Pocatello, ID Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Chapter 15.16 makes all plumbing work in the city conform to the Idaho State Plumbing Code as adopted in chapter 15.02, and section 15.16.030 backs that with a permit mandate: it is unlawful to perform, or have performed, any plumbing work covered by chapter 15.03 without a permit secured by a licensed contractor from the Building Department before work starts, and either the plumbing contractor or the property owner is responsible for confirming the permit is in hand before commencing. Two narrow exceptions exist. A permit may be issued directly to an owner or contract purchaser doing work on their own single-family or two-family dwelling, and permits may also go to sewer, sewage disposal, excavating, or utility contractors doing work outside a building's foundation walls, such as water distribution or drainage lines.

Section 15.16.020 layers on a registration, license, bond, and insurance requirement under chapter 15.03 before any regulated work can start. Fees, set annually by City Council resolution under section 15.16.040, are not optional once work begins: subsection B doubles the permit fee and/or triggers a misdemeanor citation if the contractor or owner starts construction before pulling the permit. Section 15.16.050 also amends several Idaho State Plumbing Code material sections for local conditions, including copper, PVC, and cast-iron requirements for water and sewer lines, and section 15.16.060 gives the plumbing inspector or building official the right to enter any premises to inspect the work while it is underway.