Coeur d'Alene building department

Coeur d’Alene Building Services reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction, remodeling, repair and demolition inside city limits. Permits are issued at the Customer Service Center in City Hall, 710 E. Mullan Avenue. The center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but submittals are accepted only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The City won’t accept incomplete applications or plans.

What needs a permit

The City’s Building Services FAQ requires a building permit for new construction, additions, alterations, remodels, tenant improvements, decks, patio covers, gazebos, siding, window replacement (including adding a window), most retaining walls, fences over 6 feet, house moves and manufactured-home setting. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need their own permit, and so do re-roofs, demolitions and moving a structure on city streets. Lawn sprinkler systems, water heater replacements and sewer replacements are also on the City’s list of permitted work. Interior partitions over 5 feet 9 inches tall need a permit.

For re-roofs, the City requires that any dry-rot or fungus-damaged wood be replaced and that new roofing be at least Class A or B, 25-year material, with proper flashing and ventilation.

Common exemptions (IRC R105.2 as published by the City)

Work	No building permit if…
Detached shed or playhouse	One story and 200 sq ft or less
Fence	6 feet tall or less
Retaining wall	4 feet or less (bottom of footing to top), not supporting a surcharge
Deck	200 sq ft or less, 30 inches or less above grade, not attached to the house, and not serving a required exit door
Prefabricated pool	Less than 48 inches deep
Window awning	Projects 54 inches or less from the wall, with no extra support
Finish work	Painting, flooring, tile, cabinets and countertops
Sidewalks and driveways	Exempt from the building permit

Exempt work still has to meet code, and it may still need development, encroachment or other City permits.

Applying and plan review

Re-roof, demolition, siding, mechanical and plumbing permits can usually be issued over the counter. Residential building permits go through detailed plan review. The City says most single-family homes, duplexes and garages are plan-checked in 7 to 14 days, and commercial projects take longer.

Residential submittals must be electronic PDF files. The plan review fee, based on job value, is due at submittal. Under the Residential Plan Submittal Minimums, a submittal includes:

• a completed building and mechanical application, with ACCA Manual J and D worksheets and HVAC equipment data sheets
• a site plan showing property lines, distances from every structure to the lines and between structures, driveways, and a north arrow
• floor plans for every level, including the garage, with smoke and CO alarm locations
• building height from grade to peak
• a foundation plan with footing sections, anchor bolts and hold-downs
• floor and roof framing plans or truss layouts, and all header and beam sizes
• braced wall panel locations and a shear/braced wall plan
• egress windows, attic access (22 x 30 inches) and crawl space access
• the one-hour separation detail between house and garage
• energy calculations

Lots on slopes of 15% or more and lots in the floodplain may need extra design information. Commercial submittals need one paper plan set plus the same set on CD, and the plan check fee is due at submittal.

For an accessory dwelling unit, include the City building application, the ADU application, the site plan, and truss, floor joist, header, beam and HVAC information. Free pre-designed ADU plans are available through the Housing Solutions Partnership.

Anyone may draw plans for a single-family home, a duplex of up to two stories plus basement with less than 3,000 sq ft above the first story, or a residential garage or accessory building, as long as it uses conventional construction. Any part that departs from conventional framing must be designed by a licensed professional.

Fees

Building permit fees are based on total project valuation. Valuation includes labor, materials, trade systems, site work, design fees and contractor profit. Fees are non-refundable. Card payments carry a 3% convenience fee. Starting work without a permit leads to a stop-work order and a fee of twice the permit fee.

Development impact fees for parks, transportation, police and fire apply on top of permit fees. For a single-family home, the fee effective July 1, 2026 is $3.00 per square foot (it was $2.89 in 2025). Under Ordinance 3723 the fees rise another 3.9% on July 1, 2027.

The City has warned about phishing emails that ask for application fees. The City collects fees only in person or through approved City platforms, never by wire transfer, and official email addresses end in @cdaid.org.

Codes and design criteria

The 2018 International Codes took effect January 1, 2021: the IBC, IEBC, IRC, IECC, IMC, IFGC and IFC. Plumbing stays under the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code with City amendments.

Criterion	Coeur d’Alene value
Ground snow load	60 psf
Roof snow load	40 psf
Frost depth	24 inches minimum
Seismic design category	C
Wind (IRC ultimate design)	115 mph
Wind (IBC ultimate design)	105–120 mph
Presumptive soil bearing	1,500 psf without a soils report

Inspections

Schedule inspections at 208-769-2391, at least one working day in advance. During the busy season, the City suggests calling several days ahead. The property owner is ultimately responsible for making sure inspections are called in. Required inspections include:

• before placing concrete or grout
• before covering floor framing, wall framing or rough trades
• before taping fire-rated gypsum assemblies
• before applying stucco, EIFS or veneer
• before connecting gas, electrical, water and sewer service
• final inspection

A Certificate of Occupancy is required before the space is used. Permits generally expire after 180 days with no inspections.

Contractors and owner-builders

The City won’t accept a building permit application without proof of Idaho contractor registration under Idaho Code 54-5209, or proof of an exemption. Owners may work on their own property but must sign an Owner-Builder statement. A Contractor Registration Exemption Declaration is available. Electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors need current State of Idaho licenses to pull permits. Drain layers and excavators must register with the City through Municipal Services (208-769-2229).

Related offices

• Planning Department: 208-769-2274. Handles zoning, setbacks, design review, ADU and zone-change applications, and the online zoning map.
• Water Department: 208-769-2210. Handles backflow prevention.