This is PermitBase’s published record for Townsend as of 2026-07-20. It has since been superseded — see the current record. A historical record reflects what PermitBase had verified at that time; it may not capture a real-world change the jurisdiction had made but PermitBase had not yet verified, and it includes any errors we later corrected. Snapshots are never edited retroactively.
Townsend building permits
VerifiedTownsend, Montana — as published 2026-07-20.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Building Permit — Residential Building (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)
VerifiedRequired for new one- and two-family residential construction, additions, remodels, and other structural building work within Townsend city limits, issued by the City of Townsend under its DLI-certified local Building (B) program (2021 IBC/IRC). No dedicated city-published application form or valuation-based fee schedule was located; contact Building Official James Schauber directly, (406) 431-8319.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Permit required for building construction, large repairs, roofing, and fence installation, per the City of Townsend's own public notice: 'Please check before doing any building or large repairs, roofing, installing fences, etc. as these need permits.'
- Contact Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319, to initiate the permit application and plan review process — no self-service online application or downloadable PDF form was found published by the city
- Reviewed against the 2021 IBC/IRC as the statewide-adopted editions (effective June 11, 2022) enforced locally by Townsend's certified building official
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationNo City of Townsend-specific application form was found published online (unlike East Helena's downloadable Construction Permit Application PDF). Applicants should contact Building Official James Schauber directly, (406) 431-8319, to obtain the current application.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (new construction, addition, remodel) | No fee schedule was found published by the City of Townsend after checking townsendmontana.net (homepage, Notices & Information, Contact Us), townsendmt.com (including the Forms, Applications, Taxes… Show full citationHideNo fee schedule was found published by the City of Townsend after checking townsendmontana.net (homepage, Notices & Information, Contact Us), townsendmt.com (including the Forms, Applications, Taxes page), and the Townsend municipal code platform. Contact Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319, for the current fee calculation. |
Swimming Pool Permit
VerifiedRequired for construction/installation of a swimming pool within Townsend city limits. Townsend is one of the Montana jurisdictions DLI-certified for Swimming Pool (SP) permitting in addition to Building (B), so this permit is issued locally by Building Official James Schauber under the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), rather than being routed to the state. No dedicated pool-specific application form or fee line distinct from the general building-permit process was found published by the city.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Contact Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319, since Townsend is DLI-certified for Swimming Pool (SP) permitting within city limits
- Reviewed against the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as statewide-adopted (effective June 11, 2022) and locally enforced by Townsend's certified building official
- No dedicated Townsend-specific pool application form, fee schedule, or barrier/fencing amendment was found published after checking the city's official website and the Chamber/community site
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding/Pool Permit ApplicationNo separate pool-specific application form was found published by the City of Townsend; contact Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming Pool Permit Fee | No pool-specific fee line was found published by the City of Townsend. Contact Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319, for the current fee. |
Electrical Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedRequired for electrical installation, alteration, or repair work anywhere in Townsend (city limits) and unincorporated Broadwater County. Because Townsend is NOT electrically-certified, this permit is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena), not the city, under the 2020 NEC.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Application must be signed and dated by the licensed electrical contractor's person in charge
- Payment must be submitted with the application; incomplete applications are returned unprocessed
- Property address, GEOCODE/parcel/lot/block, owner information, and power company must be provided
- Alternative Energy Source (solar/wind/hydro) projects require an additional fee added to the base fee and must specify system type (Micro Inverter/AC Module System or PV String System for solar)
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1); mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — up to 200-amp service (includes meter base and attached garages if wired at the same time) | $200 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option A — same statewide fee schedule documented in anaconda-deer-lodge.json |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — 201 to 400-amp service | $380 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option B |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — 401 to 600-amp service | $600 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option C |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — 601-amp service and up | $800 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option D |
| Residential Change of Service — exterior meter base & interior/exterior main disconnect only | $45 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option I |
| Private Property Accessory Building (Garage, Barn, etc.) — up to 200-amp panel | $80 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option K |
