Red Lodge building permits

Requirements

• Building Permit Application completed: job address, legal description, owner/contractor/architect-designer/engineer contact information, building dimensions and setbacks, class of work (New/Addition/Alteration/Repair), valuation of work (materials and labor), use of building, description of work
• Two sets of building plans, including a plot plan, submitted to the City Building Inspector; plans must clearly identify proposed setbacks and building height
• Plans must comply with the 2021 IRC (one- and two-family dwellings) or 2021 IBC (multifamily/commercial), plus City of Red Lodge Design Criteria: 70 psf minimum roof snow load, wind load per risk category (100-120 MPH, Exposure B; 115 MPH residential), 42-inch frost depth foundation, two rows of ice & water shield on all roofs
• Subject to Building Official's discretion, plans may be required to be stamped/certified by a licensed design professional
• A City Business Registration is required before the permit is issued
• Separate permits are required for electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, or air conditioning work (issued by the State DLI Building Codes Bureau, not the City, since Red Lodge is Building-only certified)
• Fire sprinklers required/not required must be indicated on the application; off-street parking spaces (required/furnished) must be indicated

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCity of Red Lodge form covering job address, owner/contractor/architect/engineer information, class of work, valuation, building dimensions and setbacks, occupancy group, and required signatures
• RequiredConstruction Drawings / Plot PlanTwo sets of building plans including a plot plan showing setbacks and building height, per City requirement

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building Permit Application completed: job address, legal description, owner/contractor/architect-designer/engineer contact information, building dimensions and setbacks, class of work (New/Addition/Alteration/Repair), valuation of work (materials and labor), use of building, occupancy group, description of work — the identical form and fields used for residential construction
• Plans for multifamily and commercial buildings are reviewed against the 2021 IBC, per the City of Red Lodge Design Criteria's own type-of-construction breakdown ('Multifamily and Commercial design per IBC 2021; One- and Two-Family Dwellings design per IRC 2021') and Municipal Code Section 9-1-1(A), under which the City adopts by resolution the most recent IBC edition adopted by the Montana DLI
• Plans must also comply with City of Red Lodge Design Criteria structural values: 70 psf minimum roof snow load (106 psf ground snow load), wind load by Risk Category under Exposure B (100 MPH Risk Category I up to 120 MPH Risk Category IV), 42-inch frost-depth foundation, two rows of ice & water shield on all roofs
• Two sets of building plans, including a plot plan, submitted to the City Building Inspector; subject to the Building Official's discretion, plans may be required to be stamped/certified by a licensed design professional
• A City Business Registration is required before the permit is issued
• Separate permits are required for electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, or air conditioning work, issued by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau rather than the City, since Red Lodge holds Building-only certification
• New construction, an expansion of gross floor area, a height increase, a facade modification, or removal of a historic structure located within the Commercial Historic Overlay Zoning District (CHOZD) additionally requires a Record of Decision, reviewed under the Zoning Regulations' Design Review procedure, before such work may proceed — see the tips below for what triggers this and what is exempted
• A commercial project needing an automatic fire-extinguishing (sprinkler) system and/or a fire alarm and detection system additionally requires a separate Commercial Building Construction Permit from Red Lodge Fire Rescue for each system category — see the Fire Protection Systems Permit (Sprinkler / Alarm) permit type; that Fire Department review is required in addition to, and is not part of, the City Building Permit described here
• Fire sprinklers required/not required and off-street parking spaces (required/furnished) must be indicated on the application

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationThe same City of Red Lodge form used for residential construction; class-of-work, use-of-building, and occupancy-group fields are completed to describe the commercial project
• RequiredConstruction Drawings / Plot PlanTwo sets of building plans including a plot plan showing setbacks and building height; for multifamily/commercial work these are reviewed against the 2021 IBC rather than the 2021 IRC
• OptionalRecord of Decision Application (Commercial Historic Overlay Zoning District only)Required in addition to the Building Permit Application for new construction, qualifying expansions, height increases, facade modifications, or historic-structure removal within the CHOZD, reviewed under the Zoning Regulations' Design Review procedure

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building Permit Application completed with the scope of work identified as demolition (the form's class-of-work checkboxes are New/Addition/Alteration/Repair; demolition scope is described in the 'DESCRIBE WORK' field and remarks section per the form's own demolition completion clause)
• Demolition work must be completed within 30 days of permit issuance, unless otherwise noted under remarks on the permit
• A City Business Registration is required for contractors before the permit is issued
• Owner/contractor contact information, valuation of work, and building dimensions/legal description required as with any other permit type on this form

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Demolition)Same City of Red Lodge form used for all building work, with demolition scope described in the work-description field

