Solar PV / Alternative Energy Permit in Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Montana

Anaconda-Deer Lodge requires a solar pv / alternative energy permit for: Alternative Energy Permit application filed with the Montana Building Codes Bureau covers the electrical connection scope of a solar, wind, or hydro system; 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; For solar specifically, the applicant selects one of: PV String System, Generator, or Microinverter/AC Module System; Structural/roof-mounting aspects of the installation may require a local ADLC Building Permit (confirm applicability with the ADLC Building Inspector for the specific project scope). 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.

In Anaconda-Deer Lodge, the published Residential Change of Service (used for typical residential alternative-energy interconnection) is: $45. Additional published fees: Commercial Alternative Energy — valuation $0 to $1,000 — $45 for the first $500 plus 6% of the balance of the project cost; Commercial Alternative Energy — valuation $1,001 to $10,000 — $75 for the first $1,000 plus 2% of the balance of the project cost; Commercial Alternative Energy — valuation $10,001 to $50,000 — $255 for the first $10,000 plus 0.5% of the balance of the project cost; Commercial Alternative Energy — valuation $50,001 or more — $455 for the first $50,000 plus 0.3% of the balance of the project cost. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a solar pv / alternative energy permit in Anaconda-Deer Lodge typically runs 0–0 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times 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).

You'll need: Application for Alternative Energy Permit. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge requires 2 inspection(s) for a solar pv / alternative energy permit, in order: Rough Electrical, Final. Schedule each 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) ((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)).

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.

Yes. The electrical connection portion requires a State Alternative Energy Permit from the Montana Building Codes Bureau (since Deer Lodge County is not certified for electrical). Grid-tied systems additionally require a licensed electrical contractor to obtain a separate permit for the final interconnection. Confirm with the ADLC Building Inspector whether the roof-mounting/structural scope also triggers a local Building Permit.