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Commercial Building Permit (New Commercial Construction) in Lewiston, Idaho

Required for new commercial construction in the City of Lewiston, reviewed against the 2018 IBC (plus 2021 IBC Mass Timber provisions, adopted January 2025) and related commercial codes as locally adopted and administered by City of Lewiston Building Services. The City's FY2026 Fee Schedule bills commercial building permits on a distinct valuation-based fee table -- materially higher than the residential table at the same valuation -- and requires a Code Analysis for Commercial/Multi-Family Projects submittal prepared by an Idaho-licensed design professional.

Verified 2026-08-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required whenever a building or structure regulated by the code is altered, constructed, converted, demolished, enlarged, erected, improved, moved, removed, or repaired -- City of Lewiston Permits Needed page
  • Plans must be prepared by an Idaho-licensed Design Professional (Architect, Engineer) as required by International Building Code Section 107 and Idaho Code Title 54 (Professions, Vocations, and Businesses) -- City of Lewiston Code Analysis for Commercial/Multi-Family Projects form
  • A completed Code Analysis for Commercial/Multi-Family Projects form IS REQUIRED on all commercial plans submitted for review, covering type of construction, occupancy classification, actual/allowable area-height-stories, occupant load, exits, fire-resistance ratings, opening protection, special inspections (IBC Chapter 17), and seismic/wind/snow/frost design criteria
  • Plans reviewed against the 2018 IBC (+ 2021 IBC Mass Timber provisions, adopted January 2025), 2018 IMC, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (based on 2015 UPC), 2023 NEC, 2018 IECC, 2018 Idaho Fire Code, 2009 ICC/ANSI A117.1, and 2018 IEBC, per the City's Code Analysis form and Current Codes page
  • Building valuation calculated per IBC Section 109.3 as adopted and amended by the City of Lewiston, using the distinct Commercial Building Permit Fee valuation table in the FY2026 Fee Schedule (Schedule F) -- a separate, higher-rate table than the Residential Building Permit Fee table at the same valuation
  • Separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits required for all trade work, billed under the Commercial, Multi-family (3+ units), Industrial, and Alternative Energy valuation-based fee tables
  • New Commercial Construction plan review (including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, utility, and any others associated) has a published maximum turnaround of 21 calendar days, 14 calendar days for minor revisions -- City of Lewiston Permit Review Schedule page

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation up to $500City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-39, effective 10/1/2025), Schedule F, Building Permit Fees -- Commercial Building Permit Fees table, a table distinct from the Residential Building Permit Fees table.
$40.10
Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation $501 to $2,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Commercial Building Permit Fees.
$40.10 for the first $500 plus $6.31 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof
Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation $2,001 to $25,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Commercial Building Permit Fees.
$134.89 for the first $2,000 plus $24.19 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation $25,001 to $50,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Commercial Building Permit Fees.
$684.33 for the first $25,000 plus $17.30 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation $50,001 to $100,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Commercial Building Permit Fees.
$1,116.89 for the first $50,000 plus $11.98 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation $100,001 to $500,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Commercial Building Permit Fees.
$1,715.48 for the first $100,000 plus $9.59 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Commercial Building Permit Fees.
$5,553.58 for the first $500,000 plus $9.21 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Commercial Building Permit Fee -- valuation $1,000,001 and upCity of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Commercial Building Permit Fees.
$10,162.40 for the first $1,000,000 plus $6.34 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Plan Review FeeCity of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Building Plan Review Fees -- applies to the Commercial Building Permit Fee the same as it does to residential.
65% of the Building Permit Fee
Additional Plan Review (changes, additions, or revisions to plans)City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Building Plan Review Fees.
$72.20 per hour, minimum 2 hours
Outside Consultants for Plan ReviewCity of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Building Plan Review Fees -- used when the City retains a third-party reviewer.
Actual cost, set by the consultant
Foundation Only (Commercial)City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Other Permit Fees -- a separate flat fee for a foundation-only commercial permit, distinct from the valuation-based full Commercial Building Permit Fee.
$296.52
Electrical/Mechanical/Plumbing Trade Permits (if applicable)City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F -- each trade permit is separately issued and fee-assessed from the Building Permit.
Billed on the same Commercial, Multi-family (3+ units), Industrial, and Alternative Energy valuation-based tiers used by the standalone electrical-permit, plumbing-permit, and mechanical-hvac-permit entries in this file
Conditional Certificate of OccupancyCity of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Other Permit Fees -- applies if occupancy is requested before the project is fully complete.
$346.87

Review timeline

Plan reviewLewiston’s published plan-review target
14–21 business days

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Commercial Construction) permit actually take in Lewiston?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation/Footing

    Required prior to concrete pour, consistent with the adopted 2018 IBC.

