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Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) in Unincorporated Power County, Idaho

Required for new single-family dwellings, additions, structural alterations, and outbuildings over 120 sq ft in unincorporated Power County. Applications are submitted on the shared Consolidated Building-Development Permit Application (used jointly by Power County, American Falls, and Rockland — applicant selects 'Power County' as the jurisdiction). Reviewed and inspected by the Power County Building Administrator.

Verified 2026-07-08 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required for any new construction, structural addition, alteration, or outbuilding over 120 sq ft in unincorporated Power County
  • Interior remodels require a permit except for painting and carpeting
  • Re-roofing and re-siding projects require a permit (may be issued same-day if complete information is provided)
  • Window/door replacement requires a permit if the new opening size is larger than the one removed
  • Placing a manufactured home in or out of a park requires a permit
  • Check subdivision or land-use restrictions before applying
  • Obtain a Power County Highway Permit (208-226-2661) for any new/modified road approach
  • Obtain a septic permit from the State Health District (208-226-5094 or 208-478-6320) where applicable
  • Obtain Idaho State electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/mechanical permits where applicable — these are NOT issued by Power County (regulated under Idaho Code IC 54-1001 and IC 54-2601)
  • Submit a complete set of blueprints to the Power County Building Administrator at least 10–14 days before construction begins
  • Blueprints for larger commercial/residential projects must bear the original Engineer's or Architect's stamp
  • Site plan drawn at a scale not less than 1 inch = 20 feet, showing property lines/dimensions, septic system and drain field, well location, natural features (rivers, springs, streams, rock outcroppings, slopes over 20% grade), driveway connection and public road name, north arrow, easements, and subdivision/lot info or Record of Survey
  • Engineered stormwater retention plan required for properties on 10% or greater slope
  • Property lines must be staked for setback verification prior to inspection
  • Complete building plans required for the site-built house, addition, or outbuilding

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee (valuation-based)Power County Building Code Ordinance, Appendix A (Building Valuation Data / Power County Permit Fees table); construction cost per square foot is taken from the 1997 Uniform Building Code valuation tables referenced in the same Appendix. New commercial building valuation is established at the contract bid price.
$24 for valuation $1–$500; $24 + $3 per additional $100 (or fraction) up to $2,000; $69 + $11 per additional $1,000 up to $40,000; $487 + $9 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $1,027 + $7 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000; $3,827 + $5 per additional $1,000 up to $1,000,000; $6,327 + $3 per additional $1,000 up to $5,000,000; $18,327 + $1 per additional $1,000 above $5,000,000
Plan review fee (when required)Power County Building Code Ordinance, Appendix B (Additional Fees); for new commercial buildings/additions/remodels, plan review is billed at 65% of the building permit fee per Table 108.2A in lieu of the hourly rate
$47.00 per hour
Investigative fee (work started without a permit)Power County Building Code Ordinance, Title 8, Chapter 1 (unpermitted-work provision)
Equal to the Power County permit fee for the work performed, in addition to the standard permit fee
Miscellaneous/after-hours inspections, reinspection, plan changesPower County Building Code Ordinance, Appendix B (Additional Fees)
$47.00 per hour (minimum charge 30 min–2 hrs depending on service)

Review timeline

Plan reviewUnincorporated Power County’s published plan-review target
10–14 business days

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition) permit actually take in Unincorporated Power County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing

    After excavation for footings is complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place

  2. 2

    Foundation

    Once forms, reinforcing steel, and materials are on-site; all components must be ready before inspection for concrete foundations

  3. 3

    Concrete Slab / Under-Floor

    After all in-slab or under-floor building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories, and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed

  4. 4

    Frame

    After the roof, all framing, fire-blocking, and bracing are in, and all pipes, electric, and ducts are approved

  5. 5

    Lath / Gypsum Board

    After all lathing and/or gypsum board joints and fasteners are in place, but before it is taped and finished

