Boise Solar Permit Guide
Idaho Power territory · Ada County
Overview
GridPermit collects Idaho residential solar and permitting facts directly from official sources (city, county, and state government sites, utilities, and public utilities commissions) and shows only what we can verify, with a confidence score and a link to where it came from. Nothing here is estimated or inferred beyond what's stated below. See our methodology for the rules this page follows.
Permit timeline
Same-day review for eligible expedited-permit projects
No verified standard-path permit timeline is available.
Per the City's own checklist document, residential additions/alterations/accessory buildings (which includes solar PV) are 'reviewed and approved over the counter' on a first-come, first-served basis during business hours — a same-day process for complete submittals. No specific automated-review platform is named in the document, so none is recorded here.
Battery/solar incentive program on record
No battery/storage incentive program is on record for this locality.
Permit fees
- Residential solar photovoltaic building permit fee: $162.09 (flat fee)
Per the City's own 'Solar Photovoltaic Systems Building Permit Fees Policy' (effective 2016-06-02, signed by Building Official Jason Blais): calculated as 3.5 hours of plan review/inspection time at the City's $46.31/hour rate (3.5 x $46.31 = $162.09). This flat rate exists specifically to avoid inflating fees based on the high equipment valuation of solar systems. Electrical permits are obtained separately under the City's own Electrical Fee Schedule (not independently confirmed this session).
- Idaho Power interconnection application fee: $100 (non-refundable flat fee)
Per Idaho Power's own page, covering application processing, engineering review, and on-site inspection.
- Idaho Power return-trip inspection fee: $52 (flat fee)
Per Idaho Power's own page, charged if the utility cannot complete inspection due to unmet conditions on the first visit.
Rebates
Not yet verified.
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Idaho Power
Generation supplier
Idaho Power (utility)
No Community Choice Aggregator was found serving Boise's residential solar customers this session; Idaho Power is recorded as both the distribution and default generation utility.
Interconnection
Idaho Power does not offer traditional retail-rate net metering. Per the utility's own page, residential customers use a 'net billing' model: exported energy is credited at published Export Credit Rates (ECR), which vary by season and time-of-day (confirmed exact rates as of this session: Summer On-Peak 15.6836¢/kWh, Summer Off-Peak 3.3920¢/kWh, Non-Summer 2.9019¢/kWh), calculated from avoided energy costs, generation expenses, transmission/distribution deferrals, line losses, and integration expenses — a genuinely different, lower-certainty compensation structure than 1:1 retail-rate net metering. Residential/small general service systems are capped at 25kW AC. A non-refundable $100 application-processing fee applies (covering engineering review and on-site inspection), plus a $52 return-trip inspection fee if conditions aren't met on the first visit. Systems must use smart inverters meeting IEEE 1547-2018 and UL 1741 SB, plus an AC disconnect switch.
Required documents
- Form #406 Residential Addition, Alteration & Accessory Building Application (required when: always)
- Roof plan, drawn to scale, showing exact panel locations and minimum required fire-fighter access clearances from roof edges and peak (required when: always)
- Structural calculations stamped and signed by an Idaho-licensed engineer evaluating the roof structure (required when: ballasted systems, pre-1970 homes with hand-stack roof framing, ground-mount systems in the Foothills overlay, pergola-mounted systems, or systems/racking adding more than 5 psf)
- Manufacturer specifications for panels, inverters, racking (showing appropriate UL listing, e.g. UL 1703 for panels, UL 1741 for inverters) (required when: always)
- One-line electrical diagram showing equipment location, voltage/current ratings, wire size, disconnect rating, and overcurrent protection ratings (required when: always)
- ICC-ES Evaluation Services Report for all roof-mounting brackets (required when: always)
- Certificate of Appropriateness from the Planning division (required when: installations in a Historic District)
Inspection steps
- Applications are reviewed and approved over the counter, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, on a first-come first-served basis
- Applicants check in at the Permit Counter with the completed application, checklist, and all required documents; incomplete submittals are returned for updated plans/documents
- Any specific planning approvals (historic, hillside, or floodplain) must be completed prior to building permit submittal and review
Eligibility constraints
- Property types: residential
- Max system size (AC): 25 kW
- Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
- Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
- Program/pathway: Not yet verified.
- Other conditions:
- The 25kW AC figure recorded here reflects Idaho Power's residential/small-general-service interconnection cap, not a separate City permit-eligibility limit
- Any specific planning approvals (historic district, hillside, or floodplain) must be completed prior to building permit submittal
Official contacts
- Planning and Development Services (Permit Counter), phone: 208-608-7070, official website
Need a solar installer who handles permits in Boise?
EnergySage is an independent solar marketplace where you can request property-specific pricing from installers familiar with local permitting.
Compare quotes from solar installers →You'll continue on EnergySage's website. GridPermit has a partner relationship with EnergySage; this link is not currently tracked, and whether the partnership results in compensation to GridPermit has not yet been confirmed.
Sources
- Residential Photovoltaic Systems Submittal Checklist (Document #406, October 2022), City of Boise, Planning and Development Services (government). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- Solar Photovoltaic Systems Building Permit Fees Policy (effective 2016-06-02), City of Boise, Planning and Development Services (government). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- Frequently Asked Questions — Solar Power Options / Customer Generation, Idaho Power (utility). Accessed 2026-08-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What utility serves solar customers in Boise, Idaho?
Idaho Power is the interconnection and distribution utility for Boise. The default electricity generation supplier is Idaho Power, a utility, separate from Idaho Power.
How long does an expedited-eligible residential solar permit take in Boise?
Per the City's own checklist document, residential additions/alterations/accessory buildings (which includes solar PV) are 'reviewed and approved over the counter' on a first-come, first-served basis during business hours — a same-day process for complete submittals. No specific automated-review platform is named in the document, so none is recorded here. No verified standard-path permit timeline is available.
What documents are required for a solar permit in Boise?
Commonly required documents include: Form #406 Residential Addition, Alteration & Accessory Building Application; Roof plan, drawn to scale, showing exact panel locations and minimum required fire-fighter access clearances from roof edges and peak; Structural calculations stamped and signed by an Idaho-licensed engineer evaluating the roof structure; Manufacturer specifications for panels, inverters, racking (showing appropriate UL listing, e.g. UL 1703 for panels, UL 1741 for inverters); One-line electrical diagram showing equipment location, voltage/current ratings, wire size, disconnect rating, and overcurrent protection ratings; ICC-ES Evaluation Services Report for all roof-mounting brackets; Certificate of Appropriateness from the Planning division.
Who do I contact about solar permits in Boise?
Planning and Development Services (Permit Counter), phone 208-608-7070.