| Alternative Energy Source add-on (solar, wind, or hydro) | $45-$65 additional fee added to the selected base work type | Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1) — required in addition to base fee for any alternative energy project; figure varies by form revision, confirm current amount with the Building Codes Bureau |
| Request inspection, per hour | $60 (additional $30 for each 30 minutes or fraction thereof in excess of one hour, plus travel time) | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option CC |
Plumbing Permit (including Water Heater) — State-Issued
VerifiedRequired for plumbing work anywhere in Townsend (city limits) and unincorporated Broadwater County, including new water heater installation/replacement. Because Townsend is NOT plumbing-certified, this permit is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena) under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, not the city.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Application must be signed by the Master Plumber and include Master Plumber License Number
- Accurate location and owner information required; property address, county, and whether the job is located inside city limits must be indicated
- Type of Building (Single Family, Multiple Family, Commercial/Public, Accessory Building) and Type of Work (New, Alteration/Addition) must be indicated
- Sewer Service Type (Public Sewer System or Septic System) and Potable Water Source (Potable Water Source or Public Utility) must be indicated
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 505, MCA and ARM 24.301.301 and ARM 24.301.361
- Homeowner exemption: a homeowner does NOT need a state plumbing permit if performing the plumbing installation themselves on their own owner-occupied residence not built for resale/rental, per the Montana Building Codes Bureau Plumbing Permits page
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Plumbing PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1); mailed with payment to Building Codes Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gray water system, commercial or residential | $60 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule — same statewide fee schedule documented in anaconda-deer-lodge.json |
| Repair or alteration of drainage or vent piping | $30 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Alteration or repair of water piping and/or treatment | $30 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Each connection of building water supply to water service/public utility or private well | $20 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Each connection of building drain to sewer system/public or septic | $20 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Each NEW water heater (or replacement) | $25 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Each storm drain and storm drainage | $30 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Each lawn sprinkler, fire protection system, any meter, or backflow protection device | $30 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Each hose bibb, vacuum, breaker, and/or backflow device | $6 | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Each plumbing fixture or trap (bath tub, lavatory, shower, water closet, kitchen sink, etc.) | $10 per fixture/trap | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
Mechanical / HVAC Permit — State-Issued
VerifiedRequired for mechanical/HVAC work anywhere in Townsend (city limits) and unincorporated Broadwater County, including furnaces, gas piping, ventilation, and cooling equipment. Because Townsend is NOT mechanically-certified, this permit is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena) under the 2021 International Mechanical Code, not the city.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Accurate location and owner information required for permitting
- Type of Building (Multiple Family, Commercial/Public, Accessory Building, Public Building, Factory Building, Warehouse Building) and Type of Work (New, Addition/remodel, Alteration) must be indicated
- Project Value must be provided; permit fee is calculated from the state's valuation-based fee schedule
- Boiler work requires a separate Boiler Permit form, not the Mechanical Permit
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 104, MCA and ARM 24.301.172
- Exemptions include: farm/ranch buildings, mining buildings on mining property, residential buildings containing fewer than five dwelling units (except when serving transient guests), and private garages/storage buildings for the owner's own use, per the Montana Building Codes Bureau Mechanical Permits page
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Mechanical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1); mailed with payment to Department of Labor and Industry / BCB / PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Permit — Project value $0–$10,000 | $48 for the first $1,000, plus $14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Mechanical Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule — same statewide fee schedule documented in anaconda-deer-lodge.json |
| Mechanical Permit — Project value $10,001–$50,000 | $166 for the first $10,000, plus $9 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof | Application for Mechanical Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
| Mechanical Permit — Project value $50,001 or more | $514 for the first $50,000, plus $6 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof | Application for Mechanical Permit (BCP-1), Fee Schedule |
Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
