Commercial Tenant Improvement (TI) / Remodel / Change of Occupancy Permit in Twin Falls, Idaho

Twin Falls requires a commercial tenant improvement (ti) / remodel / change of occupancy permit for: A permit is required for: building/moving/removing walls; installing more than 2 sheets of sheetrock; revised or new grid ceiling systems; reconfigured spaces; change of use of space; change of occupancy of space; adding or removing doors and/or windows, per the City's Commercial Development Guide; Tenant Improvement (TI) permits cover changes to the interior space of an existing nonresidential structure only; they do not include creating new floor area or building additions; TI scope may include structural work and/or exterior changes, but if the scope of exterior changes is extensive, additional reviews, fees, and/or permits may be required; Change of Occupancy is filed as a Tenant Improvement permit subtype; applicant must first confirm zoning allows the proposed use, then a licensed architect and/or engineer must prepare a Code Analysis (code year/type, construction type, occupancy classification & separation, actual/allowed area/height/stories, occupant load, exits required/provided, required fire resistance of exterior walls, required opening protection, fire-resistive construction requirements, special inspections required), a Site Plan (parking, landscaping, drainage retention, property lines, structures, accessible routes, accessibility ramp location), and a Floor Plan (dimensioned plan of the entire building including the accessible restroom and proposed use of each space); Required submittal items due at time of application: Completed & Signed Application, Construction Plan Sheets (Sheet Prefix G/Contact-Cover-General Notes, D/Demolition as needed, A/Architectural, LS/Life Safety, E/Electrical, M/Mechanical, P/Plumbing, S/Structural; C/Civil only if requesting a new water or sewer connection), Calculations, and Supplemental Information; FP/Fire Protection is a preferred standalone sheet; Signed Affidavit of Legal Interest required if the property owner is not the applicant; Development Agreement required for any project needing public infrastructure; Sewer Capacity Fee Worksheet required; Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm plans must be submitted to the State of Idaho for review (not the City of Twin Falls); Applications for any proposed work are deemed abandoned after 180 days from the date of filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued; a written extension of up to 90 additional days may be granted upon a showing of justifiable cause, per IBC Section 105.3. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Twin Falls Building Safety Department at (208) 735-7238 before starting work.

In Twin Falls, the published Building Permit Fee — valuation $1 to $500 is: $22.00. Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee — valuation $501 to $2,000 — $22.00 for the first $500, plus $2.75 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $25,000 — $63.00 for the first $2,000, plus $12.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $25,001 to $50,000 — $352.00 for the first $25,000, plus $9.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $50,001 to $100,000 — $580.00 for the first $50,000, plus $6.25 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000 — $895.00 for the first $100,000, plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000 — $2,855.00 for the first $500,000, plus $4.25 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001 and up — $4,955.00 for the first $1,000,000, plus $2.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Commercial Plan Review Fee — 65% of the building permit fee; Additional Plan Review Fee — $50.00; Re-inspection Fee — $50.00; Temporary Certificate of Occupancy application (non-single-family & duplex permits) — $1,200.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Yes. Tenant Improvements are separately listed at 5 weeks to first review in the City of Twin Falls' published Commercial plan review timelines table, the same figure shown for new complete buildings, additions, and multi-family projects, subject to current workload and complexity. Source: City of Twin Falls Building Applications & Forms page.

You'll need: Commercial Remodel, TI, Change of Occupancy Building Permit Application; Construction Plan Sheets; Calculations; Supplemental Information. Depending on your project, Twin Falls may also ask for: Code Analysis, Site Plan, and Floor Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Twin Falls requires 6 inspection(s) for a commercial tenant improvement (ti) / remodel / change of occupancy permit, in order: Rough-In (Mechanical / Electrical / Plumbing, as scoped), Framing / Structural, Fire (Alarm / Sprinkler / Kitchen Hood, if affected by the TI scope), Engineering (only if new water/sewer connection or exterior site work is part of the TI scope), Planning & Zoning (Landscaping / Trash Enclosures, if affected), Final (Building) / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Twin Falls Building Safety Department ((208) 735-7238).

Apply through City of Twin Falls Building Safety Department at 203 Main Avenue East, 2nd Floor of City Hall, Twin Falls, ID 83301 (P.O. Box 1907, Twin Falls, ID 83303-1907). Phone: (208) 735-7238, email: bsdpermits@tfid.org. Office hours: Building Safety Department, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 203 Main Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID 83301. Dedicated inspection request lines: Building Inspection (208) 735-7333, Plumbing Inspection (208) 735-7299, Mechanical Inspection (208) 735-7289, Electrical Inspection (208) 735-7235.. Official information: https://www.tfid.org/141/Building-Safety-Department.

Twin Falls, Idaho has adopted: Idaho Building Code Act (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 41) makes building code standards a matter of statewide concern; local governments that issue building permits and perform code enforcement must adopt the International Building Code and Idaho Residential Code (Parts I-III and IX) and the Idaho Energy Conservation Code as amended by the Idaho Building Code Board through negotiated rulemaking, and may not adopt subsequent IRC/IECC residential provisions not yet adopted by the Board. Source: Idaho Legislature, Idaho Code Title 39 Chapter 41 (39-4116, Local Government Adoption and Enforcement of Building Codes), https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title39/t39ch41/; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), including accessibility appendices, adopted and incorporated by reference statewide with Idaho amendments; locally administered and enforced by the City of Twin Falls Building Safety Department for commercial construction within city limits. Source: City of Twin Falls Design Criteria: Commercial page and Idaho Building Code Act (Title 39 Ch. 41); 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), Parts I-VI and IX, Appendices A, B and G, with Idaho State amendments, adopted and locally administered by the City of Twin Falls for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses within city limits. Source: City of Twin Falls Design Criteria: Residential page; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), with Idaho State amendments, locally administered by the City of Twin Falls for residential construction. Source: City of Twin Falls Design Criteria: Residential page; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), per Idaho Rules and Amendments, locally administered and inspected by the City of Twin Falls Building Safety Department (dedicated Electrical Inspection line). Source: City of Twin Falls Design Criteria: Residential page and Inspections page; 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code, locally administered and inspected by the City of Twin Falls Building Safety Department (dedicated Plumbing Inspection line). Source: City of Twin Falls Design Criteria: Residential page; City of Twin Falls has assumed local jurisdiction for issuing and inspecting building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits within city limits (dedicated Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical inspection phone lines are all City of Twin Falls Building Safety Department lines). The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) separately registers/licenses electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors statewide (a distinct function from the City's permit issuance and inspection authority); DOPL's own Permits and Inspections program applies only in jurisdictions that have NOT assumed local authority, and DOPL confirms permit/inspection jurisdiction 'varies widely' by city/county assumption of authority. Source: DOPL Permits and Inspections page, https://dopl.idaho.gov/plb/plb-permits-and-inspections/, cross-checked against City of Twin Falls Inspections page listing City-run Building/Plumbing/Mechanical/Electrical inspection lines. Local amendments apply — see the Twin Falls overview page for the full list.

No. A Tenant Improvement permit covers changes to the interior space of an existing nonresidential structure and explicitly does not include creating new floor area or building additions. Projects adding floor area must use the Addition subtype of the New Commercial Building Permit Application instead. Source: City of Twin Falls Commercial Development Guide, Application Types — Remodel section.