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EV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit in Great Falls, Montana

Installing an EV charger in Great Falls requires a standard City of Great Falls Electric Permit -- confirmed directly by the City's own issued-permit records (2026 Combined Permit Fee Listing), which include a real permit (ELECR-01017062-2026, issued 04/07/2026, contractor Liberty Electric Inc, 1712 Solis Ln) described as 'POWER APPARATUS- EV CHARGER.' There is no separate EV-specific permit type or fee code in Resolution No. 10374's Electric Permit Fees (Exhibit A) -- EV chargers are billed under the general 'Power Apparatus' line item (System Fee Schedule Item 9), the same category used for motors, generators, transformers, industrial heating, air conditioners, and heat pumps, rated by horsepower/kilowatt/kVA.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A licensed electrical contractor pulls a standard City of Great Falls Electric Permit for the EV charger installation; homeowners may alternatively use the Homeowner's Electrical Permit for self-installed work
  • The charger's rating (in HP, KW, KVA, or KVAR) determines the applicable Power Apparatus fee tier under Resolution 10374, Exhibit A, Item 9
  • If the installation also requires a new or upgraded electrical service, the Services fee (Item 10) applies in addition to the Power Apparatus fee
  • Governed by the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the City of Great Falls (September 9, 2022)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Permit Issuance FeeResolution No. 10374, Exhibit A, Electric Permit Fees (Table No. 3-B) -- flat fee applied to every electrical permit including EV chargers
$34.39
Power Apparatus -- up to and including 10 HP/KW/KVA/KVARResolution No. 10374, Exhibit A, System Fee Schedule Item 9 -- covers 'motors, generators, transformers, rectifiers, synchronous converters, capacitors, industrial heating, air conditioners and heat pumps, cooking or baking equipment and other apparatus'; no distinct 'EV charger' line item exists, but the City's own 2026 Combined Permit Fee Listing shows a real issued permit (ELECR-01017062-2026) explicitly described as 'POWER APPARATUS- EV CHARGER,' confirming this is the fee category used in practice.
$21.49 each
Power Apparatus -- over 10 and not over 50 HP/KW/KVA/KVARResolution No. 10374, Exhibit A, System Fee Schedule Item 9 -- applies to higher-output Level 2 or commercial EV chargers
$30.32 each
Power Apparatus -- over 50 and not over 100 HP/KW/KVA/KVARResolution No. 10374, Exhibit A, System Fee Schedule Item 9 -- applies to DC fast-charging or multi-port commercial installations
$62.01 each
Services -- 600 volts or less, up to 200 amps (if a new/upgraded service is needed)Resolution No. 10374, Exhibit A, System Fee Schedule Item 10
$39.17 each
Re-inspection FeeCity of Great Falls Homeowner's Electrical Permit Application (Updated 3/2026) -- current rate
$67.63 per hour, minimum 1-hour charge

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your EV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit permit actually take in Great Falls?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Electrical Inspection

    City inspector verifies the new circuit, breaker sizing, and disconnect (if required) before the charger is energized

See the full Great Falls inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Great Falls has actually issued EV charger permits under the description 'POWER APPARATUS - EV CHARGER' -- confirmed directly from the City's own 2026 Combined Permit Fee Listing, so this is a well-established, routinely processed permit category even though it has no dedicated fee line of its own.
  • The fee scales by the charger's rated output (HP/KW/KVA), not a flat 'EV charger' rate -- most residential Level 2 chargers (up to roughly 10 kW) fall in the cheapest $21.49 tier, but higher-output or commercial chargers fall into higher tiers.
  • Every electrical permit also carries the flat $34.39 Permit Issuance Fee in addition to the Power Apparatus fee itself.
  • If your installation also requires a new electrical service or service upgrade to support the charger, budget for the separate Services fee (Item 10) on top of the Power Apparatus fee.

Frequently asked questions

Great Falls requires an ev charger / electric vehicle charging station permit for: A licensed electrical contractor pulls a standard City of Great Falls Electric Permit for the EV charger installation; homeowners may alternatively use the Homeowner's Electrical Permit for self-installed work; The charger's rating (in HP, KW, KVA, or KVAR) determines the applicable Power Apparatus fee tier under Resolution 10374, Exhibit A, Item 9; If the installation also requires a new or upgraded electrical service, the Services fee (Item 10) applies in addition to the Power Apparatus fee; Governed by the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the City of Great Falls (September 9, 2022). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Great Falls Building Division (Planning & Community Development Department) at (406) 455-8430 before starting work.

The $34.39 flat Permit Issuance Fee plus a Power Apparatus fee based on the charger's rated output: $21.49 for up to 10 HP/KW/KVA, $30.32 for 10-50, or $62.01 for 50-100. A new/upgraded electrical service adds the separate Services fee ($39.17-$152.97 depending on amperage/voltage).

Great Falls does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Great Falls Building Division (Planning & Community Development Department) at (406) 455-8430 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Electric Permit Application or Homeowner's Electrical Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Great Falls requires 1 inspection(s) for an ev charger / electric vehicle charging station permit, in order: Electrical Inspection. Schedule each through City of Great Falls Building Division (Planning & Community Development Department) ((406) 455-8430).

Apply through City of Great Falls Building Division (Planning & Community Development Department) at Civic Center, 2 Park Drive South, Room 112, P.O. Box 5021, Great Falls, MT 59403-5021. Phone: (406) 455-8430, email: permit@greatfallsmt.gov. Office hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Official information: https://greatfallsmt.gov/627/Building-Division.

Great Falls, Montana has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by the City of Great Falls September 9, 2022, effective per city adoption (state effective date June 11, 2022 under ARM Title 24, Chapter 301); city stopped accepting the prior 2018-cycle codes as of November 9, 2022; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted September 9, 2022; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted September 9, 2022; 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — adopted September 9, 2022 (Montana uses the UPC, not the International Plumbing Code); 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted September 9, 2022; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted September 9, 2022; 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted September 9, 2022 (Montana's statewide NEC edition is 2020, not 2021, per ARM Title 24, Chapter 301); 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted September 9, 2022; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted September 9, 2022; 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — part of the certified program scope ("W"); ICC A117.1-2017 Accessibility Code — statewide standard incorporated by reference; 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) — adopted separately by the City of Great Falls effective May 25, 2023 (amending OCCGF Title 15), administered by Great Falls Fire Rescue rather than the Building Division. Local amendments apply — see the Great Falls overview page for the full list.

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

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EV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit in other cities

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