VerifiedBecause Townsend is not DLI-certified for electrical (its certification is Building and Swimming Pool only), solar PV interconnection/electrical work anywhere within Townsend city limits is issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not the City. This file's own Electrical Permit entry already confirms the exact real fee mechanism: the State's Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) carries a dedicated 'Alternative Energy Source add-on (solar, wind, or hydro)' fee of $45-$65, added on top of the base electrical work-type fee, and the application requires the applicant to specify the solar system type (Micro Inverter/AC Module System or PV String System). Racking/mounting structural work is permitted locally by City Building Official James Schauber under the City's Building (B) certification, using the same unpublished-fee mechanism documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Electrical interconnection/wiring for a solar PV system is filed with the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, not the City of Townsend, since the City holds no electrical certification — per the same trade split already documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry
- Application must specify the Alternative Energy Source type — Micro Inverter/AC Module System or PV String System for solar — per the state Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1)
- Alternative Energy Source add-on fee ($45-$65) is charged in addition to whatever base electrical work-type fee applies (e.g., new service, change of service, accessory building panel)
- Racking/mounting structural work requires a City of Townsend Building Permit from Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319 — no dedicated city application form or fee schedule is published (same gap documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry)
- Apply for the state electrical/alternative-energy permit in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431, the same statutory basis documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical Permit (Alternative Energy Source)Montana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1), specifying Micro Inverter/AC Module System or PV String System for solar; mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (racking/mounting scope)No City of Townsend-specific form is published online; contact Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319, to obtain the current application
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Energy Source add-on (solar, wind, or hydro) | $45-$65 additional fee added to the selected base work type | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1) — the exact same real, state-published fee already documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry. |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — up to 200-amp service (base electrical fee, if applicable to the interconnection scope) | $200 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1), fee option A — same statewide fee schedule already documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry. |
| Building Permit Fee (structural mounting/racking) | No fee schedule was found published by the City of Townsend for the racking/mounting scope, consistent with the general fee-publication gap already documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry. Show full citationHideNo fee schedule was found published by the City of Townsend for the racking/mounting scope, consistent with the general fee-publication gap already documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry. Contact Building Official James Schauber, (406) 431-8319, for the current fee. |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Townsend is NOT electrically-certified, an EV charger/EVSE circuit installation anywhere in Townsend city limits (or unincorporated Broadwater County) requires a Residential (or Commercial) Electrical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, under the 2020 NEC — the same mechanism documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry. The Bureau's own Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) fee table has no dedicated EV-charger line item; the closest applicable category is 'H. 1 additional circuit or piece of equipment' ($45) or 'G. 2-3 additional circuits or pieces of equipment' ($70) if no panel/service change is involved, or the service-amperage-based categories already documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry if the installation requires a panel/service upgrade.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) must be signed and dated by the licensed electrical contractor's person in charge, per the same process documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry
- Payment must be submitted with the application; incomplete applications are returned unprocessed
- Applicant selects the applicable 'Type of Work' category on the state form — for a standalone EV charger circuit with no service/panel change, this is '1 additional circuit or piece of equipment' ($45) or '2-3 additional circuits or pieces of equipment' ($70); a panel upgrade to support the charger instead falls under the service-amperage-based categories already documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431
- No Townsend-specific or DLI-published EV-charger-specific line item exists — this entry cites the closest real, applicable statewide fee categories rather than an invented EV-specific figure
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1); mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 additional circuit or piece of equipment (e.g., a standalone EV charger circuit, no panel/service change) | $45 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) — no dedicated EV-charger line exists; this is the closest applicable 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' category for a single added circuit. |
| 2-3 additional circuits or pieces of equipment only | $70 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) — applicable if the EV charger installation involves more than one added circuit. |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — up to 200-amp service (if a panel/service upgrade is required to support the charger) | $200 | Same statewide fee schedule documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry; applies only if the EV charger installation triggers a service/panel change rather than a simple added circuit. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-04.
Applications & forms
Codes & ordinances
Department & other records
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Townsend building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.