You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-08-26.
Unincorporated Madison County building permits
VerifiedUnincorporated Madison County, Idaho — as published 2026-08-26.
Verified 2026-07-13 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Accessory Structure)
VerifiedRequired for detached one- and two-family dwellings and associated accessory structures in unincorporated Madison County — new construction, additions, basement finishes, remodels, garages, shops, decks, barns, and carports. Madison County Building Department has issued permits since 1976. Governed by the 2018 IRC as adopted and locally amended by Madison County Code Chapter 103. Each structure on a property requires a separate permit unless otherwise approved by the Building Official. Applications may be submitted via the county's iworq online Building Permit Portal or by physical/PDF submission.
Verified 2026-07-13 · Source
Requirements
- Building permit required for all new residential construction, additions, basement finishes, remodels, and accessory structures in unincorporated Madison County
- Septic Permit from Eastern Idaho Public Health required prior to Building Permit approval for new dwellings, or for remodels adding a bedroom/bathroom, or connecting to an existing septic system
- Recorded Warranty Deed (obtainable from the Madison County Clerk's Office); if applicant is not the legal owner, a notarized Affidavit of Legal Interest is required
- Site Plan showing setbacks, well, septic, property lines, and driveway(s)
- Copy of the Building Contractor's State of Idaho Registration, unless the project is owner-built
- One electronic copy (PDF) and/or one physical copy of plans, drawn to scale (minimum 1/8" = 1'-0"), formatted on 11"x17" paper, including: cross sections, elevations, full foundation drawing, window & door schedule, engineered truss design, engineered floor layout design
- Open spaces exceeding 900 sq ft require engineered plans per IRC Table R602.10.1.3 (seismic bracing), as determined by the Building Official
- Preliminary Elevation Certificate required before permit issuance if property is in a designated floodplain; Final Elevation Certificate required before Certificate of Occupancy
- Driveway Access Permit from the Madison County Road & Bridge Office
- Copy of subdivision covenants, if applicable
- Energy code compliance via prescriptive method (Prescriptive Path form in application) or REScheck analysis (Climate Zone 6B)
- Non-refundable Permit Fee Deposit due at submittal: $100 for accessory structures, $500 for non-accessory structures (including dwellings) — applied toward the total permit fee if approved
- Additional approvals may be required: Administrative Permit/ADU approval from Planning & Zoning (for more than one dwelling unit on a parcel), Fire Marshal review for properties with significant slopes, Army Corps of Engineers permits for wetlands, Road & Bridge/Corps approval for bridges
- Electrical and plumbing work requires a SEPARATE permit through the City of Rexburg Building Department (contracted electrical inspection authority per I.C. 54-1001) — NOT issued by Madison County
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Fillable v2, updated 2026-01-22)Madison County Building Department application for detached one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures; includes contact info, property info, proposed use table, setbacks, signature/certification pages, and Prescriptive Insulation Requirements worksheet (Climate Zone 6B)
- RequiredSite PlanFull-size scaled drawing showing existing/proposed structures, septic, well, drain field, setbacks from property lines and county road centerlines, and waterways
- RequiredSeptic Permit (Eastern Idaho Public Health)Required prior to Building Permit approval for new dwellings or remodels adding a bedroom/bathroom
- RequiredRecorded Warranty DeedObtained from the Madison County Clerk's Office; Affidavit of Legal Interest required if applicant is not the property owner
- OptionalBuilding Contractor State RegistrationCopy required unless project is owner-built
- RequiredDriveway Access PermitObtained from the Madison County Road & Bridge Office
- OptionalPreliminary/Final Elevation CertificateRequired if property is within a designated floodplain — preliminary before permit issuance, final before Certificate of Occupancy
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable Permit Fee Deposit (due at submittal, applied toward total fee) | $500 for dwellings/non-accessory structures; $100 for accessory structures | Building Permit Application (Fillable v2, 2026-01-22), Checklist item 10 |
| Total estimated permit fee (Permit + 10% Plan Review), by square footage | 0–1,500 sq ft: $1,450 | 1,501–2,500 sq ft: $2,175 | 2,501–3,500 sq ft: $2,900 | 3,501–4,500 sq ft: $3,625 | 4,501–5,500 sq ft: $4,300 | 5,501–6,500 sq ft: $4,825 | Madison County Building Department Permit Fee Estimates (Building), effective January 2025 — estimates only, subject to change; calculated using ICC Building Valuation Data with a fixed 10% plan review; final fee determined by county staff at permit issuance |
Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Remodels)
Required for new commercial construction, additions, and remodels of commercial buildings in unincorporated Madison County. The Building Department's only published building permit application states on its first page that it is used for detached one- and two-family dwellings and associated accessory structures, and the Department's Document Center lists no separate commercial application, fee schedule, or review-timeline document. Commercial construction is nonetheless legally regulated: the County has adopted the 2018 International Building Code (Madison County Code Chapter 103, Article II, Sec. 1-1) and separately lists a 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (Commercial) alongside its residential counterpart among its adopted codes. Planning & Zoning Department staff describe their role as enforcing current residential and commercial building codes. A commercial applicant needs to contact the Building Department directly (208-359-6262) to scope the application, plans, and fee for a specific project.
