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

Required for new single-family residences, additions, alterations, repairs, manufactured/modular homes, moved structures, tiny homes, and most other structures on land in unincorporated Valley County (outside Cascade, Donnelly, McCall, and McCall's Area of Impact). Valley County Building Department reviews plans and performs all inspections directly for this territory. Applications are submitted by mail or drop-off at the Cascade office — not currently accepted by email.

Reviewed 2026-07-13 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Completed Building Permit Application (numbered fields 1-17), signed by the property owner even if a contractor or authorized agent prepares it — no permit issued without owner signature (since November 7, 2022)
  • All construction plans stamped by an Idaho-licensed engineer or architect, drawn to scale on 18x24" or 24x36" sheets only, 2 copies
  • Structural engineering calculations with Idaho stamp, 2 copies — required on all plans since July 15, 2019
  • REScheck energy compliance report (only required if plans do not reference the 2018 IECC/IRC climate zone 6 table directly)
  • Fully dimensioned site plan, 2 copies, showing existing/proposed structures, well and septic locations, driveway alignment/grade/drainage, property lines, easements, and waterways
  • Site plan showing outdoor lighting locations, type, and height per Ordinance #05-02
  • Completed Road Department driveway permit for any new driveway off a public road (not required for private-road access)
  • Evidence of septic/sanitary sewer approval (Central District Health or Northlake Recreational Sewer & Water District) for any habitable structure per Ordinance #6-1-9 — permit processing may begin before the septic permit is issued, but the building permit will not be issued until septic approval is received
  • HOA/Architectural Review Committee approval, 1 copy, only if the property is in an active subdivision with a governing HOA/ARC
  • FAA Form 7460-1 approval if the site is not exempt per the FAA's online prescreen tool
  • Contractor registration number required before construction begins if a contractor performs the work Contractor
  • Development Impact Fee collected at application if the property falls within the Cascade, Donnelly, or McCall Rural Fire Protection District

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation $1 to $500Valley County Building Permit Application Information and Instructions, Fees and Valuations table (Rev. 5/20/2026)
$24.00
Building Permit Fee — valuation $501 to $2,000
$24.00 for the first $500, plus $3.00 per each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $40,000
$69.00 for the first $2,000, plus $11.00 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $40,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $40,001 to $100,000
$487.00 for the first $40,000, plus $9.00 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000
$1,027.00 for the first $100,000, plus $7.00 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000
$3,827.00 for the first $500,000, plus $5.00 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001 to $5,000,000
$6,327.00 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3.00 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $5,000,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $5,000,001 and up
$18,327.00 for the first $5,000,000, plus $1.00 per each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Plan Review FeeAdded to all permits; worked example in the county's instructions: $166,320 valuation = $1,496.00 permit fee + 35% plan review ($523.60) = $2,019.60 total
In-house review: 35% of the building permit fee. Outside consultant review: greater of 65% of the building permit fee or the actual cost billed by the outside consultant.
Development Impact Fee — Cascade Rural Fire Protection District (new residential, per unit)Applies only if the parcel is within the Cascade Fire District; new non-residential is $0.75/sq ft. Collected by the County with the building permit fee, remitted to the district. Contact: Pam DeChambeau, pam@cascaderuralfire.com, 208-382-3200
$1,876.00 per unit
Development Impact Fee — Donnelly Rural Fire Protection District (new residential, per unit)Applies only if the parcel is within the Donnelly Fire District; new non-residential is $0.52/sq ft. Contact: Juan Bonilla, juan.bonilla@donnellyfire.net, 208-325-8619
$1,290.00 per unit
Development Impact Fee — McCall Rural Fire Protection District (new residential, per unit)Applies only if the parcel is within the McCall Fire District; new non-residential is $0.47/sq ft. Contact: Amanda Keaveny, admin@mcallfire.com, 208-634-7070
$1,165.00 per unit
Solar Panel on Existing Building (includes plan review and inspection)
$200.00
Wood-Stove Insert Permit (Mechanical)Sole mechanical-trade permit issued directly by Valley County rather than DOPL
$65.00
Privy
$65.00
Electronic Application Submittal Fee
$50.00 plus copy/print fees
Administrative Fee
$50.00
Reinspection Fee (multiple visits), Miscellaneous Fee, Additional Plan Review for Changes, Extension Fee, Hours Outside Normal Business Time
$50.00 each (minimum 2 hours for after-hours work)
Engineer Fees (outside consultant, as billed by Valley County Engineer)
105% of cost

