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Montana building permits
Adopted codes, fees, and permit requirements for every covered Montana city — browse by county, sourced from official records.
CountyCities
- Big Horn County1 city covered
- Broadwater County1 city covered
- Silver Bow County1 city covered
- Carbon County1 city covered
- Cascade County1 city covered
- Custer County1 city covered
- Deer Lodge County1 city covered
- Fergus County1 city covered
- Flathead County3 cities covered
- Gallatin County4 cities covered
- Glacier County1 city covered
- Hill County1 city covered
- Lake County2 cities covered
- Lewis and Clark County2 cities covered
- Lincoln County2 cities covered
- Missoula County2 cities covered
- Park County1 city covered
- Pondera County2 cities covered
- Powell County1 city covered
- Ravalli County3 cities covered
- Richland County2 cities covered
- Rosebud County2 cities covered
- Teton County1 city covered
- Toole County2 cities covered
- Valley County1 city covered
- Yellowstone County3 cities covered
Do I need a permit? — Montana guides
- Window ReplacementUsually no — but yes if you change the size of the opening.
- FenceSometimes — many fences need only zoning/setback approval; a building permit kicks in mainly for fences over 7 feet or with structural elements.
- DeckYes — unless it's a small ground-level platform under 200 sq ft.
- Water HeaterYes — even for a like-for-like replacement.
- Basement FinishYes — any framing, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work requires a permit.
- Solar PanelsYes — both a building and electrical permit are required.
- Roof ReplacementYes — all roof replacements and re-roofing projects require a permit.
- Hot TubYes — at minimum an electrical permit for the 240V circuit.
- ShedUnder 200 sq ft and under 10 feet tall? Usually no. Bigger? Yes.
- Furnace ReplacementYes — even a like-for-like furnace swap requires a mechanical permit.
- EV ChargerLevel 2 (240V) chargers yes. Level 1 (120V plug-in) no.
- Patio Cover / PergolaSolid roof covers yes. Open-lattice pergolas may be exempt.
- Home BusinessYes — most cities require a home occupation permit.
- ADU / In-Law SuiteOften yes — many states now require cities to allow at least internal ADUs.
- Concrete / DrivewayOnly if it connects to the street, modifies drainage, or is a structural element.
- Commercial Tenant ImprovementAlmost always yes — a commercial tenant improvement needs a building permit, usually with electrical, mechanical, and fire permits alongside it.
- Montana PermitsPossibly not from the state — Montana's building code does not apply to a house with fewer than five dwelling units unless your city or county chose to adopt it. Your local government is the one to ask, and what it may do is itself limited: under MCA 50-60-301(2)(a) a county, city or town “may not adopt or enforce a building code that is more stringent than the building code adopted by the department or as required by state law.”
Permit types across Montana
View all →Compare a permit type’s fees across every Montana city we cover.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU / Casita) PermitAccessory Structure Permit (Shed / Detached Garage)Building / Structure Move PermitBuilding Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair / Remodel / Sign / Mobile Home / Fence)Certificate of OccupancyCertificate of Occupancy / Change of Use PermitChange of OccupancyChange of Use / Occupancy PermitCommercial Building PermitCommercial Building Permit & Fire Plan ReviewDeck / Covered Patio PermitDemolition / Building Move PermitDemolition PermitElectrical PermitEV Charger / EVSE PermitFence / Retaining Wall PermitFire Alarm System Permit (State-Issued, via Electrical Permit — No Dedicated Fee Line)Fire Sprinkler / Fire Protection System Permit (State-Issued, via Plumbing Permit)Fire Suppression (Sprinkler) / Fire Alarm PermitInformational Building Permit (Minor Residential Work)Lakeshore Construction PermitLand Use Permit (Fence, Deck, Patio, Shed, Accessory Structure)Mechanical / HVAC PermitMiscellaneous Building Permit (Fence, Driveway, Sidewalk, Curb Cut)Non-Structural Remodel (Permit-Exempt) / Structural Alteration PermitPlumbing PermitResidential Addition / Remodel PermitResidential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit (State-Issued)Roofing Permit (Reroof)Sign PermitSolar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitSwimming Pool / Spa PermitWater Heater PermitZoning PermitZoning Permit (Fence, New Construction Siting, Variance)Zoning Permit (Fence, Sign, Accessory Structure)