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building Permit Application completed with building dimensions, setbacks, and class of work (New/Addition) indicated; garage attached/detached box checked if applicable
• Plans must clearly identify the proposed setback and building height for Building Official review
• If an accessory structure is constructed prior to establishing the principal use, the building permit for both the accessory structure and the principal use is issued together, and the accessory structure's final inspection is withheld until the principal use receives its rough framing inspection
• Plans must comply with the 2021 IRC and City of Red Lodge Design Criteria (70 psf roof snow load, wind load per risk category, 42-inch frost depth) where structurally applicable

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSame City of Red Lodge form used for all building work; garage attached/detached checkbox and building dimensions/setback fields apply to accessory structures
• RequiredPlot PlanSite plan showing the accessory structure location, setbacks, and dimensions

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application for Alternative Energy Permit filed with the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau covers the electrical connection scope of a solar, wind, or hydro system, since Red Lodge holds no Electrical certification
• If the project produces 90 or more volts of electricity, a licensed electrical contractor must do the work, UNLESS the homeowner is doing the work on their own private house
• If the project involves a grid-tied alternative energy generator, a licensed electrical contractor must obtain an additional permit for the final interconnection, even where a homeowner performed the rest of the installation
• Applicant selects one of: PV String System, Generator, or Microinverter/AC Module System
• The structural/roof-mounting scope of the installation requires a City of Red Lodge Building Permit (same Building Permit Application used for other construction), reviewed by Building Inspector Brian Hanna against the 2021 IRC/IBC and City Design Criteria (70 psf minimum roof snow load, wind load by risk category)
• A City Business Registration is required for contractors before the City Building Permit is issued

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Alternative Energy PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form; covers solar/wind/hydro electrical connection scope, including the commercial valuation-based fee chart for larger systems
• RequiredCity of Red Lodge Building Permit Application (structural/roof-mounting scope)Same City form used for other construction; covers the structural mounting of the array

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application must be signed and dated by the licensed electrical contractor's person in charge, or filed as a homeowner permit for owner-performed work
• 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
• 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; mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application must be signed by the Master Plumber and include the Master Plumber License Number, or filed as a homeowner permit for owner-performed work where allowed
• Property address, county, and whether the job is inside city limits must be indicated
• Type of Building and Type of Work must be indicated; sewer service type (public/septic) and potable water source must be indicated
• Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 505, MCA and ARM 24.301.301 / 24.301.361

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 ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Project Value must be provided; permit fee is calculated from the state's valuation-based fee schedule
• Type of Building and Type of Work must be indicated
• 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

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Mechanical 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 ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit is filed with the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau (statewide Application for Residential Electrical Permit), not the City of Red Lodge, since Red Lodge holds no Electrical certification
• If the project produces 90 or more volts of electricity, a licensed electrical contractor must do the work, UNLESS the homeowner is doing the work on their own private house
• A dedicated branch circuit sized to the EVSE manufacturer's specifications is required, consistent with NEC Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) as adopted by Montana
• If the charger install requires a panel/service upgrade, that scope may fall under the service-size fee categories already documented in the electrical-permit-state entry rather than the addition/alteration category

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical Permit (Montana DLI)Statewide Montana Building Codes Bureau form covering interior/exterior wiring additions such as an EV charger circuit

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Sign Permit Application filed with the Community Development Department for any sign not exempted under RLZR §4.6.40 (exemptions include: official/warning/historical notices; indoor signs and window displays; minor residential building ID signs ≤4 sq ft, or wall signs ≤1 sq ft identifying residential occupants/owners; temporary/seasonal holiday lighting erected no more than 45 days before and removed within 15 days after the holiday, ≤70 lumens; one real estate 'for sale/for rent' sign per lot ≤6 sq ft; religious symbols, non-commercial and temporary political signs; wayfinding/traffic-control/entrance signs ≤6 sq ft; historical murals; time-and-temperature signs without blinking/rotating/moving lights; and a projecting sign not exceeding 2.5 sq ft of display surface)
• Application must include a site plan and elevation plan showing all existing and proposed signs, property lines, setbacks, and sign height, plus a drawing of the shape, size, colors, and lighting of each proposed sign
• Maximum sign area: 6 sq ft per lot/parcel/tract in Residential Districts (or 1 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage, up to 40 sq ft, for a sign announcing a development's name); 120 total sq ft per lot in Non-Residential Districts, with any single sign capped at 40 sq ft
• Maximum height of any freestanding sign, including embellishments, is 8 feet above natural grade (or 8 feet above the adjacent public road grade for a property below road grade)
• Signs must be located on the same property as the business, service, or product advertised (no off-site/off-premises signs)
• Neon and internally illuminated signs are only allowed via Design Review: neon only within the Downtown Historic Overlay District (max 22 sq ft, historically-appropriate materials/shapes, RLZR §4.6.80-82); internally illuminated signs are prohibited in the Downtown Historic Overlay District and Residential Districts, and require Design Review elsewhere in Commercial Districts
• Prohibited outright: flashing/blinking/rotating/moving signs (including inflatables, pennants, holograms), digital/electronic graphic display signs, strings/rows of upcast lights (except exempted holiday displays), and off-site signs
• Signs attached to a roof, wall, or projecting from a structure may also require a City Building Permit in addition to the Sign Permit

