Rexburg building permits

Building department

Address

35 N 1st East, Rexburg, ID 83440

Phone

(208) 372-2166

Email

building@rexburg.org

Office hours

City Hall Open Hours: M-Th 7:30 am - 5:30 pm, F 7:30 am - 12:30 pm. Main City switchboard: (208) 359-3020; Building Department direct line: (208) 372-2166.

Website

Official site

Permit portal

Apply online at Rexburg's portal

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Rexburg — 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 Rexburg operates its own Building Department, which handles ALL trade permitting (building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire) in-house — it is not a DOPL-administered jurisdiction for permit issuance. Show full textShow less

  The City of Rexburg operates its own Building Department, which handles ALL trade permitting (building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire) in-house — it is not a DOPL-administered jurisdiction for permit issuance. The Building Official 'enforces and interprets the building code,' 'supervises the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire inspectors,' and the Building Department's stated scope explicitly covers mechanical, electrical, and plumbing programs as sub-programs of the Building Department itself, each with dedicated per-discipline permit fees. Source: City of Rexburg Building page (rexburg.org/o/cor/page/building).

• 2018 International Building Code (IBC), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page (rexburg.org/o/cor/page/codes-standards).
• 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page; also referenced on the Electrical Information page.
• 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• 2017 Idaho Plumbing Code (IAPMO), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — both the Commercial and Residential chapters, adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• 2016 NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code), adopted by the City of Rexburg. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• Plans submitted for commercial projects must be stamped by a licensed Idaho architect or engineer. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• The permitting process takes up to 10 business days from initial application to issuance of the permit; the process can be longer depending on backlog; the permit process is on a first-come, first-served basis. Source: City of Rexburg Codes & Standards page.
• Rexburg Development Code (Title/Code 1200) governs zoning, including short-term rental registration and duplex-conversion zoning eligibility (density-based lot-size minimums by zone). Source: Rexburg Development Code online, rexburg.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=development.

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (Single Family Home / Townhome)

  Required for new single-family residence and townhome construction in Rexburg, reviewed against the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC as adopted by the City. Applications are submitted through the City's online Public Portal (apply.rexburg.org/publicapp).

  From$2,000.00→

• Multi-Family Residence / Commercial Building Permit

  Required for new multi-family residential (apartment) and commercial building construction in Rexburg, reviewed against the 2018 IBC and 2018 IECC (Commercial) as adopted by the City. Commercial plans must be stamped by a licensed Idaho architect or engineer. Rexburg has no distinct Tenant Improvement, commercial-remodel, or 'change of use' permit product. The City's own 'Commercial Buildings' application page (rexburg.org/o/cor/page/commercial-building) states this single application covers 'New Construction, Addition, Remodel, Accessory Structures etc.,' explicitly defining 'Remodel' as 'renovation or remodeling of an existing commercial structure or space' -- the same application category as new construction, not a separate product. Its Requirements section is likewise headed 'For New Construction or Change of Occupancy,' folding change-of-occupancy work into this same application and requirements list rather than a distinct process.

  From$3,500.00→

• Electrical Permit

  Required for electrical installation, alteration, or repair work in Rexburg, governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the City. The Rexburg Building Department issues and inspects electrical permits directly through its own Electrical Program and dedicated electrical inspector — not the Idaho Division of Building Safety.

  From$130.00→

• Plumbing Permit

  Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Rexburg, governed by the 2017 Idaho Plumbing Code as adopted by the City. The Rexburg Building Department issues and inspects plumbing permits directly through its own Plumbing Program — not the Idaho Division of Building Safety.

  From$130.00→

• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Required for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installation, alteration, or repair work in Rexburg, governed by the 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as adopted by the City. The Rexburg Building Department issues and inspects mechanical permits directly through its own HVAC Program — not the Idaho Division of Building Safety.

  From$130.00→

• Solar Panels Permit

  Required for all photovoltaic (solar panel) work within Rexburg city limits, using the City's own dedicated 'Solar Panels / Cell Tower' application. Unlike most Idaho cities, Rexburg's Building Department self-administers electrical permitting directly (it is not a DOPL-routed jurisdiction), so both the structural and electrical scope of a solar install are handled in-house by the City.

  See fee schedule→

• Demolition Permit

  Required for demolition of any building or structure within Rexburg city limits, applied for through the same Mobile Home/Duplex/Demolition application category as duplex conversions and mobile home relocations.

  See fee schedule→

• Duplex Conversion Permit

  Required to convert an existing single-family residence into a two-unit duplex in Rexburg. Governed by zoning lot-size minimums (duplexes allowed only in LDR2 and LDR3) and a building-code-compliance/life-safety-inspection standard that brings the converted structure up to current code.

  See fee schedule→

• Short Term Rental Registration

  Required to register a property as a short-term rental (e.g., Airbnb-type listing) in Rexburg, per Ordinance 1308 and Development Code 1200 Section 4.00.025 (Rentals). Involves a zoning check, business registration, and a Building Department life-safety inspection.

  See fee schedule→

• EV Charging Station Permit (City Electrical Permit)

  Required for installation of a Level 2 or higher electric vehicle charging station within Rexburg city limits. Rexburg's Building Department self-administers electrical permitting directly rather than routing it through the State of Idaho DOPL as most Idaho cities do, using its own 'Mechanical, Electrical or Plumbing Miscellaneous' permit application for installation or upgrade work that is not part of new construction. The same applies to solar PV work here.

  See fee schedule→

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