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Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Alterations, Change of Occupancy) in Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Montana

Required for new commercial buildings, additions, alterations, repairs, reroofs, and changes of occupancy in Anaconda-Deer Lodge. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County's certified local Building program covers residential only, per the Montana Building Codes Bureau's Certified City, County and Town Programs list ('Deer Lodge County — B (residential only) — Greg Bahr — 563-4010 — County'); that Bureau's own list states that all other building work — which, for a residential-only certified county, means commercial work — is under the jurisdiction of the State Building Codes Bureau. This is the same building official (Greg Bahr) and phone exchange (563-xxxx, Anaconda) already confirmed for the local residential permit on the ADLC Building Inspector page, distinguishing this jurisdiction from the similarly-named City of Deer Lodge in Powell County, a separate town whose own certified-program row is listed as 'PENDING' at a distinct 846-2238 number. Because the county is not certified for commercial building, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau in Helena issues, reviews, and inspects the commercial building permit directly — the ADLC Planning Department does not perform this plan review or issue this permit, though its own Building Permit Application form directs commercial applicants back to the Planning Department, and the county continues to apply its separate zoning and business-license requirements to the same project.

Verified 2026-08-26 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A state Building Permit is required before construction, addition, alteration, repair, reroof, moving a building, or change of occupancy for any commercial building in Anaconda-Deer Lodge, because the county's certified local Building program (residential only) does not extend to commercial work
  • Building permits must be issued before plumbing, mechanical, or electrical permits can be issued for the same project, and before any work authorized under those permits can start
  • Submit construction plans and a Building Permit/Plan Review Application to the Montana Building Codes Bureau for review and approval — electronically at ebiz.mt.gov, by upload/email to buildingcodes@mt.gov, or by mail
  • Plans and specifications must be drawn to scale and show compliance with the International Building Code, including a site plan, dimensioned floor plans, a typical wall/floor/roof section, and required accessibility routes
  • Roof truss designs, and footing/foundation designs that do not comply with the code (such as slab-on-grade in some conditions), require the seal and certification of a licensed Montana design professional
  • Energy code compliance must be demonstrated, for example via the ComCheck tool
  • Do not send fees with the initial submittal unless a project number has already been assigned; the Bureau calculates and bills the permit and plan review fees after intake
  • Separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits are the applicant's responsibility to obtain from the same Bureau
  • The project remains subject to other applicable local requirements, including Anaconda-Deer Lodge County zoning ordinances and the county's business-license requirement for contractors — confirm applicability directly with the ADLC Planning Department, since its own local Building Permit Application form directs commercial applicants there for guidance even though the county does not issue the commercial building-code permit itself

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation $1 to $500
Administrative Rules of Montana 24.301.138, Table 109.2 (Building Permit Fees), as adopted by the Montana Building Codes Bureau — the Bureau's own state fee schedule for state-administered building… Show full citationAdministrative Rules of Montana 24.301.138, Table 109.2 (Building Permit Fees), as adopted by the Montana Building Codes Bureau — the Bureau's own state fee schedule for state-administered building permits, distinct from the ADLC Planning Department's local residential fee table documented under the Residential Building Permit entry above. Text confirmed via Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute's regulation mirror, https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/Mont-Admin-r-24.301.138
$23.50
Building Permit Fee — valuation $501 to $2,000ARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2
$23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $25,000ARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2
$69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $25,001 to $50,000ARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2
$391.75 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $50,001 to $100,000ARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2
$643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000ARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2
$993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000ARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2
$3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001 and upARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2
$5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Plan Review FeeARM 24.301.138(1)(b); confirmed on the Montana Building Codes Bureau's own Building Permit FAQ page, which states the plan review fee is required in addition to the building permit fee and both must be paid before a permit is issued
35% of the Building Permit Fee (50% of the combined plan review and building permit fee if only plan review services are provided)
Inspection Outside Normal Business HoursARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2, Other Inspections and Fees item 1
$45.00 per hour, two-hour minimum charge
Inspection for Which No Fee Is Specifically Indicated / Additional Plan Review from Changes or RevisionsARM 24.301.138, Table 109.2, Other Inspections and Fees items 2 and 3
$45.00 per hour, half-hour minimum charge

Review timeline

Plan reviewAnaconda-Deer Lodge’s published plan-review target
21–21 business days

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Alterations, Change of Occupancy) permit actually take in Anaconda-Deer Lodge?

