Above image © Sector Seventeen

To beautify public areas, enhance the quality of life for Boise residents, attract tourism, promote arts and culture, and encourage businesses to locate within the City—thus expanding Boise’s economic base—the City of Boise promotes Public Murals through the implementation of a clear process for mural permitting and the Public Mural Guidelines.   

QUICKLINKS

Planning & Development Services

Application Process Flow Chart

Mural Guidelines

Statement of Acknowledgement

Submittal Checklist

Retroactive Mural Application

Public Mural Approval Process

APPLICATION & PERMITTING PROCESS

The application and permitting process for murals is jointly facilitated by the City of Boise's Planning and Development Services and the Department of Arts & History. 

Applying

Applicants must submit completed applications to Planning and Development Services. Applications must include mural location, final mural design, and additional information about the mural.

For commercial locations, a Zoning Certificate or Design Review application must be submitted. For commercial locations within a Historic District, a Commercial Certificate of Appropriateness application must be submitted. If you have questions about which application is correct for your project, please contact Planning and Development Services. 

Completed applications will be reviewed administratively by Planning & Development and Arts & History staff and receive approval with any relevant conditions.  

If the applicant would like to submit an application for multiple contiguous locations or locations under the same purview, the project may be able to be submitted under one application. Depending on the scale of the proposals, Planning Staff may still require separate applications. 

BOISE MURAL REGISTRY

The purpose of the Mural Registration Program is to promote and support artists and businesses by maintaining a high-quality, publicly accessible mural map that encourages exploration, learning, and tourism.

The mural registry is vetted by the City of Boise. Applicants intending to participate in the Boise Mural Registry must provide high-quality images of the completed mural to Arts & History Staff. Vintage murals, or murals that were installed before the new mural permitting process, may be added to the Boise Mural Registry via the retroactive mural application process.

Explore the Boise Mural Registry.

BE PART OF THE ACTION

The Public Art Program Team is available as a resource to advise on process, assist with project development, location identification, answer application questions, and provide general assistance. Contact the Public Art Program Team at artsandhistory@cityofboise.org.