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Solar PV Permit (Alternative Energy) in Lewiston, Idaho

Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in the City of Lewiston. The City's FY2026 Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-39) explicitly groups 'Alternative Energy' with Commercial, Multi-family (3+ units), and Industrial work under its valuation-based Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing Permit Fee tables — meaning a solar PV installation (residential or commercial) is billed on the same valuation-based schedule as commercial trade work, not the flat per-dwelling residential rates. A structural building permit (valuation-based, IBC Section 109.3) applies if the installation involves roof/structural modification.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Electrical permit required for the PV interconnection, billed under the fee schedule's combined 'Commercial, Multi-family (3+ units), Industrial, Alternative Energy' valuation-based tier — City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Electrical Permit Fees
  • Building permit required for racking/structural work (roof-mount or ground-mount), with valuation calculated per IBC Section 109.3 as adopted and amended by the City
  • Compliance with the 2023 NEC as locally adopted (January 2025) for the electrical interconnection scope
  • Compliance with the 2018 IBC/IRC as locally adopted for the structural/racking scope

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Electrical Permit — Alternative Energy (grouped with Commercial/Multi-family/Industrial) — valuation up to $10,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-39, effective 10/1/2025), Schedule F, Electrical Permit Fees — 'Alternative Energy' is explicitly named alongside Commercial/Multi-family (3+ units)/Industrial in this valuation-based tier.
$66.63 plus valuation x 0.032
Electrical Permit — Alternative Energy — valuation $10,001 to $100,000City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F.
$288.74 plus (valuation - $10,000) x 0.028
Electrical Permit — Alternative Energy — valuation $100,001 and upCity of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F.
$1,288.24 plus (valuation - $100,000) x 0.015
Electrical Plan Review FeeCity of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F.
$39.77 or 25% of the electrical permit fee, whichever is greater
Building Permit Fee (structural/racking scope, if applicable)City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F — no separate Alternative Energy line exists on the general Building Permit Fee table (only the Electrical/Mechanical/Plumbing tables name it explicitly).
Per the general valuation-based Building Permit Fee table (same tiers as residential-building-permit)
Building Permit Plan Review Fee (if a building permit applies)City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F.
65% of the Building Permit Fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewLewiston’s published plan-review target
8–14 business days

How long did your Solar PV Permit (Alternative Energy) 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

    Rough Electrical

    Conduit runs, wire sizing, and disconnect placement before cover, consistent with the adopted 2023 NEC.

  2. 2

    Framing/Structural (if a building permit applies)

    Racking and roof-penetration/structural attachment inspection prior to cover.

  3. 3

    Final

    Final electrical inspection; system energized and verified.

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

Tips

  • Lewiston's fee schedule bills solar PV electrical work on the SAME valuation-based tier as commercial and multi-family electrical work ('Commercial, Multi-family (3+ units), Industrial, Alternative Energy') rather than the flat per-square-foot residential rates used for a new single-family dwelling's own wiring — budget accordingly for a residential rooftop system.
  • If your installation only involves electrical interconnection with no roof or structural modification, you may only need the Electrical Permit; confirm with Building Services whether a separate structural Building Permit is required for your specific racking/mounting scope.
  • The Electrical Plan Review Fee is the greater of a flat $39.77 or 25% of the electrical permit fee — for small systems, the $39.77 flat minimum will typically apply.

Frequently asked questions

Lewiston requires a solar pv permit (alternative energy) for: Electrical permit required for the PV interconnection, billed under the fee schedule's combined 'Commercial, Multi-family (3+ units), Industrial, Alternative Energy' valuation-based tier — City of Lewiston FY2026 Fee Schedule, Schedule F, Electrical Permit Fees; Building permit required for racking/structural work (roof-mount or ground-mount), with valuation calculated per IBC Section 109.3 as adopted and amended by the City; Compliance with the 2023 NEC as locally adopted (January 2025) for the electrical interconnection scope; Compliance with the 2018 IBC/IRC as locally adopted for the structural/racking scope. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Lewiston Building Services (Community Development Department) at (208) 746-1318, option 1 for Permit Representatives before starting work.

The City's FY2026 Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-39) groups 'Alternative Energy' with Commercial, Multi-family (3+ units), and Industrial work under its valuation-based Electrical Permit Fee table: $66.63 plus 3.2% of valuation up to $10,000, scaling down to 1.5% above $100,000, plus a Plan Review Fee of the greater of $39.77 or 25% of the electrical permit fee. A separate structural Building Permit fee applies if the installation requires roof or structural modification.

Lewiston's published plan-review target for a solar pv permit (alternative energy) is 8–14 business days.

You'll need: Electrical Permit Application. Depending on your project, Lewiston may also ask for: Building Permit Application (structural/racking scope). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Lewiston requires 3 inspection(s) for a solar pv permit (alternative energy), in order: Rough Electrical, Framing/Structural (if a building permit applies), Final. 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.

It depends on scope. The electrical interconnection always requires an Electrical Permit (billed under the Alternative Energy valuation-based tier). A separate Building Permit, valuation-based per IBC Section 109.3, is additionally required if the installation involves roof or structural modification — confirm with Building Services (208-746-1318, option 1) for your specific project.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

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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