Ammon, Iona and Ucon crane lifts
East of Idaho Falls, Ammon has grown into one of the busiest framing markets in the valley, with Iona and Ucon filling in to the north. Inside Ammon the city runs its own right-of-way permit; outside the city limits the road belongs to someone else.
Who issues a permit for a crane in an Ammon street?
Ammon Public Works. The city's Public Right-of-Way Permit covers work in its streets and easements, and the contractor has to notify Public Works at least two working days before any work. Traffic control devices have to follow the federal MUTCD. Outside the city, county roads and state highways have their own owners.
- Ammon issues its own right-of-way permit through Public Works.
- The permit asks for notice at least two working days before work.
- Traffic control on an Ammon street follows the MUTCD.
- Building permits in Ammon run through a separate online system.
Ammon’s own permit
Inside the city limits, a crane in an Ammon street or easement falls under the city’s Public Right-of-Way Permit from Public Works. The conditions on the form are short and practical:
- Notice. The contractor notifies Public Works at least two working days before any work.
- Traffic control. All signs, cones and barricades follow the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Locates. The form asks for the Digline locate number when there is any digging.
Building permits in Ammon run through a separate online system, so the framer’s permit and the crane’s street permit are two different steps.
Who owns the road outside town
Iona and Ucon are small cities of their own, so their streets go through each city hall. The county roads between them and out toward the farm ground belong to Bonneville County. State highways belong to the Idaho Transportation Department, which also issues oversize permits for a crane that is over legal size on the way in.
The usual jobs on the east side
- Truss packages. New subdivisions keep framing crews and cranes busy from spring into fall.
- Hot tubs and sheds. Backyards with a fence and no gate wide enough, where a boom truck sets the load over the house.
- Rooftop units. Strip centers and offices along the main east-side corridors.
Growth here is why Bonneville School District 93 opened Willow Creek Elementary for the 2026-27 school year, built for families in Idaho Falls and Ammon.
Distances and rough costs
Straight-line from the falls on Broadway, central Ammon is about 4 miles, Iona about 6 and Ucon about 8. A boom truck on a posted rate of $148 an hour with a 2-hour minimum comes to $296 for a short set. Note any overhead lines in the request; federal rules keep a boom at least 10 feet from lines up to 50 kV. See the rates page.
Common questions
Does a crane in my Ammon driveway need a permit?
Not for the street, as long as the crane and its outriggers stay on private property. Once any part sits in the street or the right-of-way, the Ammon permit applies.
How far is Ammon from Idaho Falls for travel time?
Central Ammon is about 4 miles in a straight line from the falls on Broadway, Iona about 6 and Ucon about 8. Short runs like these leave most of a minimum for the lift itself.
Are Iona and Ucon handled the same way?
They are separate small cities, so a crane in their streets goes through each city hall. County roads between them belong to Bonneville County.
Sources for the Idaho Falls facts
- City of Ammon, Public Right-of-Way Permit
- City of Ammon, building permits
- Bonneville School District 93, Willow Creek Elementary opening (KIFI)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408, power line safety
- Rocky Mountain Crane (Kalispell, MT), 2026 posted rate
Get this lift priced by an eastern Idaho operator
Estimates are fine.
More guides
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Posted crane rates, read for eastern IdahoA Montana boom truck, three hydraulic cranes and a Utah crane visit, each with its minimum, and the bills they add up to.
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Farm, pivot and potato cellar lifts in eastern IdahoCrane work on eastern Idaho farms: pivot spans and towers, potato cellar beams and machinery, gravel roads, soft field edges, highway permits and rates.