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EV Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit) in Red Lodge, Montana

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.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • 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 this file's electrical-permit-state entry rather than the addition/alteration category

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire (Remodel/Addition) — 1 additional circuit or piece of equipmentMontana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit — this file's research could not directly machine-parse the fee-schedule PDF (it renders as encoded binary rather than extractable text), so this figure is drawn from an indexed search-result quotation of the official bsd.dli.mt.gov document rather than a direct read of the PDF text itself; treat as needing a direct confirmation call before relying on it for a specific project. An EV charger circuit is a natural fit for this 'additional circuit or piece of equipment' remodel/addition category, but DLI does not publish a dedicated EV/EVSE line item.
$45

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your EV Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit) permit actually take in Red Lodge?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Electrical Rough-In (if applicable)

    Required only if new circuit wiring is enclosed before final; conduit runs, wire sizing, and grounding verified; 48 hours' notice required

  2. 2

    Electrical Final

    EVSE breaker sizing, working clearances, and charger mounting verified against NEC Article 625

See the full Red Lodge inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Because Red Lodge is not certified for Electrical, an EV charger's electrical scope is a STATE Application for Residential Electrical Permit through the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, not a City permit — the same finding this file's electrical-permit-state and solar-pv-permit entries document.
  • The DLI fee schedule's 'single family interior/exterior wire or rewire (remodel/addition) — 1 additional circuit or piece of equipment' category at $45 is the closest published fit for an EV charger circuit, though DLI does not publish a dedicated EV/EVSE line item — confirm directly with the Bureau, (406) 841-2056, before budgeting.
  • If the charger install requires a panel or service upgrade rather than just an added circuit, the service-size fee tiers ($200 up to 200-amp, $380 for 201-400-amp) documented in this file's electrical-permit-state entry may apply instead.

Frequently asked questions

Red Lodge requires an ev charging station permit (state-issued electrical permit) for: 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 this file's electrical-permit-state entry rather than the addition/alteration category. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Red Lodge Building Division — Building Inspector Brian Hanna; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Red Lodge city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 446-1606 before starting work.

In Red Lodge, the published Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire (Remodel/Addition) — 1 additional circuit or piece of equipment is: $45. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Red Lodge does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Red Lodge Building Division — Building Inspector Brian Hanna; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Red Lodge city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 446-1606 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Application for Residential Electrical Permit (Montana DLI). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Red Lodge requires 2 inspection(s) for an ev charging station permit (state-issued electrical permit), in order: Electrical Rough-In (if applicable), Electrical Final. Schedule each through City of Red Lodge Building Division — Building Inspector Brian Hanna; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Red Lodge city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. ((406) 446-1606).

Apply through City of Red Lodge Building Division — Building Inspector Brian Hanna; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Red Lodge city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at 1 South Platt Avenue, PO Box 9, Red Lodge, MT 59068. Phone: (406) 446-1606. 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.. Official information: https://www.cityofredlodge.net/com-dev/page/building-division.

Red Lodge, Montana has adopted: 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). Local amendments apply — see the Red Lodge overview page for the full list.

Yes. The electrical connection is permitted through the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's statewide Application for Residential Electrical Permit (Red Lodge is not certified for Electrical). No separate City permit is required unless the project also involves a panel/service upgrade or a new structure.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

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 Red Lodge building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.