Building permits for unincorporated Bingham County, and for the cities of Firth, Basalt and Aberdeen, are issued by Bingham County Planning and Development at 490 N Maple, Suite A, in Blackfoot. The county had 51,153 people in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate, and the county describes itself as one of the biggest producers of potatoes in the world.
This guide covers the department and how to reach it, the local conditions that shape a filing here, what permits cost and who may pull them, and how inspections are booked. Rules that apply everywhere in Idaho are summarized in each section, with a link to the full statewide explanation.
This guide covers unincorporated Bingham County and the cities of Firth, Basalt and Aberdeen, where the county issues the building permit and the city requires its own zoning permit. Blackfoot and Shelley issue their own building permits.
On rural parcels, settle septic and access before applying. The county’s residential checklist asks for a septic permit or sewer will-serve letter, a recorded easement where the property is reached by a private road or easement, and a site plan showing the driveway approach. Approaches onto county roads are approved by Bingham County Road & Bridge (208-782-3173) and approaches onto state highways by the Idaho Transportation Department (208-782-3033).
What requires a building permit in Bingham County?
Where a city or county enforces building codes, a permit is required under its ordinance before construction, alteration or repair (Idaho Code 39-4111).
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions, remodels and tenant improvements
- Structural and load-bearing work, foundations, decks, porches, stairs, garages and accessory buildings
- Electrical service changes, panel work, generators, solar, EV chargers and most wiring
- Plumbing, water heaters, sewer and water connections, gas piping, backflow and fixture relocations
- HVAC installation and replacement, ductwork, ventilation, combustion air and fuel-gas appliances
- Roofing, siding, windows, signs, pools, demolition, grading, erosion control and right-of-way work where regulated
Typically exempt
- Painting, wallpaper, flooring, trim, cabinets and countertops
- Minor repairs replacing existing materials in kind with no structural or system change
- Small detached accessory structures below the local threshold, without utilities, where zoning allows
- Portable equipment or temporary work the adopted code specifically exempts
Which work is exempt is set by the adopted codes (IBC and IRC Section 105.2) and the local ordinance, and an exemption from a building permit is not an exemption from zoning, setbacks, floodplain rules, utility approval or a fire authority review. Confirm scope with the department before work starts rather than after.
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Get a free quote →Which code edition applies
Bingham County enforces the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential Code with the state’s amendments and its own (Bingham County Code Title 8, Chapter 1), together with the 2018 energy, existing building, mechanical and fuel gas codes. The county replaces the building code’s ground snow load section with its own formula.
Idaho’s building codes are set statewide and enforced by the cities and counties that run a building program: the 2018 International Building Code and the Idaho Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC), the 2018 Idaho Energy Conservation Code, the 2023 National Electrical Code, and a state plumbing code based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code rather than the International Plumbing Code. Idaho’s adopted codes
Who handles permitting in Bingham County?
Bingham County Planning and Development issues building permits in unincorporated Bingham County and in Firth, Basalt and Aberdeen, where the city also requires a zoning permit for any construction. Blackfoot (208-785-8600) and Shelley (208-357-3390) issue their own. Around each city the county adopts an area of city impact by ordinance (County Code Title 9), and since 2024 the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning and subdivision ordinances apply in it (Idaho Code 67-6526).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Bingham County Planning and Development (Building & Construction) |
| Offices | 490 N Maple, Suite A, Blackfoot, Idaho 83221 |
| Phone | 208-782-3177 |
| Counter hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm; closed state and federal holidays |
| Jurisdiction | Unincorporated Bingham County, plus Firth, Basalt and Aberdeen (with a city zoning permit) |
| Cities inside | Blackfoot and Shelley issue their own building permits |
| Rural gates | Septic permit (Southeastern Idaho Public Health, 208-785-2160) or sewer will-serve letter; recorded easement where access is by private road or easement |
| Code | 2018 IBC and IRC with state and county amendments; 2018 IECC, IEBC, IMC and IFGC; 2023 NEC |
| Trade permits | Mechanical (HVAC) from the county; electrical and plumbing from the state (DOPL) |
| Common outside reviews | The fire department for the area, Road & Bridge (county roads) or ITD (state highways) for approaches, Southeastern Idaho Public Health for septic, floodplain review |
Agricultural buildings are exempt from the building codes (Idaho Code 39-4116), and the county issues a $200 Agricultural Exempt Siting Permit for them instead. Its checklist limits that permit to an agricultural building on A-zoned property used only for agriculture; if the building will be heated or cooled at any time, a residential accessory building permit is needed instead.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Bingham County sets its own ground snow load: the site’s elevation in feet above sea level, divided by 100, minus 5, gives the ground snow load in pounds per square foot (County Code 8-1-1). The county’s residential checklist lists the ground snow load as 42+ on that formula, seismic design category C or D, a 30-inch frost depth and a 115 mph ultimate wind speed.
