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Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Remodels) in Salmon, Idaho

Required for new commercial construction, commercial additions, and commercial remodels or tenant build-outs within Salmon city limits. The City of Salmon's own City Code Chapter 151 creates the local building-permit requirement and adopts the applicable construction codes by reference, but Chapter 151 also lets the City Council designate who administers that code (§ 151.02), and the City has designated the joint Lemhi County and City Building Department for intake, plan review, and inspection of both city and county permits. Both the City of Salmon Building Permit Application (rev. 10/9/2025) and the Lemhi County Building Permit Application (rev. 12/11/2025) tell the applicant to make checks payable to Lemhi County, and both packets are priced from the single Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024) — the same table used for residential permits. That fee schedule states its own basis as "Appendix L of the International Residential Code" for every building permit it prices, with no separate IBC-based commercial valuation method and no separate commercial plan-review percentage. In short: City Code Chapter 151 is the legal authority that requires this permit and adopts the codes it must meet, and the Lemhi County and City Building Department — billing from the County's fee schedule — is who actually processes it and what it costs, for city and county work alike.

Verified 2026-08-25 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required under City Code Chapter 151 (§ 151.03) before erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, or converting any commercial building or structure within Salmon city limits; the permit is issued only on payment of the required fees and authorization from the agency the City Council has designated to administer the code, currently the Lemhi County and City Building Department (§ 151.02)
  • Submit the same City of Salmon Building Permit Application used for residential work, checking "Commercial: YES" under Describe Project — Salmon publishes no separate commercial or tenant-improvement application form
  • Plans reviewed against the currently adopted Building Code, incorporated by reference under § 151.01(A)(1) and automatically updated to track whatever edition the state's Building Code Board has approved (§ 151.01(B)); the State of Idaho's own published list of adopted codes currently names the 2018 International Building Code, with amendments, as that edition
  • Building permit fees are calculated from the Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A valuation table — the same table applied to residential permits — rather than a separate commercial valuation method; the fee schedule states its basis as the values "set forth in Appendix L of the International Residential Code" for every building permit it covers
  • Site plan required for any application involving exterior work, per the same site-plan requirement both the City and County application packets attach to IRC (2018) § 107.2.6 — showing setbacks, septic/drain field locations, and driveway access
  • Applicant must determine Ground Snow Load via the ASCE Hazard Tool and ensure the truss package's roof snow load matches, the same requirement applied to residential submissions
  • The currently adopted Fire Code is also incorporated by reference under § 151.01(A)(4), tracking the state's adopted edition the same way as the Building Code — currently the 2018 International Fire Code; neither the City nor County building permit application publishes a separate fire-district approval letter, plan-review step, or fee for commercial submissions
  • Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC/mechanical work is permitted separately through Idaho DOPL, not this department; DOPL's homeowner electrical permit is restricted to work an owner personally performs on their own primary or secondary residence and states on its own application that it is not valid for commercial use, so commercial electrical work requires a licensed contractor to pull that permit Contractor

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — valuation $1 to $500Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024) — the same valuation table applied to residential permits; no separate commercial valuation method or commercial plan-review percentage is published
$24
Building Permit — valuation $501 to $2,000Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$24 for the first $500, plus $3 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation $2,001 to $40,000Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$69 for the first $2,000, plus $11 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation $40,001 to $100,000Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$487 for the first $40,000, plus $9 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation $100,001 to $500,000Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$1,027 for the first $100,000, plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$3,827 for the first $500,000, plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation $1,000,001 to $5,000,000Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$6,327 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit — valuation $5,000,001 and overLemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$18,327 for the first $5,000,000, plus $1 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Re-Inspection FeeLemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$47.00 per occurrence; $47.00/hour if inspection exceeds one hour
Partial Inspection FeeLemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A (eff. 10/28/2024)
$47.00; $47.00/hour if inspection exceeds one hour

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Remodels) permit actually take in Salmon?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footings

    Before concrete is poured — setbacks, trenches, footings, reinforcing verified. Order concrete at own risk; inspection must be done and passed before pouring.

  2. 2

    Stemwalls

    Before concrete is poured — foundation walls and reinforcing verified. Order concrete at own risk.

  3. 3

    Floor

    Before concrete is poured and after under-floor services signed off by the building office (and plumbing inspector if applicable)

  4. 4

    Framing

    After roof, masonry, all framing, fire-stopping, and draft-stopping/bracing are in place, and after plumbing, mechanical, and electrical rough inspections are approved

  5. 5

    Insulation

    After all penetrations are sealed and insulation is installed (refer to Res-Check or Com-Check)

  6. 6

    Sheetrock

    After sheetrock is hung but before it is taped

  7. 7

    Final

    After electrical and plumbing inspections are finaled and the building is complete; certificate of occupancy required