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Valley County building department
~0–20 business days

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

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Excavation / Soils

    Valley County requires a soil/site inspection before placing forms for footings; required for all projects

  2. 2

    Footing / Hole / Columns / Pads

    After forms are set and reinforcing is tied in place, before placing concrete; property lines must be clearly marked. Pole structures require hole inspections; masonry inspections also required if applicable.

  3. 3

    Foundation / Wall

    After forms and reinforcing materials are in place but before placing concrete

  4. 4

    Roof and Wall Sheathing

    Before house wrap or siding is placed; wall and roof nailing pattern is checked

  5. 5

    Frame

    After roof/wall sheathing, all framing, fire blocking, bracing, draft stops, and resistive weather barrier are in place on exterior walls (no siding yet), and all electrical/plumbing/heating/gas pipes, chimneys, and vents are complete. Required before insulation and after state inspectors have signed off electrical/plumbing/HVAC rough-ins. Truss manufacturer specifications must be provided if engineered trusses are used.

  6. 6

    Wood-Stove Insert (if applicable)

    Required only for wood-stove insert installations, permitted and inspected directly by Valley County

  7. 7

    Insulation

    Before the interior is covered; insulation installer must certify type, manufacturer, and R-value of insulation installed in each thermal envelope element per 2018 IECC Sec. N1101.16

  8. 8

    Final

    After all code-related work is complete and before occupancy. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC final inspections (performed by state DOPL inspectors) must be complete and approved before the Building Department will conduct its final. Propane tank installations require sign-off from the local fire department (Cascade, Donnelly, or McCall Fire, depending on district) before final/certificate of occupancy. Carpet, linoleum, and paint need not be complete before this inspection.

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

Tips

  • Applications are not currently accepted by email — mail to PO Box 1350, Cascade, ID 83611 or drop off at 700 S. Main Street, Cascade. If scanning for another purpose, submit a clean scan, not a photo — photos are not accepted for any document requiring legibility review.
  • Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/mechanical permits are issued and inspected by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), not Valley County. Obtain them at dopl.idaho.gov or 208-334-3233. The sole exception is wood-stove inserts, which Valley County itself permits and inspects for $65.
  • Snow load varies by location: 120 psf for most of unincorporated Valley County, but 150 psf for the West Mountain area (Blackhawk south through and including Smith Ferry) and McCall-area sites. Confirm the exact site load with the Building Department before engineering begins.
  • Valuation for the permit fee is based on the completed structure's value (not construction cost) using the county's per-square-foot Class 5-8 table (e.g., Class 5 new residential = $60.00/sq ft, attached garage = $26.40/sq ft, detached garage = $32.40/sq ft, finished basement = $30.00/sq ft, open deck = $7.68/sq ft) — land value is excluded.
  • Development Impact Fees are collected only if the parcel falls within the Cascade, Donnelly, or McCall Rural Fire Protection District boundaries — not all unincorporated county land is inside one of these districts. Nonpayment delays permit issuance.
  • Give at least 24 hours' notice for all inspection requests, made by phone to the office (not left in the field) — have the permit number, owner's name as shown on the application, and physical address ready.
  • A re-inspection fee of $50.00 is charged starting with the 3rd visit for the same inspection type.
  • FAA Form 7460-1 review (if required by the FAA's online prescreen tool) can take up to 6 months — check at least 45 days before submitting the building permit application.
  • Permits become null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or if suspended/abandoned for 365 days after commencing.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Valley County requires a residential building permit (new construction / addition / alteration) for: Completed Building Permit Application (numbered fields 1-17), signed by the property owner even if a contractor or authorized agent prepares it — no permit issued without owner signature (since November 7, 2022); All construction plans stamped by an Idaho-licensed engineer or architect, drawn to scale on 18x24" or 24x36" sheets only, 2 copies; Structural engineering calculations with Idaho stamp, 2 copies — required on all plans since July 15, 2019; REScheck energy compliance report (only required if plans do not reference the 2018 IECC/IRC climate zone 6 table directly); Fully dimensioned site plan, 2 copies, showing existing/proposed structures, well and septic locations, driveway alignment/grade/drainage, property lines, easements, and waterways; Site plan showing outdoor lighting locations, type, and height per Ordinance #05-02; Completed Road Department driveway permit for any new driveway off a public road (not required for private-road access); Evidence of septic/sanitary sewer approval (Central District Health or Northlake Recreational Sewer & Water District) for any habitable structure per Ordinance #6-1-9 — permit processing may begin before the septic permit is issued, but the building permit will not be issued until septic approval is received; HOA/Architectural Review Committee approval, 1 copy, only if the property is in an active subdivision with a governing HOA/ARC; FAA Form 7460-1 approval if the site is not exempt per the FAA's online prescreen tool; Contractor registration number required before construction begins if a contractor performs the work; Development Impact Fee collected at application if the property falls within the Cascade, Donnelly, or McCall Rural Fire Protection District. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Valley County Building Department at 208-382-7114 before starting work.