  6. 6

    Final

    After finish grade and building is completed and ready for occupancy

See the full Unincorporated Power County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • This is the same Consolidated Building-Development Permit Application used by American Falls and Rockland — be sure to check 'Power County' as the location so it is routed correctly.
  • Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/mechanical permits are NOT issued by Power County. Contact the Idaho Division of Building Safety (DOPL/DBS) at dbs.idaho.gov/permits or 1-800-955-3044.
  • Submit blueprints at least 10-14 days before you plan to start construction — same-day issuance is only available for re-roofing, re-siding, and sign permits with complete information.
  • A Power County Highway Permit and, where applicable, a septic permit from the State Health District are prerequisites — get these BEFORE submitting the building permit application.
  • Permits are valid 180 days from issuance. If your project runs long, request an extension before the permit lapses, provided verified work is in progress.
  • If you start work before a permit is issued, you'll owe an investigative fee equal to the permit fee itself, on top of the normal permit fee.
  • Properties on 10% grade or steeper need an engineered stormwater retention plan as part of the site plan submission.
  • Stake your property lines before requesting a setback verification — inspectors will check actual staked distances against the approved site plan.

Frequently asked questions

Any new construction, structural additions, alterations, out buildings over 120 sq ft, all interior remodels except painting and carpeting, re-roofing and re-siding projects, placing a manufactured home in or out of a park, or a window/door replacement where the new opening is larger than the one removed. Source: Power County Building Administrator / Planning and Zoning FAQ, powercounty.gov.

In Unincorporated Power County, the published Building permit fee (valuation-based) is: $24 for valuation $1–$500; $24 + $3 per additional $100 (or fraction) up to $2,000; $69 + $11 per additional $1,000 up to $40,000; $487 + $9 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $1,027 + $7 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000; $3,827 + $5 per additional $1,000 up to $1,000,000; $6,327 + $3 per additional $1,000 up to $5,000,000; $18,327 + $1 per additional $1,000 above $5,000,000. Additional published fees: Plan review fee (when required) — $47.00 per hour; Investigative fee (work started without a permit) — Equal to the Power County permit fee for the work performed, in addition to the standard permit fee; Miscellaneous/after-hours inspections, reinspection, plan changes — $47.00 per hour (minimum charge 30 min–2 hrs depending on service). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

A permit is allotted a 180-day time frame. If your project needs more time and there is verified work in progress, you may be granted an extension by meeting certain criteria. Source: Power County Building Administrator / Planning and Zoning FAQ, powercounty.gov.

You'll need: Consolidated Building-Development Permit Application (PDF); Attention Builders — Requirements for Building Permit; Full Plan Set (Site Plan, Foundation, Floor Plan, Framing, Elevations). Depending on your project, Unincorporated Power County may also ask for: Six Required Inspections — Reminder to Contractors; Minimum Setbacks. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Power County requires 6 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction / addition), in order: Footing, Foundation, Concrete Slab / Under-Floor, Frame, Lath / Gypsum Board, Final. Schedule each through Power County Building Administrator / Planning and Zoning Department (208-226-7625).

Apply through Power County Building Administrator / Planning and Zoning Department at 73 Fort Hall Ave., Ste. A, American Falls, ID 83211. Phone: 208-226-7625, email: ahiggins@co.power.id.us. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://www.powercounty.gov/195/Building-Administrator-Planning-and-Zoni.

Unincorporated Power County, Idaho has adopted: 2015 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted and amended per Power County Building Code Ordinance, Title 8, Chapter 1, Section 8-1-13-1; 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted and amended per Power County Building Code Ordinance, Title 8, Chapter 1, Section 8-1-13-2; 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2015 International Fire Code (IFC); 2015 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); Editions as codified in the Power County Building Code Ordinance (recorded 2018); Power County Code of Ordinances Title 8 (Building Regulations) is maintained on American Legal Publishing but the live section text is JavaScript-rendered and could not be independently re-verified for a possible later edition update beyond the archived 2018 ordinance PDF — treat edition years as sourced to that document. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Power County overview page for the full list.

No. Power County's Building Code Ordinance deletes the electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical permitting sections from the adopted International Building/Residential Code — these trades are regulated solely by the State of Idaho under IC 54-1001 and IC 54-2601. Obtain those permits from the Idaho Division of Building Safety (DOPL/DBS) at dbs.idaho.gov/permits or 1-800-955-3044. Source: Power County Building Code Ordinance, Title 8, Chapter 1, Sections 101.4.3 and 105.1.1; Power County 'Basic Requirements for Building Permits' page.

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