STATE LICENSE
RequiredIdaho Electrical Board — Division of Occu…
Idaho Code § 54-1002 makes it unlawful to act as an electrical contractor, or as a residential, journeyman, or master electrician, without a license from the DOPL administrator. A contractor must show $300,000 of liability insurance and workers' compensation if applicable (§ 54-1003A(1)), and all installations must be done by or under the direct supervision of a licensed residential, journeyman, or master electrician; an individual owner must employ a full-time journeyman with over 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman, or a master, or qualify as one personally (§ 54-1010). A journeyman needs 8,000 apprentice hours plus a four-year course of instruction, or 16,000 hours of experience, and an exam (IDAPA 24.39.10.100); a master needs four years as a licensed journeyman (§ 54-1007(3)).
Licensure is exclusively state — no city or county may require an additional license, registration, or fee (§ 54-1002(5)) — and electrical licensees are exempt from contractor registration (§ 54-5205(1)). DOPL's fee table lists $125 for a contractor license and $100 to renew, plus a $15 application fee; DOPL will move the Electrical Board to biennial licensure on October 30, 2026. A 2026 law (§ 54-1004A) lets a permit holder hire a third-party inspector if a requested inspection is not done within 48 business hours.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Electrical licensing is exclusively state — § 54-1002(5) bars local jurisdictions from requiring additional licensure, registration, or fees, though a city or county may impose stricter public safety rules. Electrical permits and inspections come from DOPL or the local jurisdiction; under § 54-1004A (2026) a permit holder may hire a qualified third-party inspector if an inspection is not performed within 48 business hours and is refunded that inspection fee.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Idaho county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Electrical licensure is exclusively state; no local jurisdiction may require additional licensure, registration, or fees (§ 54-1002(5)).
DOPL announced it will transition the Electrical Board to biennial licensure on October 30, 2026.
1 supervisor to 6 apprentices in residential settings, 1 to 2 elsewhere; no ratio for apprentices past 6,000 hours in or done with approved instruction (§ 54-1010(3)).
A practical sequence for a new electrical contractor in Idaho. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Engaging in electrical contracting or electrician work without a license or required registration, or violating the chapter or Board rules.
Acts listed in the Board's civil-penalty rule, such as supervision failures.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Ada County Boise | City of Boise Planning and Development Services — Building Division ↗ Unincorporated: Ada County Development Services — Building Division ↗ | Boise Permitting and Licensing System (Accela Citizen Access) ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: License term conflict: § 54-1008(2) says electrical contractor licenses issue for two years, while § 54-1014 and DOPL's fee table list the contractor license as a one-year license ($125, renewal $100); DOPL's October 30, 2026 biennial transition may resolve it · Continuing education hours for journeyman and master renewal — § 54-1013(1) requires CE 'as established by the electrical board,' but the hour count was not found in the retrieved IDAPA 24.39.10 text · Electrical exam vendor and exam fees · Dollar amounts in the IDAPA 24.39.10.300 civil-penalty schedule (statutory cap is $3,000 per violation)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.