Moscow building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Moscow, Idaho.
Last verified 2026-07-04 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 504 S. Washington Street, Moscow, ID 83843
- Phone
- (208) 883-7022
- Office hours
- Community Development / Building Division, 504 S. Washington Street, Moscow, ID 83843. Building Official: Justin Goodwin, CBO, (208) 883-7014, jgoodwin@ci.moscow.id.us, fax (208) 883-7033. Inspection requests: (208) 883-7022, requests should be made the day prior to the requested inspection; field inspections generally completed 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Moscow's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Moscow — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
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.
- The City of Moscow independently administers and issues its own building permits within Moscow city limits through its Building Safety Division, part of the Community Development Department — this is a distinct office from the Latah County Planning & Building Department (522 South Adams Street, Moscow, ID), confirmed by the City's own Homeowner's Guide to Construction Permits and Inspections, which lists 'Latah County Planning/Building, (208) 883-7220' as a separate entry in its Useful Telephone Numbers page, distinct from the City's own Community Development line. Source: City of Moscow Homeowner's Guide to Construction Permits and Inspections (Building Division, Justin Goodwin CBO), https://www.ci.moscow.id.us/DocumentCenter/View/21221/City-of-Moscow-Project-Process-PDF, page 19
- International Building Code (IBC), locally adopted and administered by the City of Moscow — specific edition year not published on the City's Construction Regulations index page as of 2026-07-04; the page lists 'International Building Code' as Chapter 01 of the City's adopted code chapters without stating the edition. Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page, https://www.ci.moscow.id.us/244/Construction-Regulations
- International Residential Code (IRC), locally adopted and administered by the City of Moscow (Chapter 16 of the City's adopted code chapters); specific edition year not published on the Construction Regulations index page. Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page
- Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), locally adopted (Chapter 02 of the City's adopted code chapters) — notably the Uniform Plumbing Code rather than the International Plumbing Code; specific edition year not published on the index page. Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page
- National Electrical Code (NEC), locally adopted (Chapter 03 of the City's adopted code chapters); specific edition year not published on the index page. Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page
- International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), locally adopted (Chapter 04 of the City's adopted code chapters). Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page
- International Mechanical Code (IMC), locally adopted (Chapter 10 of the City's adopted code chapters). Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC), locally adopted (Chapter 12 of the City's adopted code chapters). Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page
- International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), locally adopted (Chapter 13 of the City's adopted code chapters). Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page
- International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), locally adopted (Chapter 15 of the City's adopted code chapters); the City separately publishes an Energy Conservation Plan Review Supplement. Source: City of Moscow Construction Regulations page and Plan Review Information page, https://www.ci.moscow.id.us/256/Plan-Review-Information
- Idaho Building Code Act (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 41) makes building code standards a matter of statewide concern; local governments that issue building permits and perform code enforcement (such as the City of Moscow) must adopt the International Building Code and Idaho Residential Code as amended by the Idaho Building Code Board through negotiated rulemaking. Source: Idaho Legislature, Idaho Code Title 39 Chapter 41 (39-4116), https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title39/t39ch41/
- NOTE ON OMISSION: The City of Moscow's Construction Regulations index page (ci.moscow.id.us/244/Construction-Regulations) lists adopted code chapters by title only (Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Existing Building, Property Maintenance, Energy Conservation, Residential) without publishing the specific edition years for any of them on that page; the City's Municipal Code chapter text (which would state exact editions and local amendment sections) was not independently reachable within this research pass. Specific edition years are omitted here rather than assumed to match a neighboring jurisdiction's editions.
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Dwelling / Addition)
Required for new one- and two-family dwelling construction and additions within Moscow city limits, administered by the City of Moscow Building Safety Division. Building Permit Fees are based on ICC Building Valuations (February issue of the Building Safety Journal) on a bracketed fee table, with a separate Plan Review Fee for projects valued over $10,000.
Electrical Permit
Required for electrical installation, alteration, service change-out, or new circuit work within Moscow city limits, administered by the City of Moscow Building Safety Division under the locally adopted National Electrical Code (NEC).
Gas / Mechanical Permit
Required for gas and mechanical/HVAC installation, alteration, or repair within Moscow city limits, administered by the City of Moscow Building Safety Division. Commercial gas/mechanical work is fee-assessed on the same contract-price bracket table as electrical; residential gas-fueled appliance installs are billed by BTU rating.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Permit
Moscow publishes no distinct EV-charger permit type or fee line — confirmed against the Building Safety Division page and the City of Moscow FY2026 Fee Schedule, neither of which contains an EV-charger/EVSE entry. A new circuit or outlet installed to serve a residential EV charger is fee-assessed under the general Electrical Permit's 'Extension or Addition of Circuits' category (a new dedicated EV circuit is typically one circuit, billed at the 'up to 6 circuits' rate); a panel/service upgrade for a higher-amperage Level 2 charger would instead fall under the Electrical Service Change Out fee.
Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of structures within Moscow city limits, administered by the City of Moscow Building Safety Division, with distinct flat fees for Simple (non-structural alterations) versus Complex (structural or complete building demolition) demolitions.
Re-Roofing Permit
Required for re-roofing of residential structures (up to 4 units) within Moscow city limits; commercial re-roofs require a full Building Permit rather than this flat-fee category.
Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems within Moscow city limits. Moscow has no dedicated solar/PV permit application or fee line — solar installations are billed under the City's standard valuation-based Building Permit fee table (for the array/mounting/structural work) and the standard Electrical Permit fee table (for the electrical interconnection), administered by the Building Safety Division under the locally adopted IBC/IRC and NEC.
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)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- No data reported
- Year to date
- No data reported
- Latest full year
- No data reported
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
- The City of Moscow has its OWN Building Safety Division (part of the Community Development Department, 504 S. Washington Street) that independently issues building permits within Moscow city limits — this is a SEPARATE office from the Latah County Planning & Building Department (522 South Adams Street, Moscow, ID, (208) 882-8580), which administers permits for the unincorporated county. The City's own Homeowner's Guide lists 'Latah County Planning/Building, (208) 883-7220' as a distinct entry in its Useful Telephone Numbers, confirming these are two genuinely separate permitting authorities occupying the same city (Moscow is the county seat).
- Review the City's published Submittal for Plan Review timeline table before assuming a generic turnaround: Non-Structural Alterations <3 business days (1st review), Decks & Porches <3 days, Structural Alterations <5 days, Accessory Structures <5 days, Additions <8 days, New Single-Family Dwelling <10 days (all with shorter subsequent-review windows of 2-5 business days). Source: Homeowner's Guide, page 9.
- One-story detached accessory buildings up to 200 sq ft, fences up to 6 ft, retaining walls up to 4 ft (no surcharge), and small unattached decks (≤200 sq ft, ≤30 in above grade) do NOT require a building permit — but a Zoning Permit may still be required for accessory buildings and fences.
- Failure to obtain a permit before starting work doubles the fee (a 'No Permit' fee equal to the Building Permit Fee applies), per the FY2026 Fee Schedule.
- Contractors must be registered with the State of Idaho; registration number is required on the permit application.
- Certificate of Compliance inspections (Building, Commercial Roofing, Foundation Only, Existing Wood Stove, Electrical, Plumbing, Heating/Mechanical) are each a flat $79.00 fee.
- Specific IBC/IRC/UPC/NEC/IECC edition years adopted by the City of Moscow were not found published on the City's Construction Regulations index page as of 2026-07-04; only code titles/chapter numbers are listed there. This is flagged as an omission rather than assumed.