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

Tips

  • Salmon has no separate commercial building permit application — use the same City of Salmon Building Permit Application as residential work and check "Commercial: YES."
  • Commercial building permit fees run through the same Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A valuation table as residential permits, with no separate commercial valuation method and no separate commercial plan-review percentage published — unlike some other Idaho cities that bill commercial plan review at a higher percentage of the permit fee.
  • The City of Salmon's own Chapter 151 requires this permit and adopts the codes it must meet, but administration — intake, plan review, and inspection — is carried out by the Lemhi County and City Building Department under a City Council designation; both the city and county application forms direct fee payment to Lemhi County.
  • No fire-district approval letter, fire plan-review step, or fire plan-review fee is published for commercial submissions in either the City or County application packet. The Idaho State Fire Marshal's own Plan Reviews Section reviews construction plans only for state-owned and state-leased buildings, so it would not reach an ordinary private commercial project in Salmon.
  • Idaho Code 39-4117 gives the Building Department 20 business days to notify a commercial applicant whether the application is complete — not 20 days to complete the review itself.
  • Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/mechanical permits for commercial work are not issued by this department — contact Idaho DOPL at (208) 334-3233 / dopl.idaho.gov; DOPL's homeowner electrical permit cannot be used for commercial work, so a licensed contractor must pull those permits. Contractor

Frequently asked questions

Salmon requires a commercial building permit (new construction, additions & remodels) for: Building permit required under City Code Chapter 151 (§ 151.03) before erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, or converting any commercial building or structure within Salmon city limits; the permit is issued only on payment of the required fees and authorization from the agency the City Council has designated to administer the code, currently the Lemhi County and City Building Department (§ 151.02); Submit the same City of Salmon Building Permit Application used for residential work, checking "Commercial: YES" under Describe Project — Salmon publishes no separate commercial or tenant-improvement application form; Plans reviewed against the currently adopted Building Code, incorporated by reference under § 151.01(A)(1) and automatically updated to track whatever edition the state's Building Code Board has approved (§ 151.01(B)); the State of Idaho's own published list of adopted codes currently names the 2018 International Building Code, with amendments, as that edition; Building permit fees are calculated from the Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A valuation table — the same table applied to residential permits — rather than a separate commercial valuation method; the fee schedule states its basis as the values "set forth in Appendix L of the International Residential Code" for every building permit it covers; Site plan required for any application involving exterior work, per the same site-plan requirement both the City and County application packets attach to IRC (2018) § 107.2.6 — showing setbacks, septic/drain field locations, and driveway access; Applicant must determine Ground Snow Load via the ASCE Hazard Tool and ensure the truss package's roof snow load matches, the same requirement applied to residential submissions; The currently adopted Fire Code is also incorporated by reference under § 151.01(A)(4), tracking the state's adopted edition the same way as the Building Code — currently the 2018 International Fire Code; neither the City nor County building permit application publishes a separate fire-district approval letter, plan-review step, or fee for commercial submissions; Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC/mechanical work is permitted separately through Idaho DOPL, not this department; DOPL's homeowner electrical permit is restricted to work an owner personally performs on their own primary or secondary residence and states on its own application that it is not valid for commercial use, so commercial electrical work requires a licensed contractor to pull that permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Lemhi County and City Building Department (Lemhi County Building/Planning & Zoning Department) at (208) 756-2815 ext. 1704 before starting work.

No. Both the City of Salmon Building Permit Application (rev. 10/9/2025) and the Lemhi County Building Permit Application (rev. 12/11/2025) use one form with a "Residential / Commercial" checkbox, and the Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A prices every building permit — commercial included — off the same valuation table it describes as based on "Appendix L of the International Residential Code." No separate IBC-based commercial valuation method, plan-review percentage, or fee line is published.

Salmon does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Lemhi County and City Building Department (Lemhi County Building/Planning & Zoning Department) at (208) 756-2815 ext. 1704 for current turnaround.

You'll need: City of Salmon Building Permit Application; Site Plan; Construction Drawings. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Apply through Lemhi County and City Building Department (Lemhi County Building/Planning & Zoning Department) at 200 Fulton St, Suite 204, Salmon, ID 83467. Phone: (208) 756-2815 ext. 1704, email: bldpt@lemhicountyidaho.org. Office hours: Mon–Fri (hours not published online; confirm with department). Official information: https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/231/Building.

City Code § 151.01(A)(1) adopts the Building Code by reference, and § 151.01(B) states that adopted codes are automatically superseded by successive versions as the state's Building Code Board approves them. The State of Idaho's own published list of adopted codes currently names the 2018 International Building Code, with amendments, as the adopted edition.

Both, in different roles. The City of Salmon's own City Code Chapter 151 requires the permit and adopts the construction codes a commercial project must meet. Administration of that code — intake, plan review, and inspection — is carried out by the Lemhi County and City Building Department, which the City Council has designated for this purpose under § 151.02. Both the City of Salmon and Lemhi County building permit applications direct fee payment to Lemhi County, and both are priced from the single Lemhi County Fee Schedule, Exhibit A, which prices commercial and residential building permits off the same valuation table.

None is published. Neither the City of Salmon nor the Lemhi County building permit application lists a fire-district approval letter, plan-review step, or fee for commercial submissions. City Code § 151.01(A)(4) adopts the Fire Code by reference (currently the 2018 International Fire Code, per the state's adopted-codes list), and the Idaho State Fire Marshal's Plan Reviews Section reviews construction plans directly only for state-owned and state-leased buildings, not ordinary private commercial construction.

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