Reviewed 2026-08-25 · Source
Requirements
- Building permit required before erecting, constructing, altering, or repairing any type of building in unincorporated Madison County, per Madison County Code Chapter 103, Sec. 103-54 (Building Permit Required), which does not carve out commercial construction from that requirement
- Reviewed under the 2018 International Building Code as adopted by Madison County Code Chapter 103, Article II, Sec. 1-1 (reflected in IDAPA 24.39.30) rather than the 2018 International Residential Code that governs the County's one- and two-family dwelling permit
- The Building Department separately lists a 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (Commercial) alongside a 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (Residential) among its adopted codes, indicating a distinct commercial energy-compliance track, though no commercial-specific compliance form is published
- The 2018 International Fire Code, adopted with amendments by the Idaho State Fire Marshal (IDAPA 18.08.01) per Madison County Code Chapter 103, Sec. 7-1, governs commercial occupancies; no county-published document describes a distinct fire-district plan-review step or fee for a standard commercial building permit
- Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is handled through the City of Rexburg Building Department under a county-city inspection contract (Idaho Code 54-1001) -- the same arrangement documented for the County's residential building permit -- not issued by Madison County or by the State of Idaho directly
- No dedicated commercial building permit application, commercial fee schedule, or commercial review-timeline document is published by the Building Department; its only general building permit application states it is used for detached one- and two-family dwellings and associated accessory structures, and its Document Center attachments (the Building Permit Application, plus Inspection Checklists for Solar, Flood Plain, and Building Permit) contain nothing scoped to commercial work
- Idaho Code 39-4117 gives a local government twenty (20) business days -- versus ten (10) for a residential application -- to determine whether a submitted commercial building permit application is complete; this is a statewide completeness-determination deadline, not a review-to-issuance timeline
- Contact the Building Department (208-359-6262, ddecker@co.madison.id.us) directly to determine the application, plans, and fee required for a specific commercial project
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Fillable v2, 2026-01-22)The Building Department's only published building permit application; its first page states it is used for detached one- and two-family dwellings and associated accessory structures. No separate commercial application is published, so a commercial applicant should confirm with the Building Department how to apply before submitting.
