Red Lodge building permits

Building department

Address

1 South Platt Avenue, PO Box 9, Red Lodge, MT 59068

Phone

(406) 446-1606

Email

Office hours

City Hall: contact (406) 446-1606 x8 to reach Building Inspector Brian Hanna directly; applicants should call the building official to schedule an appointment for application submittal, per the City's Building Division page.

Website

Official site

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Red Lodge — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.

Codes adopted

Montana adopts a single statewide building code by rule and, by default, enforces it directly — local governments only gain enforcement authority once the state certifies them. Under the Montana Building Codes Act (Mont. Code Ann. Title 50, Chapter 60), the Department of Labor & Industry's Building Codes Bureau adopts one state building code applicable everywhere (§ 50-60-203, codified further at Administrative Rules of Montana Title 24, Chapter 301) — currently the 2021 editions of the IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, ISPSC, and UPC, with the 2020 NEC for electrical (effective statewide since 6/11/2022 per the Bureau's own Current Codes page). A city, county, or town may adopt and enforce its own building-code program under § 50-60-301, but its adopted code "may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau" — a local edition can never diverge from or be less stringent than the state's. Critically, under § 50-60-302, a local government cannot enforce ANY building code — even one it has formally adopted — until the Bureau certifies its program (requiring an approved code, a published fee schedule, an enforcement plan, and properly licensed or nationally certified inspectors); certification is granted per TRADE, not as one blanket designation. The Bureau's own "Certified City, County and Town Programs" list uses the key B=Building, P=Plumbing, E=Electrical, M=Mechanical, SP=Pool, W=Wildland-Urban-Interface — a jurisdiction can be certified for Building only while Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical remain directly state-enforced within the same city limits (e.g., Havre, Anaconda-Deer Lodge), or certified across all trades (e.g., Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell). Non-certified jurisdictions — most of Montana's unincorporated county land, since very few counties appear on the certified list — fall under direct enforcement by the state Building Codes Bureau (§ 50-60-304). Montana also exempts private homes and buildings of four or fewer dwelling units not serving transient guests from the state building-permit requirement entirely, though electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits remain separately required regardless. Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction which trades it is certified for versus which remain directly state-enforced.

• Montana has a mandatory statewide building code administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Building Codes Bureau, amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Title 24, Chapter 301. Cities, counties, and towns may become 'certified' to locally administer permitting and inspection for all or part of the code; non-certified trades in a partially-certified jurisdiction fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs list (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).
• Red Lodge is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B) ONLY within city limits; certified building official on file with DLI: Brian Hanna, (406) 446-1606. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'Montana Certified Local Government Program' roster, updated 04/22/2026, https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf (verified directly: roster row reads 'Red Lodge | B | Brian Hanna | 446-1606 | City Limits')
• City of Red Lodge Municipal Code Title 9, Chapter 1 (Building Codes), Section 9-1-1 (Adoption): the City adopts by resolution (A) the most recent edition of the International Building Code adopted by the Montana DLI, (B) the most recent edition of the International Existing Building Code adopted by the Montana DLI, (C) the most recent edition of the International Residential Code adopted by the Montana DLI, and (D) other Montana DLI-adopted codes deemed appropriate by City Council including the Uniform Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, National Electrical Code, and International Energy Conservation Code, plus (E) Montana administrative rules modifying/clarifying those codes. Source: City of Red Lodge Municipal Code § 9-1-1 (Ord. 869, 3-13-2007; Ord. 886, 9-14-2010; Ord. 914, 5-26-2015), via eCode360, https://ecode360.com/42581916
• Per the City of Red Lodge Building Division page: in 2022 the City Council adopted the 2021 family of International Codes (I-Codes). Source: City of Red Lodge Building Division page, https://www.cityofredlodge.net/com-dev/page/building-division
• Per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's Current Codes page (statewide effective date June 11, 2022, applicable to all certified and state-enforced jurisdictions alike): 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IECC, 2021 ISPSC, 2021 UPC, 2020 NEC, 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility. Red Lodge's own Building Division page and Design Criteria document reference the 2021 IBC and 2021 IRC by name specifically, consistent with a small B-only-certified jurisdiction enforcing the state-adopted editions. Source: bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes; City of Red Lodge design_criteria.pdf
• Municipal Code § 9-1-2 (Applicability): the exemption optionally provided to Montana communities under M.C.A. Section 50-60-102(1)(a) does NOT apply in Red Lodge — the IRC applies to residential buildings with fewer than 5 dwelling units, attached structures, any farm/ranch building of any size, and any private garage/storage structure of any size for the owner's own use, within city limits. Source: City of Red Lodge Municipal Code § 9-1-2 (Ord. 854A, 2-23-2003; Ord. 914, 5-26-2015), via eCode360
• Municipal Code § 9-1-3 (Agreement to Comply): per M.C.A. Section 7-5-4202, a permittee agrees as a condition of permit application to be bound by all state-adopted building codes referenced in § 9-1-1. Source: City of Red Lodge Municipal Code § 9-1-3 (Ord. 869, 3-13-2007)

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration)

  Required for new single-family home construction, additions, and alterations within Red Lodge city limits. Issued by the City of Red Lodge under its DLI-certified local Building (B) program using the City's Building Permit Application form, reviewed by Building Inspector Brian Hanna against the 2021 IRC and City Design Criteria.

