Plumbing permits in Coeur d'Alene

The City of Coeur d’Alene lists a plumbing permit for installing, removing, altering, repairing or replacing plumbing, gas or drainage piping, fixtures and water heaters. The city building department at 208-769-2267 can confirm what a given job needs. Idaho’s adopted plumbing code is the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code.

What the city says needs a permit

The City of Coeur d’Alene Building Services FAQ describes the plumbing permit as covering new installation, removal, alteration, repair or replacement of any plumbing, gas or drainage piping work, or any fixture, water heater or treating equipment in a building. That is broad. A contractor doing the work normally knows which jobs trigger a permit.

How the permit is obtained

The city says most plumbing permits can be issued over the counter, while a full residential building permit needs a detailed plan review first. The building department phone number listed on the city’s permit page is 208-769-2267.

Which code applies

Idaho’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses says the code adopted for use in Idaho is the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code, based on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code. The City of Coeur d’Alene lists the 2017 Idaho State Plumbing Code among the codes it accepts submittals under. Codes get updated, so confirm the current edition with the city.

City versus county

Within Coeur d’Alene city limits, the city issues the permit. Cities in Kootenai County run their own building departments, and the county handles unincorporated areas, according to Permit Place. A home just outside the city line can fall under the county, so the address decides who to call.

Practical steps

1. Ask the contractor whether the job needs a permit and who applies for it.
2. If unsure, call the building department at 208-769-2267 with the address and a short description of the work.
3. Keep the permit and inspection record with the home’s paperwork.

Getting ready for the permit counter

Most plumbing permit questions are settled by one phone call to the building department. A homeowner doing allowed work on their own home, or a contractor pulling the permit, usually needs the address, a short description of the work and the type of fixtures or piping involved. The city lists the building department phone number on its plumbing permit FAQ, linked in the sources below.

Who normally handles the permit

When a licensed contractor does the job, the contractor commonly takes care of the permit and the inspection scheduling as part of the work. It is worth asking up front, since practice varies. A homeowner should never assume the permit is done; asking for the permit number is a simple way to confirm it.

Why inspections matter

An inspection is a second set of eyes on work that will be hidden behind walls and floors. Pipe slope, support, venting and connections are easier to check before drywall goes up. If a home is sold later, an open or missing permit on past plumbing work can come up in the buyer’s inspection.

When to double-check

• The work involves new piping, moving fixtures or replacing a water heater.
• The home is outside the Coeur d’Alene city limits, where the county or another city may handle permits.
• The contractor says no permit is needed and the work is more than a like-for-like part swap.

Sources

1. City of Coeur d'Alene Building Services FAQ
2. City of Coeur d'Alene permits and licenses
3. City of Coeur d'Alene Building FAQ (over-the-counter permits)
4. Idaho DOPL: adopted plumbing code
5. Permit Place: Kootenai County building permits

Common questions

Related pages