RV Shops, Detached Garages & ADUs Boise ID

Ask anyone who owns property in the Treasure Valley what they want built next and the answer is usually a shop. RV shops, detached garages, metal buildings, equipment storage, shops with living quarters, and accessory dwelling units are some of the most requested work we do — and some of the most constrained by local rules.

We build these across Ada and Canyon County, from a two-car detached garage on a Boise infill lot to a full RV shop on acreage outside Star or Middleton.

Call 208-986-1887 Free consultation

New building under construction with roof trusses and framed walls against a blue sky

How we approach it

What matters on a shops, garages & adus project

What the lot will actually allow
Setbacks, lot coverage, height limits, accessory-structure size caps, and whether the jurisdiction treats your building as accessory or primary all decide the project before design starts. So does an irrigation district easement or a utility easement running through the back of the parcel — extremely common here and frequently a surprise. We check all of it first.
RV shops sized for the actual RV
Door height is the number people get wrong. A Class A coach with roof air needs meaningfully more clearance than a standard 12-foot door, and that height drives wall height, truss selection, and often whether the building clears the zoning height limit. Measure the coach, then design the building.
ADUs under Boise’s current zoning
Boise’s zoning code has substantially expanded where accessory dwelling units are allowed and what they can look like, and other Treasure Valley jurisdictions each handle them differently. Attached, detached, garage conversion, or shop with living quarters — the practical constraints are setbacks, height, parking, utility connections, and sewer or septic capacity. We tell you what fits before you fall in love with a plan.
Slab, framing, and finish that hold up
A shop floor that will hold a coach, a lift, or heavy equipment needs a slab designed for it — thickness, reinforcement, control joints, and a prepared and compacted base. Insulated and heated shops need the envelope detailed like a house, not like a barn, or you will fight condensation every winter.
Stick-built or metal
Post-frame, steel building, and conventional framing each make sense in different situations depending on span, finish, insulation plans, and what the neighbourhood or CC&Rs allow. We will tell you honestly which one fits your use rather than defaulting to whatever is easiest to build.

Shops, Garages & ADUs: common questions

Can I build an ADU on my Boise property?

Often yes — Boise’s zoning has broadened accessory dwelling unit allowances considerably, and detached units, garage conversions, and shops with living quarters are all being built. The governing constraints are usually setbacks, height, lot coverage, parking, and utility or sewer connection. Rules differ in Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, and unincorporated county, so the answer genuinely depends on the address. We check the parcel and tell you what is possible.

How tall can a shop or RV garage be?

That is set by zoning, and it varies by jurisdiction and by whether the structure is accessory or primary. It is the single most common reason an RV shop design has to be reworked. We confirm the height limit against the door height you actually need before drawing anything.

Do I need a permit for a detached garage or shop?

Yes, in essentially every Treasure Valley jurisdiction once you pass a small size threshold, and you will need one for any electrical or plumbing regardless. Structures on acreage still require county permits and still have to respect easements and setbacks.

Can you build a shop with living quarters?

Yes, and it is a popular request. Whether the living portion is treated as an ADU, a primary residence, or something not permitted at all depends entirely on the zoning of the parcel. That determination changes the whole project, so it is the first thing we sort out.

Where we work