Idaho permit review deadlines
How long does it take to get a building permit in Idaho?
Idaho's 2025 law is about the front door. A city or county has 10 business days to tell a home builder whether a permit application is complete, and 20 business days for a commercial project.
The law does not set a deadline to approve the permit, and it has no penalty. It makes local governments say what is missing, in writing, on a schedule.
See the deadlines ↓Current Idaho state-level guidelines
The short answer
Idaho Code 39-4117 gives a local government 10 business days to review a residential building permit application for completeness and 20 business days for a commercial one. It must tell the applicant in writing what is missing. The same windows apply to revised submissions. The law does not set a deadline for approving the permit and does not penalize a late review. A finding that an application is complete is not an approval. It moves the application into plan review.
By project type
Idaho permit review deadlines.
Idaho's deadlines cover the completeness check only.
| Project type | Deadline | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Residential application, completeness check | 10 business days | Written notice of anything missing. Applies to first and revised submissions. |
| Commercial application, completeness check | 20 business days | Same requirement. |
| Plan review and approval | No state deadline | Set by each city or county. |
The applicant and the local government can agree in writing to extend the timelines. The local government must first explain in writing why it needs more time.
Step by step
How Idaho's review clock works.
Each one that requires building permits must post a detailed description of its permit process.
The law asks applicants to make a good-faith effort to submit a complete application.
The local government issues a written determination at the end of that period.
State law does not set how long plan review can take.
Faster permit approvals start with more efficient plan review.
See how your team can spend less time chasing comments, waiting on other disciplines, and tracking down the status of a review, without changing your permitting system or CDP.
City by city
How Idaho cities handle review times.
With no state deadline for plan review, the published numbers in Idaho come from cities.
Boise
Boise posts a target number of business days for a first plan review, such as 10 days for a basic house and 30 to 45 for new commercial buildings. It reports actual averages next to the targets every quarter.
Read the source →City details come from each city's public pages as of November 12, 2026. Cities change their targets and processes often, so check the linked source for the current version.
Common questions
Idaho building permit deadlines, answered.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Idaho?
State law only sets the completeness check: 10 business days for residential and 20 for commercial. How long plan review takes after that depends on the city or county.
What happens if an Idaho city misses the completeness deadline?
The law states no penalty. It does not refund fees or approve the application.
Does a complete application mean the permit is approved?
No. The statute says a completeness determination is not an approval. It lets the application move into formal plan review.
How do Idaho building departments keep up with these deadlines?
Three habits show up in the departments that hit the clock. They check applications for missing items in the first few days. They let building, fire, planning, and engineering review the same plans at the same time. And they track the days left on every review, so a manager can step in before a deadline passes.
Read it for yourself
Sources.
Keep exploring
Deadlines in other states.
If you review plans in Idaho
Working under Idaho's review clock? See how e-PlanSoft can help you hit it consistently.
Meeting a review deadline starts with a good intake process, disciplines that work together, and a clear view of every review in progress.
Book a demoSee how collaborative review works →This page summarizes public laws, rules, and city review practices in Idaho as of November 12, 2026. Deadlines vary by location and permit type. These summaries are for reference, not legal advice. Check the linked sources and local requirements for the rules that apply to your project.