Bonneville County, ID Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted electrical code
- 2023 National Electric Code
- Adoption section
- §150.01(A)(9), amended 1-8-2026
- Ag building exemption
- Exempt if it meets IBC §202 definition
- Unpermitted-work fine
- $100 infraction under §156.999
- General fallback penalty
- Up to $300 fine or 6 months jail
- Permit authority
- County Zoning Administrator
Summary
Bonneville County enforces the 2023 National Electric Code as its official electrical standard under § 150.01(A)(9). Any wiring or electrical work tied to construction of a building or structure worth $100 or more in the unincorporated county needs a written permit from the Zoning Administrator.
(A) The approved editions of the following nationally recognized codes, as adopted by the state or the State Building Code Board, are adopted as the Official Building Codes of the county: ... (9) 2023 Edition National Electric Code;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-1: Ordinance 280-26, passed 1-20-2026).
Full Breakdown
01 packages the county's construction codes, adopting them as its Official Building Codes. Item (9) of that list makes the 2023 Edition National Electric Code the electrical standard for the unincorporated county, alongside the 2018 International Building, Residential, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Fire and Existing Building Codes and the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Subsection (B) folds in all amendments made by the state or the State Building Code Board and the State Fire Marshal's office, so the electrical code in force tracks whatever the state board has since revised.
Agricultural buildings are exempt from these adopted codes under subsection (C), but only if the structure meets the IBC § 202 definition of an agricultural building and sits on land the County Assessor has classified as actively devoted to agriculture under Idaho Code § 63-604; those buildings still must meet the placement setbacks in the zoning ordinance. 088, enforced by the county Zoning Administrator before construction begins. 01 was carried forward by Ord. 278-26 and Ord. 279-26, both passed January 8, 2026, continuing the code package the county first adopted by Ord. 239-21 on June 23, 2021.
Violations & Fines
Building or wiring work performed without the required permit is enforced as an infraction under § 156.999: a conviction carries a $100 fine and no jail time, though a judge may also issue an injunction or restraining order, and each day the unpermitted work continues counts as a separate offense. Violating the building-code chapter itself, where no specific penalty applies, defaults to § 10.99's misdemeanor penalty of up to $300 and six months in the county jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What electrical code does Bonneville County use?
Are farm buildings exempt from the electrical code?
What happens if I wire a building without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bonneville County
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