits fall outside § 39-4117's 'building permit' scope (administered under Idaho Code Title 54) and have no published or statutory review-time figure — contact the Building Division at (208) 773-8708.
- Fences do NOT require a Building Division permit in Post Falls — only compliance with height/placement zoning standards (PFMC 18.24.020(K)). Retaining walls DO require a Building Permit, billed at $4.50 per linear foot.
- ADUs (attached, detached, or basement conversion) are allowed on single-family lots (max 50% of primary residence's living area or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is smaller) and are permitted through the standard Residential Building Permit — there is no separate ADU application or fee category.
- No dedicated Solar/PV permit application or fee line was found — solar installations are processed as a combined Building Permit (structural/mounting) plus Electrical Permit (wiring/interconnection under the 2023 NEC, Article 690) using the City's general fee schedules.
- Building Plan Check (paid at submittal) is 25% of the Building Permit fee for residential (single-family, duplex, townhouse) and 65% for commercial; Commercial Mechanical Plan Review is 25% of the Mechanical Permit fee.
- Foundation-Only permits cost 10% of the Building Permit fee IN ADDITION TO the full Building Permit fee (not in place of it). Performing work without a valid permit doubles the applicable permit fee.
- Demolition (residential or commercial) requires a $1,500.00 Engineering Bond in addition to the flat per-lot Demolition Permit fee ($200.00 residential / $300.00 commercial).
- To request a Building Division inspection, call the dedicated line (208) 457-3334 with permit number, job address, inspection type, and desired date; requests submitted after midnight the night before cannot be scheduled for the following day.