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

Inspection process

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

    Tips

    • This is a State of Montana permit, not a county one — the ADLC Planning Department and Building Inspector Greg Bahr administer only the county's certified residential Building program, per the state's Certified City, County and Town Programs list. A commercial project's Building Permit is filed with the Montana Building Codes Bureau in Helena, the same Bureau that already handles all electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permitting in this jurisdiction.
    • Do not confuse Anaconda-Deer Lodge County with the City of Deer Lodge — a separate town in Powell County that appears on the same state certified-program list under its own row.
    • Building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits for the same commercial project are separate applications to the same Bureau; the building permit must be issued first.
    • The Bureau's fee schedule (ARM 24.301.138) also lists flat fees for wind farm turbine foundations ($200 for the first turbine, $100 for each additional turbine) and solar fields ($100 per megawatt) — these apply only if the commercial project includes that scope.
    • ADLC's own local Building Permit Application states that its printed fee table is residential only and directs commercial applicants to contact the Planning Department directly — in practice this appears to route to zoning, business-license, and other county requirements rather than to a county-issued commercial building-code permit, since the county's own state certification does not cover commercial building work.

    Frequently asked questions

    Anaconda-Deer Lodge requires a commercial building permit (new construction, additions, alterations, change of occupancy) for: A state Building Permit is required before construction, addition, alteration, repair, reroof, moving a building, or change of occupancy for any commercial building in Anaconda-Deer Lodge, because the county's certified local Building program (residential only) does not extend to commercial work; Building permits must be issued before plumbing, mechanical, or electrical permits can be issued for the same project, and before any work authorized under those permits can start; Submit construction plans and a Building Permit/Plan Review Application to the Montana Building Codes Bureau for review and approval — electronically at ebiz.mt.gov, by upload/email to buildingcodes@mt.gov, or by mail; Plans and specifications must be drawn to scale and show compliance with the International Building Code, including a site plan, dimensioned floor plans, a typical wall/floor/roof section, and required accessibility routes; Roof truss designs, and footing/foundation designs that do not comply with the code (such as slab-on-grade in some conditions), require the seal and certification of a licensed Montana design professional; Energy code compliance must be demonstrated, for example via the ComCheck tool; Do not send fees with the initial submittal unless a project number has already been assigned; the Bureau calculates and bills the permit and plan review fees after intake; Separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits are the applicant's responsibility to obtain from the same Bureau; The project remains subject to other applicable local requirements, including Anaconda-Deer Lodge County zoning ordinances and the county's business-license requirement for contractors — confirm applicability directly with the ADLC Planning Department, since its own local Building Permit Application form directs commercial applicants there for guidance even though the county does not issue the commercial building-code permit itself. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Planning Department — Building Inspector (local Building-only program); Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Bureau (state — electrical, plumbing, mechanical) at (406) 563-4010 (Planning Dept, local Building permits) / (406) 563-4011 (Greg Bahr, Building Inspector) / (406) 841-2056 (State Building Codes Bureau — electrical, plumbing, mechanical) before starting work.

    Fees follow the State of Montana's own valuation-based schedule under Administrative Rules of Montana 24.301.138, Table 109.2 — for example $23.50 for a project valued at $500 or less, scaling to $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 per additional $1,000 above that. A Plan Review Fee equal to 35% of the Building Permit Fee is also required, and both fees must be paid before the permit is issued. This is the state's fee schedule, not a fee set by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.

    Anaconda-Deer Lodge's published plan-review target for a commercial building permit (new construction, additions, alterations, change of occupancy) is 21–21 business days.

