STATE LICENSE
RequiredIdaho Plumbing Board — Division of Occupa…
Idaho Code § 54-2610 makes it unlawful to engage in the business, trade, or work of plumbing without passing an exam and holding a state certificate of competency. Section 54-2611 sets the classes: plumbing contractor, journeyman, and apprentice, plus specialty contractor, specialty journeyman, and specialty apprentice. Under IDAPA 24.39.20.100 a journeyman needs 8,000 apprentice hours plus 576 hours of board-approved instruction, or 16,000 hours of plumbing experience, and an exam; a contractor must already hold a journeyman certificate, pass the contractor exam, and post a $2,000 compliance bond for the full certificate period.
Certificates run three years (§ 54-2617(1)); DOPL's fee table lists a contractor certificate at $147 ($108 renewal) and a journeyman at $29.40 ($21.60 renewal), plus a $22.50 application fee. Renewal of contractor and journeyman certificates requires Board-set continuing education. Plumbing certificate holders are exempt from contractor registration (§ 54-5205(1)). A 2026 law (§ 54-2626A) lets a permit holder hire a third-party inspector when an 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.
Plumbing certificates are issued only by DOPL. Permits and inspections come from DOPL or a city or county that runs its own plumbing program; under § 54-2626A (2026) a permit holder may hire a third-party inspector if an inspection is not done within 48 business hours and be 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.
A plumbing contractor certificate is available only to someone who already holds a journeyman certificate (IDAPA 24.39.20.100.03).
A contractor certificate can represent only one person or entity; any change must be reported to DOPL immediately.
Sewer, septic, excavating, and utility contractors running lines outside a building's foundation walls need no plumbing certificate (§ 54-2602(1)(f)).
A practical sequence for a new plumbing 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 plumbing without a certificate or registration, working without a permit, or violating the chapter or rules.
Acts listed in the Plumbing Board's rule, including 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: Continuing education hour requirement for plumbing contractor and journeyman renewal (§ 54-2617(2) delegates it to the Board; not found in the retrieved IDAPA 24.39.20 text) · Fee basis: DOPL's $147 / $108 contractor amounts appear to be § 54-2616's $75 initial and $36 renewal applied over a three-year term — inferred, not stated · Whether cities and counties are barred from adding local plumber licensing (no preemption clause found in chapter 26, unlike electrical and HVAC) · Plumbing exam vendor and exam fees
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.