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit Application (RLZR §4.6.0)City of Red Lodge Community Development Department form covering owner/agent contact information, legal description, zoning classification, sign type/count, illumination, and sign area/height
• RequiredSite Plan and Elevation PlanShows all existing and proposed signs, property lines, setbacks, and sign height
• RequiredSign DrawingShows the shape, size, colors, and lighting of each proposed sign

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Commercial Building Construction Permit Application filed with Red Lodge Fire Rescue, checking each fire-protection category that applies: Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems and/or Fire Alarm and Detection Systems (the two categories relevant here), plus Compressed Gasses, Fire Pumps and Related Equipment, Flammable and Combustible Liquids, Hazardous Materials, LP-Gas Systems, Private Fire Hydrants, Spraying or Dipping Operations, and Standpipe Systems where applicable
• A written description of the building's fire protection features (proposed alarm systems, suppression systems, kitchen hood systems, hazardous materials storage areas) and the building's occupancy classification
• For buildings with automatic sprinklers only: the location of the proposed or closest existing fire hydrant and fire department connection; Red Lodge Fire Rescue conducts a flow test after the permit is received, for fire suppression system design purposes
• A complete scale site plan showing total building square footage, intended use, and all access to the building from public streets and private driveways
• Two complete sets of plans (one printed, one electronic)
• If the project site has no City of Red Lodge-issued physical address, a City of Red Lodge Addressing Application must be submitted alongside the fire permit application
• Each checked permit category is billed as a separate $75.00 Construction Permit — a project needing both a sprinkler permit and a fire alarm permit pays for two permits
• This Fire Department permit must be completed in addition to any application process required by the City of Red Lodge Planning and Building Departments

Required documents

• RequiredCommercial Building Construction Permit ApplicationRed Lodge Fire Rescue form; check all fire-protection permit categories that apply (Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems, Fire Alarm and Detection Systems, etc.), each billed at $75.00
• RequiredWritten Description of Fire Protection FeaturesDescribes proposed alarm systems, suppression systems, kitchen hood systems, hazardous materials storage, and the building's occupancy classification
• OptionalFire Hydrant / Fire Department Connection MapRequired only for buildings with automatic sprinklers; shows nearest existing or proposed fire hydrants
• RequiredConstruction Plans (printed + electronic)Two complete sets, including total building square footage and all access to the building
• OptionalCity of Red Lodge Addressing ApplicationRequired only if the project site has not yet been issued a physical address by the City

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No separate/standalone Change of Use application exists — the City's own 'Applications and Petitions' page (Planning & Zoning Division) lists only Use of City-Owned Land, Temporary Use Permit, and Sign Permits as standalone applications; a change of use or occupancy classification is processed as a Building Permit Application
• Per Zoning Regulations §12.4.1.64: 'No building permit shall be issued except in compliance with the terms, procedures and standards of these Zoning Regulations. A certificate-of-occupancy/final inspection shall not be issued for any structure except when said structure is compliant with the applicable section of the City-adopted International Building Codes; and both said structure or development and property it is on is in compliance with the terms, procedures and standards of these Zoning Regulations'
• Where an existing building's use or occupancy classification is changing, review is conducted against the 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) as adopted by Municipal Code §9-1-1(B), applied by City Building Inspector Brian Hanna under Red Lodge's DLI Building-only certification
• The Building Permit Application's class-of-work and use-of-building fields must reflect the new use; subject to the Building Official's discretion, plans may need to be stamped/certified by a licensed design professional
• A City Business Registration is required before a permit is issued, consistent with all other Building Permit Application-based permit types in this record
• If the change of use also alters a building's fire-protection design requirements (e.g., a new occupancy classification needing different sprinkler or alarm coverage), a separate Red Lodge Fire Rescue Commercial Building Construction Permit may additionally be required — see the fire-sprinkler-alarm-permit entry

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSame City of Red Lodge form documented in the residential-building-permit entry; the new use/occupancy is described in the class-of-work and use-of-building fields
• OptionalConstruction Drawings / PlansRequired where structural or life-safety systems are affected, sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the 2021 IEBC/IBC for the new use

Fee schedule