Skip to main content
PermitBase

Certificate of Appropriateness (Historic Preservation) in Wallace, Idaho

Required before any exterior work — including new construction, demolition, reconstruction/remodeling/repair, exterior alteration, signage, or even tree removal — on any building, structure, or site feature within the Wallace Historic District, which encompasses the entire city since Wallace is fully listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Administered by the combined Wallace Planning & Zoning / Historic Preservation Commission under Wallace City Code Title XV, Chapter 155.

Verified 2026-07-08 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Required for: new construction, demolition, reconstruction/remodeling/repair, exterior building alteration, signage, and other exterior site work (e.g., tree removal) within the Historic District — i.e., city-wide
  • Application must include a clear statement of proposed work (colors, materials, landscaping, signs), plans/elevations/specifications sufficient to describe size, height, and completed appearance, and a site plan showing existing buildings/structures and the Zoning District — per Wallace City Code § 155.078(B)
  • Demolition applications must additionally include justification/necessity for the demolition and proposed plans for the site
  • The Commission must hold a hearing within 45 days of receipt of a complete application; notice must be published in the newspaper at least five working days prior to the hearing
  • Regular hearings are held the first Wednesday of each month; applications are due by the Thursday two weeks prior to the scheduled hearing
  • Simple/minor projects meeting the Historic Preservation Commission's pre-approved criteria may receive an immediate Certificate of Appropriateness from the City Clerk or P&Z Chairman without waiting for a full hearing
  • A building permit application is submitted to the (contracted) Building Official only after Certificate of Appropriateness approval; the city's own guidance states the subsequent building permit issuance may take up to a week or longer

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 2 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Filing fee
Not published — contact the department

Review timeline

Plan reviewWallace’s published plan-review target
1–45 business days

How long did your Certificate of Appropriateness (Historic Preservation) permit actually take in Wallace?

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

Inspection process

    Tips

    • Because Wallace is the only city in the United States entirely listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Certificate of Appropriateness requirement applies essentially city-wide, not just to a small downtown overlay as in most other historic-district ordinances.
    • Ask the City Clerk whether your project qualifies for the Historic Preservation Commission's 'pre-approved' items list — qualifying minor projects can receive an immediate Certificate of Appropriateness without waiting for the monthly hearing.
    • Submit applications by the Thursday two weeks before the first-Wednesday-of-the-month hearing date to make that month's agenda.
    • A Certificate of Appropriateness is a prerequisite to, and separate from, the building permit itself — budget both review cycles into your project timeline.
    • No fee is stated on the Certificate of Appropriateness application form itself; confirm with City Hall whether an application fee applies.

    Frequently asked questions

    Wallace requires a certificate of appropriateness (historic preservation) permit for: Required for: new construction, demolition, reconstruction/remodeling/repair, exterior building alteration, signage, and other exterior site work (e.g., tree removal) within the Historic District — i.e., city-wide; Application must include a clear statement of proposed work (colors, materials, landscaping, signs), plans/elevations/specifications sufficient to describe size, height, and completed appearance, and a site plan showing existing buildings/structures and the Zoning District — per Wallace City Code § 155.078(B); Demolition applications must additionally include justification/necessity for the demolition and proposed plans for the site; The Commission must hold a hearing within 45 days of receipt of a complete application; notice must be published in the newspaper at least five working days prior to the hearing; Regular hearings are held the first Wednesday of each month; applications are due by the Thursday two weeks prior to the scheduled hearing; Simple/minor projects meeting the Historic Preservation Commission's pre-approved criteria may receive an immediate Certificate of Appropriateness from the City Clerk or P&Z Chairman without waiting for a full hearing; A building permit application is submitted to the (contracted) Building Official only after Certificate of Appropriateness approval; the city's own guidance states the subsequent building permit issuance may take up to a week or longer. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Wallace — Planning & Zoning / Building Department (building official services contracted to the City of Kellogg) at (208) 752-1147 before starting work.

    By ordinance, the Commission must hold a hearing within 45 days of receiving a complete application. Regular hearings occur the first Wednesday of each month; simple, pre-approved projects can receive immediate approval from the City Clerk or P&Z Chairman without waiting for a hearing.

    You'll need: Certificate of Appropriateness Application; Project description and supporting materials. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Wallace — Planning & Zoning / Building Department (building official services contracted to the City of Kellogg) at 703 Cedar Street, Wallace, ID 83873. Phone: (208) 752-1147, email: kristina.larson@wallace.id.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed holidays). Official information: https://wallace.id.gov/departments/.

    Wallace, Idaho has adopted: International Building Code (IBC), 2018 Edition, as adopted by the State of Idaho / State Building Code Board, together with any State Building Code Board amendments — Wallace City Code § 153.001(A)(1); State Residential Code (based on the International Residential Code), 2020 Edition, as adopted by the State of Idaho / State Building Code Board — Wallace City Code § 153.001(A)(2); State Energy Conservation Code (based on the International Energy Conservation Code), 2020 Edition, as adopted by the State of Idaho / State Building Code Board — Wallace City Code § 153.001(A)(3); State Existing Building Code (based on the International Existing Building Code), 2018 Edition, as adopted by the State of Idaho / State Building Code Board — Wallace City Code § 153.001(A)(4); State Manufactured Home Installation Standard, as developed by the Idaho Division of Building Safety — Wallace City Code § 153.001(A)(5); American National Standard ICC/ANSI A117.1 (accessibility) — Wallace City Code § 153.001(A)(6); Uniform Code for Building Conservation (International Conference of Building Officials, latest edition), adopted specifically to regulate building and construction within the city's historical districts — Wallace City Code § 153.004. Local amendments apply — see the Wallace overview page for the full list.

    Yes. Because the entire City of Wallace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, any exterior work — including alterations, new construction, demolition, and even tree removal near the property boundary — requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Planning & Zoning/Historic Preservation Commission before a building permit can be issued.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-08.

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

    Other permits in Wallace

    Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration)Solar PV Installation (Building Permit + Certificate of Appropriateness)Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station / EVSE Permit (Certificate of Appropriateness + State Electrical Permit)

    Compare certificate of appropriateness (historic preservation) fees across Idaho →

    Look up this fee in a different city →

    Embed this data card →

    Now live

    Build your Wallace project checklist

    Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Wallace — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

    Get started →