- RequiredConstruction PlansFull plan set required for any building permit under Madison County Code Chapter 103; the County publishes no commercial-specific submittal checklist, so plan content and stamping requirements for a commercial project should be confirmed with the Building Official.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Building Permit Fee | ICC Building Valuation Data, plus a fixed 10% plan review | The Permit Fee Estimates (Building) document, effective January 2025, states its method without restricting it to any occupancy type: "Permit fees are calculated using ICC Building Valuation Data… Show full citationHideThe Permit Fee Estimates (Building) document, effective January 2025, states its method without restricting it to any occupancy type: "Permit fees are calculated using ICC Building Valuation Data with a fixed 10% plan review. Final fees are determined by Madison County staff at the time of permit issuance." It names only manufactured homes, solar, and "other specific permits" as needing a separate estimate from the Building Department -- commercial construction is not listed as an exception. Madison County Code Chapter 103, Sec. 103-54 requires a building permit for "any type of building," and Sec. 103-55(C) ties permit fees to "the current Madison County Fee Schedule" without a residential carve-out. Commissioner meeting minutes for April 22, 2024 record a public hearing and unanimous vote approving a "Planning & Zoning and Building Departments Fee Update," described in department-wide terms rather than as a residential-only update, and lining up with the January 2025 effective date on the fee-estimate document. On that basis, the ICC-valuation-plus-10%-plan-review method is recorded as the County's general Building Department fee basis, applicable to a commercial building permit. The published square-footage brackets only run up to 6,501 sq ft, and no ICC Building Valuation Data edition, occupancy group, or construction type is disclosed for the underlying dollar figures, so those specific bracket totals should not be read as a verified commercial number -- a commercial applicant should get a project-specific estimate from the Building Department (208-359-6262). |
| Plan Review Fee | 10% of the permit fee (fixed) | The Permit Fee Estimates (Building) document folds a fixed 10% plan review into the same square-footage total described in the Commercial Building Permit Fee line above, stated without an occupancy restriction. Show full citationHideThe Permit Fee Estimates (Building) document folds a fixed 10% plan review into the same square-footage total described in the Commercial Building Permit Fee line above, stated without an occupancy restriction. No separate commercial plan-review percentage or line item is published; the 10% figure is the same one Madison County Code Chapter 103, Sec. 103-55(C) ties to "the current Madison County Fee Schedule" for any building permit. |
Agricultural Exempt Permit
VerifiedRequired for structures built on property where the primary land use is a bona fide agricultural operation and the structure is used exclusively for agricultural-related storage — barns, pole barns, hay sheds, farm equipment sheds, livestock shelters, poultry buildings, horticultural structures, and grain silos. May not be used for structures with any habitable space. Property must be at least 5 contiguous acres actively devoted to agriculture, meeting Idaho Code 63-604 eligibility for agricultural property tax appraisal. Governed by the 2018 IRC as adopted by Madison County.
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Requirements
- Property's primary land use must be a bona fide agricultural operation on more than 5 contiguous acres actively devoted to agriculture, per Idaho Code 63-604 agricultural property appraisal/taxation eligibility criteria
- Structure must be for agricultural storage/shelter use only (barns, pole barns, equipment sheds, livestock shelters, poultry buildings, horticultural structures, grain silos, stables) — no habitable area permitted
- Recorded Warranty Deed (Madison County Clerk's Office)
- Signed Understanding of Policy form (Agricultural Buildings Exemption)
- One electronic copy (PDF) and two physical copies of plans, scale no smaller than 1/8"=1', sheet size 11"x17": Site Plan (showing structures, septic, well, drain field, drain field replacement area, setbacks from side property lines, county road centerlines, waterways), Cross Sections, Elevations, Full Foundation drawing, Window & door schedule
- Copy of the Building Contractor's State of Idaho Registration
- Preliminary/Final Elevation Certificate if property is in a designated floodplain
- Permit fee payment ($150.00) plus review fee ($45.00) due upon application submittal
Required documents
- RequiredAgricultural Exempt Permit Application (2025)Madison County Building Department application for agricultural exemption structures; includes Agricultural Exemption Permit Checklist and Understanding of Policy form defining qualifying structures under Idaho Code 63-604
- RequiredSite PlanOne full-size scaled drawing showing existing/proposed structures, septic, well, drain field, drain field replacement area, and setbacks
- RequiredUnderstanding of Policy FormSigned acknowledgment of the Agricultural Buildings Exemption policy and qualifying-structure definitions
- OptionalInspection Checklist AgriculturalChecklist used by the Building Department for agricultural structure inspections
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Exempt Permit fee | $150.00 | Agricultural Exempt Permit Application (2025), Checklist item: 'Permit fee payment - $150.00 and a review fee of $45 due upon application submittal.' |
| Review fee | $45.00 | Due upon application submittal, alongside the $150 permit fee |
Manufactured Home Installation Permit
VerifiedRequired for relocating and installing a manufactured/mobile home into unincorporated Madison County. Manufactured homes bearing HUD certification are regulated under Idaho Code Title 44, Chapter 22 rather than the standard Building Code enforcement provisions, but an Installation Permit must still be obtained from the county before placement. Homes not bearing a HUD certification label are not allowed except as provided under Idaho Code Title 44, Chapter 25.