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Bingham County authorized 90 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits come from the state’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses unless the city or county runs its own program by ordinance. Septic systems need a health district installation permit, a highway district controls the roads in its system, and since 2024 the county’s zoning applies in a city’s area of impact. Who issues permits in Idaho
Permit types
Residential permits
The county issues residential building and mechanical permits for new homes, additions and accessory buildings, and a separate permit for setting a manufactured or modular home ($150 single, $200 double, $250 triple under Resolution 2026-17). Its checklist requires a permit for, among other work, accessory structures over 200 square feet, any addition, decks and porches, fences 7 feet or taller and in-ground pools over 4 feet deep.
Snow, seismic and wildland exposure
Design loads are site-specific. Idaho law lets each city and county set the design criteria in Section R301 of the Idaho Residential Code, including ground snow load, by local ordinance (Idaho Code 39-4116), so design to the figure the issuing department sets for the site.
The seismic design category is also set by the site under the adopted codes; the county’s checklist lists category C or D. Wildland-urban interface rules apply where the county or fire district has adopted them. Confirm the design criteria for the parcel with Bingham County Planning and Development at the start of design.
Commercial permits
Commercial buildings must be designed and sealed by Idaho-licensed architects and engineers (IBC 107.1). The county’s commercial checklist asks for a fire department approval letter, and for a city zoning permit where the site is in Firth, Basalt or Aberdeen.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →A local government must say within 10 business days (residential) or 20 (commercial) whether an application is complete, and if an inspection is not made within 48 business hours the permit holder may hire a third-party inspector and is refunded the fee (Idaho Code 39-4117, 39-4118). Deadlines on Idaho permits
Bingham County permit costs and fees
Bingham County fees are set by Resolution 2026-17, effective March 6, 2026: building fees from square-foot rates and valuation tables, plan review at 20% of the permit fee for residential and accessory buildings and 40% for commercial buildings, HVAC fees by house size or 2% of the bid on commercial work, and a $25 technology fee on every permit. Electrical and plumbing permits are bought from the state.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | Square-foot rates and the residential valuation table in Resolution 2026-17 |
| Commercial building permit | The commercial valuation table in Resolution 2026-17 |
| Plan review | 20% of the permit fee (residential and accessory), 40% (commercial) |
| Trade permits | County HVAC and gas piping fees from $150 by house size, or 2% of the bid ($200 minimum) on commercial work; electrical and plumbing permits are bought from the state |
| Outside agency reviews | $50 approach fee (Road & Bridge) and $50 address fee; septic permits are charged by the health district |
| Re-inspections and revisions | Re-inspection $100 after the 2nd failed inspection and $150 after the 3rd; work started before the permit pays double the permit fee |
Need a real number for a specific Bingham County project? Send us the scope, address and valuation and we will identify the filing path, the reviews it will trigger and the fee categories that will apply.
Fee schedules are revised on each jurisdiction’s own cycle, so ask the issuing department for the schedule in force on your filing date, and ask separately about plan review, trade, re-inspection and revision charges. How Idaho permit fees work
Rather not deal with the Bingham County building department?
Get a free quote →Trade permits and who may pull them
Permit required
- Service upgrades, panels, new circuits, solar PV, EV chargers and generators
- New plumbing, fixture relocations, water heaters, sewer and water connections and gas piping
- Furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, ductwork, ventilation and commercial kitchen exhaust
- Fire alarm, sprinkler and suppression systems on commercial work
Typically exempt
- Replacing a fixture, switch, receptacle or light with no alteration to wiring or piping
- Clearing a stoppage without replacing or rearranging concealed piping
- Filter, thermostat and routine component service
- Appliance repair that does not alter the gas, electrical or venting connection
Contractors must register with the state, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors are licensed by the state; a city or county may not require an extra licence or fee for HVAC work. Contractor registration in Idaho
How to apply for a Bingham County building permit
The application needs a septic permit or will-serve letter and, where access is by private road or easement, a recorded easement.
