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As of July 1, 2025, Idaho law requires CDH to verify the lawful presence of those applying for public benefits through our agency.

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As of July 1, 2025, Idaho law requires CDH to verify the lawful presence of those applying for public benefits through our agency.

The programs impacted by this change are:
  • WIC applicants who are not on Medicaid, SNAP, or TAFI
  • Clinic services for which a sliding scale is used
  • Licenses and permits for food establishments
  • Licenses and permits for septic onsite, pumper and installer services

You can review the policy here and then complete the form below to verify your lawful presence online or you can visit one of our CDH offices to confirm in person.

Lawful Presence Online Forms: English | Spanish

WIC: English | Spanish

Licenses, Permits & Inspections

Septic, Subdivisions & Water

Central District Health’s (CDH) Environmental Health Division oversees a number of programs relating to the health and the environment within Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties.

Environmental Health Specialists at Central District Health (CDH) permit septic systems, review land development applications and verify location of shallow injection wells to ensure reliable and safe water resources for the community.

Contact & Submitting Applications

Please ensure applications are filled out completely and supporting documents are submitted together. Applications may be mailed with a check, dropped off in-person, or via email to EHApps@cdh.idaho.gov in PDF format. Other formats will not be accepted.

Once electronic applications are received and processed, a CDH employee will contact you for payment.

Note: The state of Idaho is responsible for monitoring and dealing with environmental concerns and hazards.

Solid Waste Guidance and Resources

Central District Health provides review and approval of proposed solid waste facilities and conducts inspections of solid waste facilities. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) oversees solid waste management at the state level:

If you have questions about waste disposal in your area, please contact your county waste management:

The links below provide an interface to all subdivision and septic system records in CDH databases. We strive to maintain complete and accurate records, but cannot guarantee that all historic records in our databases are error-free. Please consider this in your use of records obtained here.

Note: The records compiled date back to 1971, but not all properties will appear in the database. Some older records specifically from Ada County could not be configured to fit into the system. Therefore, a search for some records of permits issued prior to the year 2000 may result in a “No Match” finding because images of those documents do not exist in the new database.

An alternate search for old records is provided (CDP Search) and some of those records may exist there: CDP – Search the Database for OLD Lots/Files/Parcels

When searching for older permits we recommend searching by the legal description of the property – for example: lot, block, and subdivision – as physical addresses were not always provided or entered.

Onsite Septic & Sewer Systems

Applications & Resources

Property Owner Guidance & Applications

Pumper Guidance & Applications

Installers Guidance & Applications

Installer Continuing Education

In order to be in compliance with CDH’s Environmental Health septic standards, you must complete the following training video, in its entirety, followed by completing the acknowledgement below affirming that you will adhere to the policies and procedures in compliance with IDAPA 58.01.03 and the Technical Guidance Manual provided by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The CDH Environmental Health team will retain record of this acknowledgement.

Sewage Program Fees – Jul 2025

  • Permit – New – $878
  • Permit – New – No test hole/Site Visit – $439
  • Permit – Expansion (no test hole) – $439
  • Permit – Expansion (no test hole) – $439
  • Permit – Repair (no test hole) – $439
  • Permit – Repair (with test hole) – $878
  • Permit – Central/LSAS – New or Repair – $1505
  • Permit – Transfer – $94
  • Accessory Use Review – $94
  • Accessory Use Review – Field Visit – $438
  • Permit – Tank Only – $439
  • Permit – Vault Privy – $439
  • Speculative site evaluation – $439
  • Permit – additional test holes – $439

Resources

Shallow Injection Wells

In Idaho, construction features like dry wells, seepage beds, infiltration trenches, infiltration galleries, and French drains are collectively known as shallow injection wells. Storm water runoff from paved surfaces is the most common type of fluid disposed of using shallow injection wells, but these features are used for disposal of a variety of fluids, including industrial process water, heat pump return flow, etc.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) manages shallow injection wells in Idaho through the Underground Injection Well Program (UIC) under a primacy agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. CDH helps monitor these features.

Information & Applications

Shallow Injection Well Fees

$75 per shallow injection well.

Subdivisions & Land Development

CDH reviews land development proposals for the release of sanitary restrictions.

Submitting Subdivision Applications for Services

Please ensure that applications are filled out completely and supporting documents are submitted together to our front desk with payment. Electronic applications and supporting documents will not be accepted.

  • Ada & Boise Counties: 707 N. Armstrong Place Boise, ID 83704
  • Valley County: 703 1st St. McCall, ID 83638
  • Elmore County: 520 E. 8th Street N. Mountain Home, ID 83647

 Land Development Applications, Fees and Resources

 Subdivision Fees – Jul 2025

  • Plat served by Municipal Sewer Services – $232
  • Plat served by Septic System (per lot fee) – $348
  • Served by Large Soil Absorption System (per lot fee) – $348

Mortgage Surveys

A mortgage survey is often requested by a lender to determine the location of  a well or septic system to check water and sewage systems prior to a property sale.

Applications

Please ensure applications are filled out completely and supporting documents are submitted together. Applications may be mailed with a check, dropped off in-person (front desk) or via email to EHApps@cdh.idaho.gov in PDF format; other formats will not be accepted. Once electronic applications are received and processed, a CDH employee will contact you for payment.

Please be aware that email correspondence may be delivered to your junk or spam folder.

Mortgage Survey Fees: – July 2025

  • MS – Inspection Well Only – $142 (plus lab fee of $20)
  • MS – Inspection Septic Only – $142
  • MS – Well and Septic – $142 (plus lab fee of $20)
  • MS – Lab Fee – $20
  • MS – Revisit – $142 (plus lab fee of $20)

Other Services Fees: – July 2025

  • Professional Services (consultation/training) – $73/hour

Well Guidance & Water Quality

In Idaho, private well owners are responsible for ensuring their water is safe to drink.

Private water sources can be required to be tested under other regulations or requirements if the water is being used for small daycares, small food processors, bottled water plants, foster/care homes, and house sales if required by lender or buyer.

CDH does not provide water testing kits. Use one of the following resources to test your private water supply:

Well Disinfection Information

Disinfection is the process of killing or deactivating microorganisms to make water safe for drinking. Disinfection can also eliminate nuisance bacteria that can cause unpleasant tastes and odors.

Private Well Sampling Application & Fees

CDH provides drinking water quality testing and mortgage survey inspections of private wells and septic systems.

Please ensure applications are filled out completely and supporting documents are submitted together. Applications may be mailed with a check, dropped off in-person, or via email to EHApps@cdh.idaho.gov in PDF format. Other formats will not be accepted. Once electronic applications are received and processed, a CDH employee will contact you for payment.

Be aware that email correspondence may be delivered to your junk or spam folder.

Private Water Sample Application

Drinking Water Quality Fees – Apr 2025

  • Water Sample Collection – $142
  • Coliform Test – $20
  • Fluoride Test – $21
  • Nitrate Test – $21
  • Nitrite Test – $21
  • Arsenic Test – $23

Testing for Contaminants

While your water may appear safe, harmful levels of contaminants occur at such low concentrations that they often cannot be tasted, seen, or smelled. This means regular testing and maintenance are necessary to protect the health of your family. You should test your well water once a year for bacteria and nitrates.

If undesirable levels of contaminants show up in your water, contact The Department of Health and Welfare’s Environmental Health program at radon@dhw.idaho.gov or 1-800-445-8647 to determine the best method to fix the problem and if you have questions about your well water testing results.