Licenses/Permits

• Visit the Business Wizard and the Licenses section of this site.
• Idaho Department of Labor and Idaho State Tax Commission – IBRS to establish unemployment and withholding accounts, apply for a sales tax permit and create lodging tax accounts

Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses

DOPL licenses many professions and occupations and includes numerous individual boards, such as the Board of Medicine, Cosmetology Board, Electrical Board and more.

The former Division of Building Safety merged with DOPL in early 2024. DOPL now licenses the following occupations which were formerly licensed by the Division of Building Safety:

• Plumbers and plumbing contractors
• Electricians and electrical contractors
• HVAC technicians and contractors
• Public works contractors and public works construction managers
• Manufactured and modular housing manufacturers, retailers, resale brokers, service companies, salespersons and installers

The agency issues permits to contractors and homeowners to perform electrical, plumbing or HVAC installations and replacements. The various boards also inspect elevators, boilers and pressure vessels, oversees logging and industrial safety and issues permits to rehabilitate older mobile homes.

The DOPL maintains subsidiary offices in Coeur d’Alene and Blackfoot.

City Clerks Offices

City clerks issue business licenses and license numerous occuptions at the local level, such as taxis, tree trimming, private security businesses and more. To find out if you need a local license, go through the Business Wizard on this site then contact your local city clerk.

City clerks issue permits for activities such as home based businesses, conditional use permits, occupancy permits and more.

Idaho State Police

The following divisions oversee business activities:

• Commercial Vehicle Safety Division – enforces commercial vehicle safety regulations
• Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) – see Assistance Resources – Alcoholic Beverages on this site for alcohol license requirements
• Brand Inspector – records and transfers livestock brands and performs brand inspections
• Racing Commission – oversees horse racing and simulcasting in Idaho; licenses jockeys, stables, trainers, announcers and more
• Fingerprinting and Background Checks
• Concealed Weapons License Reciprocity