IdahoIdaho lets certified interior designers submit limited building permit plans
Certified, insured interior designers in Idaho can file permit plans for eligible interior work involving parts that do not support building loads or earthquake resistance.
What it does
Certified interior designers with current liability insurance can submit plans for eligible interior projects. Local governments must process these filings the same way they process architects’ filings.
This authority excludes changes to building support, exterior shells, and unapproved or more hazardous building uses. It also excludes major building-system changes and certain work on exits and fire safety.
Designers who file these plans need active board certification and must keep their exam-based qualification current. Other interior designers do not need this certification.
Argument forAllowing certified designers to file eligible interior plans directly could help clients avoid hiring an architect solely to submit those plans.
Argument againstCertification and insurance requirements could keep some experienced interior designers from filing building permit plans themselves.
More detail
Certified interior designers can sign, stamp with their professional seal, and submit eligible interior plans to state or local offices for permits. Eligible interior parts do not carry building loads, help buildings withstand earthquakes, or require calculations of building support. Designers must hold the required active certifications and show the building official proof of current professional liability insurance. Their plans must follow applicable building rules and stay within the work allowed under this authority.
Certified interior designers must keep work under this authority within the stated limits. Designers may create or change escape paths within these limits. The fire and smoke limits cover protection of building supports, smoke removal and containment, and fire-rated vertical shafts in multistory buildings. Engineering and architecture services are excluded unless this chapter otherwise allows them. Designers cannot change the exterior shell, building support, or building-code construction category, or switch to an unapproved or more hazardous building use. They cannot materially change building systems, including heating, electrical, and fire protection systems. They cannot design or modify exit stairs or the discharge route beyond an exit. Construction cannot materially affect the listed fire and smoke safety systems.
Interior designers who sign, seal, and submit plans under this authority must hold active board certification. Interior designers who do not sign, seal, and submit plans under this authority do not need this certification. Designers must meet the Council for Interior Design Qualification’s education and experience requirements, pass its exam, and keep its certification active. The board may make rules only to administer this certification, with legislative approval. This provision does not authorize rules for professional licensing. The law took effect on July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 27, 2026 Session Law Chapter 219 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 27Delivered to Governor at 12:01 p.m. on March 27, 2026To Governor
- Mar 27Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 26Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 26Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 26Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 25Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Read third time in full – PASSED - 28-7-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Keyser, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Semmelroth, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Foreman, Hart, Kohl, Ruchti, Taylor, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - Den HartogTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 20Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 19Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 13Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human ResourcesMinor
- Mar 13Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 12Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 37-32-1AYES – Beiswenger, Berch, Boyle, Cannon, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Healey, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, McCann, Miller, Mitchell, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Shepherd, Shirts, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Barbieri, Bingham, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Crane(13), Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Garner, Hawkins, Haws, Hill, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mathias, Mendive, Mickelsen, Monks, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Rubel, Scott, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, WisniewskiAbsent – ChurchFloor Sponsor - HealeyTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 10Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 2Reported Printed and Referred to Business
- Feb 27Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
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