    You'll need: Application for Building Permit; Commercial Building Plan Review Submittal Requirements checklist; Construction Plans and Specifications. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Planning Department — Building Inspector (local Building-only program); Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Bureau (state — electrical, plumbing, mechanical) at ADLC Courthouse, First Floor, 800 Main Street, Anaconda, MT 59711 (local Building permits); Building Codes Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517 (state electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits). Phone: (406) 563-4010 (Planning Dept, local Building permits) / (406) 563-4011 (Greg Bahr, Building Inspector) / (406) 841-2056 (State Building Codes Bureau — electrical, plumbing, mechanical), email: Contact via ADLC Planning Department website contact form (Building Inspector Greg Bahr); Building Codes Bureau email available via bsd.dli.mt.gov contact links. Office hours: Not published on the ADLC Planning Department page; contact (406) 563-4010. Official information: https://www.adlc.us/187/Planning.

    Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Montana has adopted: Anaconda-Deer Lodge County is a MONTANA CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT for BUILDING permitting only, RESIDENTIAL ONLY — per the Montana Building Codes Bureau's official 'Certified City, County and Town Programs' list (bsd.dli.mt.gov), entry: 'Deer Lodge County — B (residential only) — Greg Bahr — 563-4010 — County'. This matches the local Building Inspector's own webpage, which names Greg Bahr as Building Inspector.; Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permitting and inspection in Anaconda-Deer Lodge are NOT locally certified — these remain under DIRECT STATE ENFORCEMENT by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Bureau (Employment Standards Division). This is explicitly confirmed on the ADLC Building Inspector page: 'The Building Inspector does not handle electrical, plumbing, or mechanical inspection and permitting. These are functions of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.'; Statutory basis for the certified-local-government model: a city, county, or town may adopt a building code by ordinance and enforce it locally ONLY if certified by the Building Codes Program as complying with applicable statutes/rules (current adopted code, current fee list, and enforcement plan filed and approved) — per ARM Title 24, chapter 301, subchapter 2 (Local Jurisdiction Administrative Rules) and Title 50, chapter 60, MCA (Local Jurisdiction Statutes). Absent local certification for a given trade (electrical/plumbing/mechanical here), the State Building Codes Bureau retains jurisdiction under Title 50, chapter 60, MCA.; Statewide adopted codes (Administrative Rules of Montana, Title 24, chapter 301) apply as the substantive code baseline for both the locally-certified Building program and the state-enforced trades: 2021 International Building Code (IBC), effective June 11, 2022; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), effective June 11, 2022; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), effective June 11, 2022; ICC A117.1 Accessibility, 2017 Edition, effective June 11, 2022; 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), effective June 11, 2022 — enforced directly by the State Building Codes Bureau in Anaconda-Deer Lodge (not locally certified); 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), effective June 11, 2022 — enforced directly by the State Building Codes Bureau in Anaconda-Deer Lodge (not locally certified); 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), effective June 11, 2022 — enforced directly by the State Building Codes Bureau; 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), effective June 11, 2022 — enforced directly by the State Building Codes Bureau in Anaconda-Deer Lodge (not locally certified); 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), effective June 11, 2022; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), effective June 11, 2022; 2021 Wildland Urban Interface Code, effective June 11, 2022. Local amendments apply — see the Anaconda-Deer Lodge overview page for the full list.

    No. The county's certified local Building program, per the Montana Building Codes Bureau's own Certified City, County and Town Programs list, is residential only. Commercial building permits in Anaconda-Deer Lodge are issued, plan-reviewed, and inspected directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau in Helena, the same Bureau that already handles electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permitting here.

    It is Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. The row lists building official Greg Bahr at the 563-4010 exchange, which matches Greg Bahr's own listing as Building Inspector on the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County website at (406) 563-4011, and the ADLC Courthouse address at 800 Main Street, Anaconda. The separate 'Deer Lodge (City)' row, with a PENDING building official and a distinct 846-2238 number, refers to the City of Deer Lodge, a separate incorporated town in Powell County — not part of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County despite the similar name.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-26.

    Fee schedules

    Applications & forms

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

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