  2. 2

    Special Inspections (if required)

    Per IBC Chapter 17, performed by the agency named on the project's Code Analysis submittal for structural elements the Building Official designates.

  3. 3

    Rough-In (Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing)

    Trade rough-in inspections for the separately permitted electrical, mechanical, and plumbing scopes.

  4. 4

    Framing

    Structural framing inspection after rough-ins are signed off.

  5. 5

    Fire Sprinkler/Alarm (if applicable)

    Inspected under the separate Fire Fee Schedule if the project includes new or modified fire sprinkler or fire alarm systems.

  6. 6

    Final / Certificate of Occupancy

    Final building and trade inspections prior to occupancy; a Conditional Certificate of Occupancy ($346.87) may be requested if occupancy is needed before full completion.

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

Tips

  • The Commercial Building Permit Fee table is a SEPARATE, higher-rate table than the Residential Building Permit Fee table at the same valuation -- e.g., at $100,000 valuation the commercial fee is $1,116.89 versus $795.69 for residential -- do not assume the two tables are identical just because both are 'valuation-based per IBC 109.3.'
  • Plans must be prepared by an Idaho-licensed design professional (architect or engineer) per IBC Section 107 and Idaho Code Title 54 -- this applies to essentially all commercial submittals, not just larger projects.
  • The Code Analysis for Commercial/Multi-Family Projects form is mandatory on every commercial plan submittal; missing it is a common cause of an incomplete-application rejection.
  • There are two different published City review-timeline figures for commercial plan review: the live Permit Review Schedule webpage says 21 days maximum (14 for minor revisions), while the Code Analysis PDF (revised 04/17/2023) says 28/21 days -- confirm current timing with Building Services rather than relying on either document alone if your schedule is time-critical.
  • Reactivation of an expired permit costs 25% of the original application fee if there has been no building or trade code change since the original review, or 50% if there has been a code change -- City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The City's Code Analysis for Commercial/Multi-Family Projects form requires plans to be prepared by an Idaho-licensed Design Professional (architect or engineer), per International Building Code Section 107 and Idaho Code Title 54.

The fee is valuation-based per the City's Commercial Building Permit Fee table (FY2026 Fee Schedule, Resolution 2025-39), which is a separate, higher-rate table than the residential one at the same valuation -- for example, $1,116.89 for the first $50,000 of valuation plus $11.98 per additional $1,000 in the $50,001-$100,000 tier. A Building Permit Plan Review Fee of 65% of the permit fee also applies.

Per the City's live Permit Review Schedule page, New Commercial Construction (including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and utility review) has a maximum turnaround of 21 calendar days, 14 calendar days for minor revisions. Note that the City's separate Code Analysis for Commercial/Multi-Family Projects form (last revised April 2023) lists a different 28/21-day figure -- confirm current timing with Building Services for time-critical projects.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Code Analysis for Commercial/Multi-Family Projects; Plan Review Documents Checklist. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Lewiston requires 6 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit (new commercial construction), in order: Foundation/Footing, Special Inspections (if required), Rough-In (Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing), Framing, Fire Sprinkler/Alarm (if applicable), Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Lewiston Building Services (Community Development Department) ((208) 746-1318, option 1 for Permit Representatives).

Apply through City of Lewiston Building Services (Community Development Department) at 215 D Street, Lewiston, ID 83501 (P.O. Box 617, Lewiston, ID 83501). Phone: (208) 746-1318, option 1 for Permit Representatives, email: cd@cityoflewiston.org. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Building Official: Jeff Wolfe, (509) 254-3275, jwolfe@cityoflewiston.org. Permit Representatives: Lorrie Tanguay, (208) 746-1318 ext. 7203; Adrian Miller, (208) 746-1318 ext. 7263.. Official information: https://www.cityoflewiston.org/227/Building-Services.

Lewiston, Idaho has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), plus 2021 IBC Mass Timber provisions, adopted January 2025 for commercial construction — City of Lewiston Current Codes page (Lewiston City Code Sec. 10-1, Code Adoption).; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted January 2021, for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses — City of Lewiston Current Codes page.; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted January 2021 — City of Lewiston Current Codes page.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted January 2021 — City of Lewiston Current Codes page.; Idaho State Plumbing Code, based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), adopted January 2021 — City of Lewiston Current Codes page.; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted January 2021 — City of Lewiston Current Codes page.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted January 2025 — City of Lewiston Current Codes page.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted January 2021 — City of Lewiston Current Codes page.; The Current Codes page states local amendments to the adopted codes exist and directs readers to Lewiston City Code Sec. 10-1 (Code Adoption) for the specific amendment text; the amendments themselves are not individually enumerated on the Current Codes web page.. Local amendments apply — see the Lewiston overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-02.

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 Lewiston building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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