Crane rental in Nampa and the west valley
Nampa is Idaho's third largest city, about 19 miles west of the Capitol on I-84. Unlike Boise and Meridian, Nampa runs its own streets, so the crane permit comes from the city, not ACHD.
.jpg){kind=link}
Do I need a permit for a crane in a Nampa street?
Yes. Work in Nampa's right-of-way needs a City of Nampa right-of-way permit, general or traffic, with a $75 application fee. If the crane affects traffic, an approved traffic control plan must be on site, and Engineering wants 48 hours' notice before work starts.
- Nampa issues its own right-of-way permits: $75 application fee for a general or a traffic permit.
- Notify Nampa Engineering at least 48 hours before work starts.
- A traffic control plan must be approved before work and kept on site.
- Outside city limits, Nampa Highway District No. 1 handles overlegal permits on its roads.
Nampa right-of-way rules
Boise, Meridian and Eagle sit inside the Ada County Highway District. Nampa is in Canyon County and manages its own streets, so a crane that sets up in the street, on a sidewalk or in a lane needs a City of Nampa right-of-way permit.
- Two kinds of permit. A general permit for work in the right-of-way, and a traffic permit when the work affects traffic. Each carries a $75 application fee on the Engineering fee schedule.
- Traffic control plan. If the crane closes or narrows a lane, the plan has to be approved before work begins, and the approved copy stays on site.
- 48 hours’ notice. Engineering wants to hear from the contractor at least 48 hours before the work starts. For closures, the emergency and transit agencies listed on the permit need the same notice.
Applications go through the city’s online permit portal. A crane on a private lot or a driveway needs none of this.
Outside city limits
Roads outside Nampa city limits belong to highway districts. Nampa Highway District No. 1 issues its own overlegal permits, single trip or annual, for oversize or overweight vehicles on its roads. A large crane headed to a farm or a dairy west of town may need one in addition to state permits.
Fuel miles from Boise
Nampa is about 19 miles from downtown Boise in a straight line and around 20 to 25 minutes on I-84. On port to port billing that is close to an hour of crane time for the round trip, and the posted fuel formula charges $1.00 a mile for cranes up to 70 tons, so a 40 to 50-mile round trip adds $40 to $50 in mileage.
Typical Nampa crane work
- Rooftop units on shops, schools and warehouses along the I-84 corridor.
- Hot tubs and sheds in the new subdivisions south and west of town.
- Farm and dairy work across Canyon County, where the road owner may be a highway district.
- Steel and panels for industrial buildings near the interchanges.
Rough costs
| Job | Machine | Rough bill before fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Hot tub or condenser | 23-ton boom truck, 4 hours | $700 |
| Rooftop unit on a warehouse | 40 to 60-ton crane, 4 hours | $700 |
| Steel or panels | 75-ton crane, 8 hours | $2,000 |
Figures use the posted rate sheet. Add fuel, weekend time and a rigger if the lift needs one.
Quick answers
Is a crane more expensive in Nampa than in Boise?
The hourly rate is the same on a posted sheet. The extra is travel: with port to port billing and a per-mile fuel charge, a crane from the Boise side adds drive time and about $40 to $50 in mileage for the round trip.
What does a small crane job in Nampa cost?
On the posted sheet, a 17 or 23-ton boom truck is $175 an hour with a 4-hour minimum, so $700 plus fuel. A 75-ton crane for 4 hours is $1,000.
Does Caldwell work the same way?
Caldwell is a separate city with its own street permits, and Canyon Highway District covers many roads outside town. Ask the operator to check which office owns the road at your address.
Where each Boise figure comes from
Price this lift with a Treasure Valley operator
Start with what you know. Guesses are fine.
Keep reading
-
Boise crane rates by the hourOne posted rate sheet from 17 to 130 tons, the 4 and 8-hour minimums, fuel charges, riggers and sample math.
-
Craning a hot tub or shed into a Boise backyardLifting a hot tub, spa or shed over a house or fence in Boise and Meridian: crane size, the 4-hour minimum, ACHD street permits, wires and soft lawns.
-
Rooftop HVAC units in Boise: which crane, what it costsSetting rooftop HVAC units in Boise and Meridian: crane size by reach, the ACHD street permit, airport notice near Boise Airport and posted hourly rates.