The fee is based on the completed structure's valuation, calculated from the county's Class 5-8 per-square-foot table (e.g., Class 5 new residential = $60.00/sq ft), then applied against a tiered valuation-to-fee schedule (e.g., $24.00 for the first $500 of valuation, scaling up through $18,327.00 for the first $5,000,000 plus $1.00 per additional $1,000 above that). A plan review fee (35% in-house or up to 65% for outside consultant review) is added on top. Source: Valley County Building Permit Application Information and Instructions (Rev. 5/20/2026), Fees and Valuations table, p.8.

Please allow approximately up to 20 working days for a building permit application to be processed, per Valley County's own published Building Permit Application Information and Instructions. Source: co.valley.id.us, Building Permit Application Information and Instructions (Rev. 5/20/2026), p.3.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Site Plan Drawing (2 copies); Construction Plan Drawings (2 copies, 18x24" or 24x36" only); Engineering Calculations with Idaho Stamp (2 copies); CDHD or Northlake Septic Permit (1 copy). Depending on your project, Unincorporated Valley County may also ask for: REScheck Energy Compliance Report; HOA / Architectural Review Committee Approval (1 copy); Road Department Driveway Permit; FAA Form 7460-1 Approval. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Valley County requires 8 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction / addition / alteration), in order: Excavation / Soils, Footing / Hole / Columns / Pads, Foundation / Wall, Roof and Wall Sheathing, Frame, Wood-Stove Insert (if applicable), Insulation, Final. Schedule each through Valley County Building Department (208-382-7114).

Apply through Valley County Building Department at 700 S. Main Street, PO Box 1350, Cascade, ID 83611. Phone: 208-382-7114, email: building@valleycountyid.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (inspectors available for public assistance 8:00–10:00 AM; remainder of day governed by daily inspection schedule; after-hours/weekend calls go to voicemail). Official information: https://www.co.valley.id.us/departments/Building.

No. Valley County's Building Department instructions state explicitly: 'Valley County's jurisdiction for building matters does not include the cities of Cascade, Donnelly, McCall, or the City of McCall's Area of Impact.' Those cities administer their own permits (Donnelly and Cascade contract inspection services back to the County, but issue under their own jurisdiction). Valley County directly issues and inspects only for unincorporated county land. Source: Valley County Building Permit Application Information and Instructions (Rev. 5/20/2026), p.1.

No. Those trades require separate permits from the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), whether performed by a licensed contractor or the homeowner — obtained online at dopl.idaho.gov or by calling 208-334-3233. Fees are separate from the county's building permit and plan review fees, and the county does not provide these applications. The sole exception is wood-stove inserts, which Valley County itself permits and inspects for a $65 fee. Source: Valley County Building Permit Application Information and Instructions (Rev. 5/20/2026), p.4.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-13.

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

Other permits in Unincorporated Valley County

Manufactured Home PermitDemolition / Removal PermitAgricultural Building PermitSolar Panel Permit (Panels on Existing Building)Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station / EVSE Permit

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