Verified 2026-07-08 · Source
Requirements
- Owner or agent must apply for and receive an Installation Permit before placing any manufactured home on the property (Madison County Code Chapter 103, Sec. 2-3)
- Home must bear a HUD certification label; homes without HUD certification are not allowed except as provided under Idaho Code Title 44, Chapter 25
- Approved Septic Permit from Eastern Idaho Public Health
- Approved Driveway Access Permit from the Madison County Road & Bridge Office
- Recorded Warranty Deed (Madison County Clerk's Office)
- One electronic copy (PDF) and two physical copies of plans (scale no smaller than 1/8"=1', sheet size 11"x17"): cross sections, elevations, full foundation drawing, electrical plan showing smoke alarm/detector locations, window & door schedule, stabilizing/permanent foundation system drawings, site plan showing setbacks/well/septic/property lines/driveway
- Proof the manufactured home is constructed to withstand a minimum snow load of 50 P.S.F.
- Copy of the installer's license
- Preliminary/Final Elevation Certificate if property is in a designated floodplain
- Permit fee payment ($150.00) plus review fee ($45.00) due upon application submittal
Required documents
- RequiredManufactured Home Permit Application (2025)Madison County Building Department application for relocating a manufactured/mobile home into the county
- RequiredSite PlanShowing setbacks, well, septic, property lines, driveway
- OptionalInspection Checklist Manufactured HomeChecklist used by the Building Department for manufactured home installation inspections
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured Home Permit fee | $150.00 | Manufactured Homes page, madisoncountyid.gov: 'Permit fee payment - $150 and a review fee of $45 due upon application submittal.' |
| Review fee | $45.00 | Due upon application submittal, alongside the $150 permit fee |
Solar Permit
VerifiedMadison County issues its own dedicated 'Solar Permit' for both roof-mounted and ground-mounted PV installations in unincorporated Madison County, via a distinct Solar Permit Application form separate from the general Building Permit application. Roof-mounted systems do not require Planning and Zoning review (and so cost less); ground-mounted systems do require P&Z review of setbacks and cost more. Directly confirmed by the county's own published 4-page Solar Permit Application and Submittal Checklist. Electrical inspection is performed under the county's contract with the City of Rexburg (per Idaho Code 54-1001), not by the county Building Department directly and not by DOPL.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Solar Permit Application required for both roof-mounted and ground-mounted PV systems; select 'Roof Mount' or 'Ground Mount' on the application
- Recorded Warranty Deed (from the Clerk's Office); a notarized 'Affidavit of Legal Interest' is required if the applicant is not the legal property owner
- Site Plan showing setbacks for ground-mounted systems (front/back/side, from structure to property line, easements, right-of-way lines, and open surface water) or the panel location on the roof
- Copy of the Building Contractor's State Registration (Idaho contractor registration)
- Full plan set (electronic PDF, drawn to scale no smaller than 1/8" = 1'), covering PV array configuration, grounding, wire management, conductors, rapid shutdown of PV systems on buildings, charge controllers, disconnects, inverters, batteries, and anchoring type — ALL plans must bear a current Engineer's stamp
- Preliminary Elevation Certificate required before building permit issuance if the parcel is in a mapped floodplain; Final Elevation Certificate required before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued
- Copy of subdivision covenants if the property is located in a subdivision with covenants
- Fire Plan Review by the Madison County Fire District if determined necessary by the Building Department
- Ground-mount setback requirements per the county's published Site Plan Requirements: Agricultural (AG) zone — Front 30/60 ft, Side 10 ft, Back 25 ft; Trans-Agricultural (TRANS) zone — same; a 200 ft setback from 5 ft above the high-water mark of any waterway applies per Sec. 117-63(t)
- Review process requires a minimum of 10 working days (not counting the submittal day) after all required documents are submitted — an incomplete application is not accepted into the review queue at all
Required documents
- RequiredSolar Permit Application (Madison County Building Department)The county's dedicated solar application form covering owner/contractor contact info, parcel/zoning information, roof-mount vs ground-mount selection, panel count, system voltage, project value, and ground-mount setbacks
- RequiredEngineer-Stamped Plan SetFull PDF plan set covering PV array configuration, grounding, wire management, conductors, rapid shutdown, charge controllers, disconnects, inverters, batteries, and anchoring type — must bear a current Engineer's stamp
- RequiredRecorded Warranty DeedObtained from the Clerk's Office; an Affidavit of Legal Interest is required if the applicant differs from the property owner of record