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• Demolition Permit

  Required for demolition of a structure within Red Lodge city limits, processed through the same Building Permit Application used for new construction, additions, and alterations. Demolition work must be completed within 30 days of permit issuance unless otherwise noted.

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• Deck / Accessory Structure Permit

  Required for construction of decks, garages, sheds, and other accessory structures within Red Lodge city limits, using the standard Building Permit Application. Accessory structures built before the principal use is established are permitted jointly with the principal structure.

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• Solar PV / Alternative Energy Permit (State-Issued Electrical + City-Issued Structural)

  Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (and wind/hydro) alternative-energy systems within Red Lodge city limits. Because Red Lodge is DLI-certified for Building ONLY (not Electrical), the electrical-connection scope of a solar install is permitted directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau via its statewide Alternative Energy Permit application; the structural/roof-mounting scope falls under the City's own certified Building Permit program (Building Inspector Brian Hanna).

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• Electrical Permit (State-Issued)

  Because Red Lodge is DLI-certified for Building only, electrical work anywhere within Red Lodge city limits requires a Residential (or Commercial) Electrical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Red Lodge, under the 2020 NEC.

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• Plumbing Permit (State-Issued, incl. Water Heater)

  Because Red Lodge is DLI-certified for Building only, plumbing work anywhere within Red Lodge city limits — including water heater installation/replacement — requires a Plumbing Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Red Lodge, under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code.

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• Mechanical / HVAC Permit (State-Issued)

  Because Red Lodge is DLI-certified for Building only, mechanical/HVAC work anywhere within Red Lodge city limits requires a Mechanical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Red Lodge, under the 2021 International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code.

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• EV Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit)

  Required for installation of a Level 2 (or higher) electric vehicle charging station/EVSE within Red Lodge city limits. Because Red Lodge is DLI-certified for Building ONLY (not Electrical), the electrical-connection scope of an EV charger install is permitted directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau via its statewide Application for Residential Electrical Permit, the same mechanism this file's electrical-permit-state entry documents for other residential wiring work. No separate City building permit is required for a standalone EVSE circuit unless it also involves a new structure (e.g. carport) or triggers structural work, in which case the City's own certified Building Permit program applies to that scope.

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• Sign Permit (Outdoor Advertising)

  Required to erect, construct, relocate, install, or alter a sign or other outdoor advertising device on a building or structure within Red Lodge city limits, unless the sign qualifies for an exemption under RLZR §4.6.30. Issued by the Planning & Zoning Division (Zoning Administrator) under Red Lodge Zoning Regulations §4.6.0, Outdoor Advertising.

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• Fire Protection Systems Permit (Sprinkler / Alarm) — Commercial Building Construction Permit

  Required from Red Lodge Fire Rescue for a commercial building's automatic fire-extinguishing (sprinkler) system and/or fire alarm and detection system, among other enumerated fire-protection categories, as part of the department's 'Commercial Building Construction Permit.' Red Lodge Fire Rescue issues and reviews this permit under an agreement with the City of Red Lodge and under Municipal Code Title 7, Chapter 1 (2021 International Fire Code as locally adopted and amended, Ord. 970, 4/8/2025). It is required IN ADDITION to, not instead of, the City of Red Lodge Building Division's own Building Permit and the Planning Department's review.

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• Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy

  Red Lodge has no standalone 'Change of Use Permit' or separate Certificate of Occupancy application or fee schedule. A certificate-of-occupancy/final inspection is issued as part of the same City of Red Lodge Building Permit Application used for new construction, additions, and alterations (see this file's residential-building-permit entry), once the structure and the property it sits on comply with the City-adopted International Building Codes and the terms, procedures, and standards of the Zoning Regulations (Red Lodge Zoning Regulations §12.4.1.64, 'Building Permit and Certification of Occupancy,' Ord. 957, 5-10-2022). Where an existing building's use or occupancy classification is changing, the project is reviewed under the 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), which the City adopts by resolution under Municipal Code §9-1-1(B) alongside the 2021 IBC/IRC, using the same Building Permit Application and the same DLI Building (B)-only certification scope documented throughout this file.

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