Building Permit FAQs

The date we will go live with the electronic applications on December 1st, 2026.

You can upload documents and plans in a variety of common file formats, including:

• PDF files (.pdf) – Highly recommended for construction plans, specifications, and reports.
• Image files (such as .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .tiff)
• Microsoft Office files (Word documents like .doc, .docx, and Excel spreadsheets like .xls, .xlsx)
• OpenOffice files (such as .odt, .ods)

All of the application requirements remain the same. Same supporting documents are required, same owner signature, same design criteria.

To accept your application, we must have your: site plan, engineering, building plans and owner signature.

A building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, the installation of which is regulated by code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the Building Official and obtain the required permit.  See International Residential Code § R105.1

Valley County Building Department serves all of unincorporated Valley County except for the City Impact Areas of McCall, Donnelly, and Cascade. The simplest way to tell if you are in one of the impact areas is to look at your building site's parcel number. If your parcel number begins with RPM, RPD, or RPC you should contact your City for a building permit. If your parcel number starts with RP then building permits are in the jurisdiction of Valley County.

Plans must be at least 18x24" and not larger than 24x36"

No. For the present, please provide printed plans, engineering calcs, and application.

We are hoping to go digital soon. Please watch our website for updates in the news section.

It takes approximately 2-8 weeks to process your building permit application, depending on how busy we are.  Usually, from May-October we are very busy.   In order to start the approval process, we need to have the completed application (signed by owner), two sets of plans (size 18 x 24" or 24 x 36"), two sets of structural engineering calculations (on 8-1/2 x 11" paper), and two site plans.  

Your plans and engineering calculations should show the correct design criteria for Valley as follows:

Roof Snow Load: determined by address, please contact the Valley County Building Department by phone or email.

Wind: 115 mph, Category C

Seismic: Design Category D

Frost Depth: 24"

Climate Zone: 6

Currently, our governing code is 2018 IECC, 2018 IBC, 2018 IRC

To find the Roof Snow Load for your building site, please contact the Building Department at (208) 382-7114 or email us at building@valleycountyid.gov

We only permit wood stove inserts.   If you have a free-standing wood or pellet stove, or a gas fireplace, you will want to contact the State of Idaho Division of Occupation and Professional Licenses for a permit.  We only permit wood stove inserts and zero clearance wood or pellet stove inserts.  Please complete our building permit application and note the number of wood stove inserts you are permitting in box 13 of the application.  Support your application with the installation manual.  The fee is $65 per wood stove insert.

Please bring your application in person, send by mail, or email it to building@valleycountyid.gov

We can usually issue this permit over the counter or by email on the same day we process the application.  

We only permit wood stove inserts.   If you have a free-standing wood or pellet stove, or a gas fireplace, you will want to contact the State of Idaho Division of Occupation and Professional Licenses for a permit.  We only permit wood stove inserts and zero clearance wood or pellet stove inserts.  Please complete our building permit application and note the number of wood stove inserts you are permitting in box 13 of the application.  Support your application with the installation manual.  The fee is $65 per wood stove insert.

Please bring your application in person, send by mail, or email it to building@valleycountyid.gov

We can usually issue this permit over the counter or by email on the same day we process the application.  

There are two inspections required for Wood Stove Insert Permits.  Please coordinate with the contractor to schedule the rough-in and final inspections for your wood stove insert the same day as the rough-in and final for the house on new construction.  Please call (208) 382-7114 to schedule your rough-in inspection and your final inspection, at least 24 hours in advance.  Please have the Wood Stove Insert Installer's Checklist completed and on-site for your inspection.  

A yurt requires a permit similar to a house.  Both the yurt and its platform must be engineered to meet Valley County's ordinance requirements for roof snow load, wind, seismic and frost depth.  

Yes.  Here is a printable information sheet.  Yurt Requirements pdf

No, geotechnical reports are not required to support your building permit application for residential construction.  However, there are three subdivisions for which there are recommendations or requirements: Boulder Creek Meadows, Fir Grove, and Crane Shores.  

Yes.  Any structure over 3 feet tall requires a permit in Valley County.  Please contact Planning and Zoning Department to pay your placement fee for a storage shed, conex, or other smaller utility building.  Shops, Garages, Tiny Homes will require a full building permit.  See instructions.

Please contact Planning and Zoning department to permit your storage shed, conex or other utility building or for a placement fee.  (208) 382-7115

This would be permitted as a garage.  Please see our Application Instructions for a full list of requirements.  

Please see the attached checklist for your manufactured home building permit application.  Use this link for to print your building permit application form.

The set fee for a single wide is $150 + $50 for each additional section.  If a concrete foundation is used, concrete fee is per the square foot of foundation.  A 35% plan review fee is 35% of the concrete fee.

Please contact the State of Idaho DOPL for information on rehabilitation requirements for mobile homes built before 1976.

Snow roofs are only required if the manufactured home does not meet the roof snow load for the address where you are placing the manufactured home.  Snow roofs require a separate permit and the manufactured home cannot be occupied until both the snow roof and manufactured home have passed their final inspections.

To find the roof snow load for your building site, please call the Valley County Building Department at (208) 382-7114 or email building@valleycountyid.gov

Approach permits are required for new driveways with approaches from public roads in Valley County.  Please contact the Valley County Road Department at (208) 382-7195

Even if your driveway is already existing, you will still need something in writing from the Valley County Road Department to support your building permit application. Please print out your approval and bring it in with you when you come to pick up your building permit.

If your new driveway is 150 feet or longer, please contact your local fire department for a letter of approval to submit with your building permit application.

If your job site address is not in a fire district, no letter is required.  Please be sure your driveway meets the requirements of the International Fire Code.  

Please complete the Change to Building Plans form. Owner signature required.

Instructions: Any change from the original approved plan must be clouded. Send ONLY pages that have changes (If you send us a whole new set of plans, you will be charged a FULL plan review fee). Attach a stamped letter from the engineer saying that the changes do not affect the calcs OR attach the new calcs.
Size: If you bring in printed change pages, please be sure that they are the same size as the original plans.

Please turn in a physical copy of your change form, plans, and engineering. We cannot accept changes to plans via email.

Change of Plans Form (Click Here)

Once you turn in your change application for approval, the Building Dept will contact you to supply any other information needed. We may require things like: Accessory Use Authorization, HOA approval, Site Plan. It depends on the changes.