Contractors – Frequently Asked Questions

Online, the Division of Building Safety accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express, E-check or eGovExpress.

DBS offices accept payments of cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, or American Express

See DBS Payment Processing for additional details. If you have questions, please call (800) 955-3044.

If your permit has been expired for less than one (1) year; you may reactivate it for a charge of $65.00. If your permit has been expired for more than the one year a new permit must be purchased.

The Division of Building Safety does not sell permits over the phone.

An Enforcement permit is issued only by a state inspector, only when a contractor or homeowner does not purchase a permit and work has been performed. The enforcement permit amount is a double fee of the original amount for a failure to permit.

View the Inspectors List and the DBS inspectors assigned to those areas. The words DO NOT INSPECT indicate that DBS does not have permitting or inspection authority and you should contact the city or county building department in that jurisdiction.
If you have questions, please call (800) 955-3044.

The letter notifying you of the needed corrections contains detailed instructions for your response. The law requires that violations be corrected and that the notice be signed and returned to the Division of Building Safety by the date specified on the notice.

NOTE: Failure to correct Code violations, and/or failure to correct them with the specified time is a misdemeanor and may result in the assessment of civil penalties (up to $1,000), revocation or suspension of contractor and journeyman licenses, and/or disconnection of service, if applicable. Written requests for extension of time, if needed, must be made within the specified time period.

The letter you received will state the applicable administrative rule along with instructions for either paying the penalty or appealing the notice. Payments and/or appeal requests must be postmarked within 10 days of the date specified in the letter.

If you have an issue with your inspector, call (800) 955-3044 and ask to speak with an Area Supervisor, Program Manager or Chief Inspector.

If you have a complaint regarding a contractor, please download and submit the Contractor Complaint Form. Enter the requested information and mail it to:

Division of Building Safety
1090 E. Watertower Street, Suite 150
Meridian, ID 83642

If you have a complaint regarding a DBS employee, call (800) 955-3044 and ask to speak with the employee’s supervisor or DBS management.

Please view the Inspectors List and the DBS inspectors assigned to those areas. The words DO NOT INSPECT indicate that DBS does not have permitting or inspection authority and you should contact the city or county building department in that jurisdiction.
If you have questions, please call (800) 955-3044.

Call (800) 955-3044 and ask to speak with the applicable Program Manager.