McCall building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for McCall, Idaho.
Last verified 2026-07-07 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 216 East Park Street, McCall, ID 83638
- Phone
- (208) 634-7142
- Office hours
- Mon–Fri, City Hall business hours (contact Permit Technician at (208) 634-7052 for scheduling)
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at McCall's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in McCall — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Idaho adopts a statewide baseline building code set under the Idaho Building Code Act (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 41) and IDAPA rules administered by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Effective January 1, 2021, the statewide baseline includes the 2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2020 Idaho Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC Parts I–III and IX with Idaho amendments), 2020 Idaho Energy Conservation Code (based on the 2018 IECC with Idaho amendments), 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and 2018 International Fire Code (IFC). The National Electrical Code is adopted separately by the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10), not bundled with the building code: Idaho enforces the 2023 NEC, effective July 1, 2024 (the state used the 2017 NEC with amendments before that and skipped the 2020 edition). Local jurisdictions must enforce the state baseline and may adopt amendments only where those amendments are at least as stringent as the state-adopted editions; local amendments may not be less restrictive. Enforcement is local — each city or county issues permits and performs inspections. Always confirm the current adopted edition and any local amendments with your specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC)
- 2020 IRC — Idaho Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC), Parts I, II, III, IX as amended, with Appendices A, B, C, D, and R (Tiny Homes)
- 2020 IECC — Idaho Energy Conservation Code (residential portion amended)
- 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
- 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC)
- 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code (based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code)
- 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- 2018 IRC Parts V (Mechanical) and VI (Fuel Gas)
- 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
- 2018 International Fire Code (IFC)
- 2009 ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
- 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
- 1991 Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
- McCall City Code Title 2 (Building Regulations), Chapter 1 — Applicable Codes, as amended by Ordinance 988 (eff. 4/27/2020)
Permit types & fees
New Residence in City Limits
Required for construction of a new single-family dwelling within McCall city limits. Covers structural construction, plan review, and coordination with Public Works for water/sewer connections.
Remodel, Addition, or Accessory Structure Permit
Required for remodels, additions, and accessory structures (including garages and most ADUs) in McCall. Accessory structures 200 square feet or less used for non-living purposes (tool sheds, playhouses) are exempt from a building permit; accessory structures of any size containing living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or sanitation space require a permit.
Roof Permit
Required for reroofing and roof-related work in McCall. Governed by the Resolution 24-11 fee schedule (roof permit fee based on 50% of project valuation) and Ordinance 988 roof-covering and snow-country amendments.
Fence Permit
Required for installation of fences in McCall. Fences greater than 6 feet in height are not allowed anywhere in the city; fencing within 20 feet of the front property line is limited to 4 feet.
Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of structures within the City of McCall. A final inspection by the Building Official is required, and the site must be returned to a safe and natural condition.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Permit
Required for installation of residential and commercial/non-residential solar photovoltaic systems in McCall. The City issues the building/structural permit; a separate electrical permit for the wiring/inverter portion is issued by the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses (IBOL/DOPL), a separate state agency.
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Installing a Level 1/Level 2 EV charging circuit in McCall is purely electrical work. The City of McCall's own Construction Information page states plainly that 'Permits and inspections for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fireplace installations (that are not wood burning or pellet inserts) are performed by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses' — so the electrical permit is issued directly by the State of Idaho DOPL, not the City. No City permit applies to a stand-alone EV charger circuit unless the installation also involves structural work. No EV-charger-specific line item exists on DOPL's published fee worksheet; a charger circuit added to an existing home is billed under DOPL's general 'Existing Residence' branch-circuit fee.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- No data reported
- Year to date (2026 YTD)
- No data reported
- Full year 2025
- 77units
77 buildings · $49.6M valuation
1 of 12 months reported; Census estimates include imputation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Idaho building activity
Tips & gotchas
- McCall's Building Department does NOT issue electrical, plumbing, or mechanical (HVAC) permits — those are issued and inspected by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), a state agency, not the City.
- Fireplace permits (2 inspections) are issued by the City for wood-burning and pellet inserts; other fireplace/fuel-burning appliance work generally falls under DOPL's mechanical jurisdiction.
- The Fireplace Permit (2 inspections) flat fee is $130 per Resolution 24-11.
- Plan Review Fee is 65% of the calculated Building Permit fee and is due immediately — plans do not enter the review queue until a complete application is submitted and the Plan Review Fee is paid.
- Design snow load in McCall is 150 psf ground/roof snow load minimum, reducible to 120 psf with an Idaho-licensed engineer's stamp and calculation — significantly higher than most Idaho valley cities due to elevation and snowfall.
- An ice barrier underlayment (self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen) is required on the entire roof of new construction and re-roofs, not just eaves.
- Roof/ceiling insulation must be at least R-49 with full-height uncompressed insulation over the wall top plate at the eaves (may require truss 'energy heels').
- The City stopped accepting 'New Residence in Impact Area' permit applications as of November 30, 2025.
- All new applications should go through the new GovWell permit portal (app.govwell.com/mccall-id); the legacy portal remains active only for permits already issued under it.
- A written Maintenance During Construction plan is required for essentially all building permits, governing site signage, hours of construction (6 AM-10 PM weekdays, 9 AM-6 PM Sunday), dust/mud control, and public right-of-way use.
- Water connection fees (ERUs, meter sizing, meter purchase) are assessed separately by the City Water Department and must be paid before permit issuance for any project needing a new or modified water connection.
- Reinspection fee is $85 per occurrence, city-wide, per Resolution 24-11.