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Permit Fee Deposit (both Roof Mount and Ground Mount) | $45.00 | Madison County Solar Permit Application, Permit Application Submittal Checklist item 7 — directly read from the county's own 4-page application PDF. |
| Roof Mount — remaining fee | $125.00 (for a total of $170.00 including the $45 deposit) | Madison County Solar Permit Application, Submittal Checklist item 7. Roof-mounted solar panels do not need Planning and Zoning review, which is why the total is lower than ground mount. |
| Ground Mount — remaining fee | $150.00 (for a total of $195.00 including the $45 deposit) | Madison County Solar Permit Application, Submittal Checklist item 7. Higher than roof mount because ground-mounted systems require Planning and Zoning setback review. |
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Madison County has explicitly deleted the electrical provisions from its adopted 2018 IRC (Madison County Code Chapter 103, Article II, Sec. 2-2(B)) — electrical work in unincorporated Madison County is "regulated solely by the State of Idaho" per Idaho Code Title 54, Chapters 10 and 26, administered by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL, formerly Division of Building Safety), confirmed by the DOPL statewide Inspector List with Schedules (Madison County ZIP codes assigned to state electrical inspector Monte Kofoed). An EV charger/EVSE installation therefore requires a State of Idaho Electrical Permit through DOPL, not a county permit. DOPL publishes no distinct EV charger/EVSE fee line; a residential EVSE circuit added to an existing home is billed under the homeowner (or contractor) electrical permit fee structure — a base fee plus a per-branch-circuit charge for existing-residence work.
Reviewed 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- State of Idaho Electrical Permit (DOPL) required for EV charger/EVSE circuit installation in unincorporated Madison County — apply online via the DOPL permit purchasing system, or by submitting the Homeowner or Contractor Electrical Permit Application
- Homeowners may self-perform EVSE wiring on their own primary or secondary residence and related outbuildings using a Homeowner Electrical Permit; work for others, or on commercial property, requires a licensed contractor
- Installation must comply with the National Electrical Code edition adopted by the Idaho Electrical Board (Madison County references the 2017 NEC as regulated by the state)
- Schedule inspection through the DOPL electrical inspection request line/portal; Madison County is served by a state-assigned electrical inspector, not a county inspector
- No distinct EV charger/EVSE fee line, expedited timeline, or SolarAPP+-style instant-permitting platform is published by DOPL
Required documents
- RequiredHomeowner or Contractor Electrical Permit Application (DOPL)State electrical permit application for EV charger/EVSE circuit and equipment installation
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State Electrical Permit — Existing Dwelling Unit | $65.00 per inspection | IDAPA 24.39.10 (Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board), Section 500.02.a.ii, effective 3-28-23: "Existing Dwelling Unit Permit: sixty-five dollars ($65) per inspection." Applies to an existing… Show full citationHideIDAPA 24.39.10 (Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board), Section 500.02.a.ii, effective 3-28-23: "Existing Dwelling Unit Permit: sixty-five dollars ($65) per inspection." Applies to an existing residence, detached shop, or modular/manufactured/mobile home. Statewide fee set by DOPL, not by the county. |
| Additional branch circuits (DOPL worksheet only — not imposed by the controlling rule) | $10.00 per additional branch circuit per DOPL's worksheet; $0 under IDAPA 24.39.10 | DOPL Homeowner Electrical Permit Worksheet (Fee Schedule), Rev. Show full citationHideDOPL Homeowner Electrical Permit Worksheet (Fee Schedule), Rev. 8/17/2022, "Existing Residence / Modular, Manufactured or Mobile Homes / Detached Shop" row. One circuit is included in the $65.00, so a single EV charger circuit adds nothing under the worksheet either. The worksheet is the form applicants submit, but this figure is NOT in IDAPA 24.39.10 — see the confidence note on the base fee. |
| Requested Inspection Permit | $65.00 per inspection | IDAPA 24.39.10 Section 500.03: "Requested Inspection Permit. Show full citationHideIDAPA 24.39.10 Section 500.03: "Requested Inspection Permit. A sixty-five dollar ($65) fee per inspection." Note DOPL's worksheet instead states "$65.00 per hr." for a Requested Inspection, and separately requires a $65/hour Plan Check for grid-connected renewable energy prior to purchasing the installation permit — so this is not optional for grid-tied solar or storage. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-13.
Fee schedules
Applications & forms
Checklists & handouts
Online permit portal
Codes & ordinances
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Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Unincorporated Madison County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.