Only a building on A-zoned land used only for agriculture, never heated or cooled, takes the $200 exempt siting permit.
HVAC permits come from the county; electrical and plumbing permits come from the state (DOPL).
In Firth, Basalt and Aberdeen the county issues the building permit and the city a zoning permit; in an area of city impact the county’s zoning applies (Idaho Code 67-6526).
Use the county formula: elevation in feet divided by 100, minus 5 (County Code 8-1-1).
Contractors register with the state; electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors hold state licences.
Under Section 105.5 of the adopted codes a permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days; check whether the local ordinance amends that. How long Idaho permits last
Inspections in Bingham County
Inspections are requested through the county’s online permit portal, and a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion is issued after the final inspection passes. Where a structure is in the floodplain, FEMA Elevation Certificates are required at application, during construction and at final inspection.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →The county’s building official has noted that the inspection area is large and travel is time-consuming. A failed inspection is rebooked under the county’s 24-hour scheduling policy and can carry a re-inspection fee, so request inspections only for work that is ready.
Do not cover work before the required inspection has been approved. The approved construction documents must be kept at the site (IBC 107.3.1, IRC R106.3.1).
Bingham County permit search and official resources
Permit records sit with the body that issued them. A property in Bingham County can have building and HVAC permits with the county, electrical and plumbing permits with the state, an approach permit with Road & Bridge or ITD and a septic permit with Southeastern Idaho Public Health. If you are buying, refinancing or renovating, ask Bingham County Planning and Development what it holds for the parcel, and ask separately about the septic and access records.
Where a property has been annexed, permits issued before annexation may still be held by the county.
Confirm the code edition against Idaho’s adopted list. Idaho enforces the 2018 International Building Code and the Idaho Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC), the 2023 National Electrical Code and a plumbing code based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code. A new edition takes effect on January 1 after the Idaho Building Code Board adopts it (Idaho Code 39-4109), so check the codes and local amendments in force on your filing date.
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and portal procedures change. Confirm the position for your filing date.
- Bingham County Planning and Development — Building & Construction
- Idaho DOPL — adopted building codes
- Idaho DOPL — plan review and permits
- Idaho Contractors Board — contractor registration
Frequently asked questions
Does my agricultural building need a permit?
Not a building permit, if it qualifies. Agricultural buildings are exempt from the building codes (Idaho Code 39-4116). In Bingham County an agricultural building on A-zoned land used only for agriculture takes a $200 Agricultural Exempt Siting Permit; if it will ever be heated or cooled, apply for a residential accessory building permit instead.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →What does the health district do?
Installing, modifying, repairing or expanding a septic system needs an installation permit, which the public health district finalizes (IDAPA 58.01.03). In Bingham County that is Southeastern Idaho Public Health (208-785-2160), and the county asks for the septic permit or a sewer will-serve letter with the building application.
Who designs a commercial project?
Idaho-licensed architects and engineers, who must design and seal commercial buildings (IBC 107.1). The county also asks for a fire department approval letter with the commercial application.
Which code edition applies in Idaho?
Idaho enforces the 2018 International Building Code with Idaho amendments and the 2021 IBC mass timber provisions, the Idaho Residential Code based on the 2018 IRC, the 2018 Idaho Energy Conservation Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code (IDAPA 24.39.30; Idaho Code 54-1001).
Does the International Plumbing Code apply?
No. Idaho has adopted the Idaho State Plumbing Code, based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code with Idaho amendments (IDAPA 24.39.20).
Who approves a driveway approach?
Bingham County Road & Bridge approves approaches onto county roads (208-782-3173), and the Idaho Transportation Department approves approaches onto state highways (208-782-3033). The county charges a $50 approach fee and a $50 address fee.
Simplify Bingham County permitting with Alliance Permitting
In Bingham County the first questions are which body issues the permit, whether the parcel has septic and legal access, and the snow load for the site’s elevation.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Bingham County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- We line up the septic permit, easement and approach before the application.
- We confirm agricultural building permit requirements up front.
- We line up the county HVAC permit and the state electrical and plumbing permits.
- We apply the county’s snow load formula for the site’s elevation.
- We confirm whether the county or the city issues the permit.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Idaho. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the building department through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More Idaho permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bingham County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.