Adds to existing law to provide for timely electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspections and the option for third-party inspections in certain situations.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 585 BY BUSINESS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDI-2 TIONING INSPECTIONS; AMENDING CHAPTER 10, TITLE 54, IDAHO CODE, BY THE3 ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 54-1004A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN4 INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS; AMENDING CHAPTER 26, TITLE 54, IDAHO CODE,5 BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 54-2626A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR6 CERTAIN INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS; AMENDING CHAPTER 50, TITLE 54, IDAHO7 CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 54-5020A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE8 FOR CERTAIN INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND9 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.10

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:11

SECTION 1. That Chapter 10, Title 54, Idaho Code, be, and the same is12 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-13 ignated as Section 54-1004A, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:14 54-1004A. INSPECTIONS -- TIMELINESS -- REFUNDS. (1) If an inspection15 requested by a permit holder is not performed within forty-eight (48) busi-16 ness hours, such permit holder shall be authorized to hire a third-party in-17 spector to perform such inspection. The permit holder or third-party in-18 spector shall notify the division or local government that such inspection19 is being completed by a third-party inspector. The permit holder shall pro-20 vide a copy of the results of the completed inspection to the division or lo-21 cal government. A permit holder who obtains a third-party inspection under22 this section shall be refunded any fee, or portion thereof, that the permit23 holder paid to the division or local government for such inspection. If a lo-24 cal government contracts with and pays the division, county, or third party25 for an inspection that requires a refund pursuant to this section, the divi-26 sion, county, or third party shall be responsible for refunding the permit27 holder.28 (2) The division or a local government shall refund ten percent (10%) of29 the fees, or the portion thereof, paid by a permit holder for an inspection if30 an inspector or electrical code administrator:31 (a) Conducts an inspection on the work relating to the permit;32 (b) Determines that the work has failed an inspection; and33 (c) Fails to, within three (3) business days, provide the permit holder34 or his agent with a reason for the failure of such inspection pursuant to35 the provisions of this chapter.36 (3) A third-party inspector under this section shall meet the qualifi-37 cations prescribed by section 54-1019, Idaho Code, and shall conduct the in-38 spection in substantial accord with the applicable jurisdiction's standards39 provided by law, rule, or ordinance.40

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SECTION 2. That Chapter 26, Title 54, Idaho Code, be, and the same is1 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-2 ignated as Section 54-2626A, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:3 54-2626A. INSPECTIONS -- TIMELINESS -- REFUNDS. (1) If an inspection4 requested by a permit holder is not performed within forty-eight (48) busi-5 ness hours, such permit holder shall be authorized to hire a third-party in-6 spector to perform such inspection. The permit holder or third-party in-7 spector shall notify the division or local government that such inspection8 is being completed by a third-party inspector. The permit holder shall pro-9 vide a copy of the results of the completed inspection to the division or lo-10 cal government. A permit holder who obtains a third-party inspection under11 this section shall be refunded any fee, or portion thereof, that the permit12 holder paid to the division or local government for such inspection. If a lo-13 cal government contracts with and pays the division, county, or third party14 for an inspection that requires a refund pursuant to this section, the divi-15 sion, county, or third party shall be responsible for refunding the permit16 holder.17 (2) The division or a local government shall refund ten percent (10%) of18 the fees, or the portion thereof, paid by a permit holder for an inspection if19 an inspector or plumbing code administrator:20 (a) Conducts an inspection on the work relating to the permit;21 (b) Determines that the work has failed an inspection; and22 (c) Fails to, within three (3) business days, provide the permit holder23 or his agent with a reason for the failure of such inspection pursuant to24 the provisions of this chapter.25 (3) A third-party inspector under this section shall meet the qualifi-26 cations prescribed by section 54-2627, Idaho Code, and shall conduct the in-27 spection in substantial accord with the applicable jurisdiction's standards28 provided by law, rule, or ordinance.29

SECTION 3. That Chapter 50, Title 54, Idaho Code, be, and the same is30 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-31 ignated as Section 54-5020A, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:32 54-5020A. INSPECTIONS -- TIMELINESS -- REFUNDS. (1) If an inspection33 requested by a permit holder is not performed within forty-eight (48) busi-34 ness hours, such permit holder shall be authorized to hire a third-party in-35 spector to perform such inspection. The permit holder or third-party in-36 spector shall notify the division or local government that such inspection37 is being completed by a third-party inspector. The permit holder shall pro-38 vide a copy of the results of the completed inspection to the division or lo-39 cal government. A permit holder who obtains a third-party inspection under40 this section shall be refunded any fee, or portion thereof, that the permit41 holder paid to the division or local government for such inspection. If a lo-42 cal government contracts with and pays the division, county, or third party43 for an inspection that requires a refund pursuant to this section, the divi-44 sion, county, or third party shall be responsible for refunding the permit45 holder.46

3 (2) The division or a local government shall refund ten percent (10%) of1 the fees, or the portion thereof, paid by a permit holder for an inspection if2 an inspector or mechanical code administrator:3 (a) Conducts an inspection on the work relating to the permit;4 (b) Determines that the work has failed an inspection; and5 (c) Fails to, within three (3) business days, provide the permit holder6 or his agent with a reason for the failure of such inspection pursuant to7 the provisions of this chapter.8 (3) A third-party inspector under this section shall meet the qualifi-9 cations prescribed by section 54-5021, Idaho Code, and shall conduct the in-10 spection in substantial accord with the applicable jurisdiction's standards11 provided by law, rule, or ordinance.12

SECTION 4. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby13 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after14 July 1, 2026.15