Shed Building Permits in St. Maries
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St Maries
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Use this St Maries permit page before you build
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- Confirm whether the property is inside city limits or county jurisdiction.
- Check size, foundation, utility, and intended-use rules before ordering materials.
- Use the builder after permit and site constraints are clear enough to shape the shed.
How St. Maries handles shed permits
The City of St. Maries Building Department issues building permits inside city limits, performing its own plan review and inspection. The city adopts the 2018 IBC and IRC, so a one-story detached storage shed of 200 square feet or less is generally exempt from a building permit, while a larger shed needs one. Zoning review and placement compliance are required regardless of size.
Don't confuse the city department with the separate Benewah County Building Department ((208) 245-4122), which serves unincorporated parcels outside city limits. In Idaho, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permits are usually issued by the state Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), separately from any local building permit — and a wired or plumbed shed can need a state trade permit even when the shed itself is small enough to skip a building permit.
St. Maries shed permit snapshot
St. Maries shed permit snapshot
- Building-permit exemption
- One-story detached storage shed 200 sq ft or less (from the adopted IRC). Zoning review still applies at any size.
- Adopted codes
- 2018 IBC and IRC, plus 2018 mechanical, fire, electrical, and plumbing codes with Idaho amendments.
- Setbacks (R-1)
- Front 20 ft, side 5 ft each (including eaves), rear 10 ft; max height 35 ft. Accessory buildings sit in the rear yard.
- Trade permits
- Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permits are state (DOPL) permits.
- Snow load
- Around 60 psf design ground snow load (University of Idaho study, elev. ~2,216 ft). Confirm the value with the city.
- Floodplain
- The city reviews every permit for floodplain placement; it sits where the St. Joe and St. Maries Rivers meet.
| St. Maries shed permit snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Building-permit exemption | One-story detached storage shed 200 sq ft or less (from the adopted IRC). Zoning review still applies at any size. |
| Adopted codes | 2018 IBC and IRC, plus 2018 mechanical, fire, electrical, and plumbing codes with Idaho amendments. |
| Setbacks (R-1) | Front 20 ft, side 5 ft each (including eaves), rear 10 ft; max height 35 ft. Accessory buildings sit in the rear yard. |
| Trade permits | Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permits are state (DOPL) permits. |
| Snow load | Around 60 psf design ground snow load (University of Idaho study, elev. ~2,216 ft). Confirm the value with the city. |
| Floodplain | The city reviews every permit for floodplain placement; it sits where the St. Joe and St. Maries Rivers meet. |
St. Maries runs its own building department and reviews each permit for floodplain placement near the river confluence.
City department vs. county department
St. Maries is a place where the city and county building departments sit close together — literally on the same street. The City of St. Maries Building Department handles parcels inside city limits; the Benewah County Building Department handles unincorporated parcels outside the city. Make sure you're working with the office that governs your address.
The city adopts the 2018 IBC and IRC, so the 200-square-foot storage-shed exemption from the residential code is the reference point for a small shed.
Setbacks and accessory placement
In the R-1 single-residence zone, setbacks run a 20-foot front, 5-foot side on each side (including eaves and cantilevers), and a 10-foot rear, with a 35-foot maximum height. Accessory buildings — private storage garages, storage sheds, noncommercial greenhouses, a child's playhouse — are expressly allowed and generally sit in the rear yard.
Zoning compliance is required regardless of whether the shed needs a building permit.
Snow load and floodplain
The University of Idaho study puts the design ground snow load near 60 psf for St. Maries; design the roof to the value for the parcel's elevation. Floodplain is a real factor — the city sits where the St. Joe and St. Maries Rivers meet, and city code requires the building inspector to review every new-construction permit for floodplain placement.
Treat this as planning context, not a permit decision. Thresholds, setbacks, fees, and adopted code editions change, so confirm the current rule for your exact parcel with the authority that has jurisdiction before you order materials.
St. Maries shed permit FAQs
Is the city or county building department in charge?
It depends on the address. The City of St. Maries Building Department handles parcels inside city limits; the separate Benewah County Building Department ((208) 245-4122) handles unincorporated parcels outside the city. Confirm which one governs your lot.
Does a small shed need a permit in St. Maries?
The city adopts the 2018 IRC, which exempts a one-story detached storage shed of 200 square feet or less from a building permit. Zoning review and placement compliance still apply at any size, and a larger shed needs a permit.
What are the setbacks?
In the R-1 zone: a 20-foot front, 5-foot side on each side (including eaves), and 10-foot rear, with a 35-foot height limit. Accessory buildings generally sit in the rear yard.
Is floodplain a concern?
Often, yes. St. Maries sits at the confluence of the St. Joe and St. Maries Rivers, and city code requires the building inspector to review every new-construction permit for floodplain placement.
Plan a St. Maries shed
Confirm city vs. county and check the flood review, then size the shed in the builder — or send the details for an estimate.
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