Lewistown building permits

Requirements

• Two complete building plans (drawn to scale) including: job name/complete legal address/legal description, floor plan, foundation plan with roof and floor framing plan, exterior elevations, cross sections footing to roof, details showing compliance with all codes, finish schedule and specifications, and mechanical/plumbing/electrical plans where applicable
• The building official may require professional preparation and a wet stamp of plans, drawings, specifications, or calculations for structures deviating from conventional light wood-frame construction, or where construction is determined hazardous to health, safety, or welfare
• Soils report required if the site requires special design requirements
• Two site plans showing current and/or proposed construction, building orientation, and all dimensions from property lines to structure along with setback requirements
• Water and sanitary sewer location and service line details required
• Applications are processed through internal review by the Building, Planning/Zoning, and Public Works Departments, the 911 Coordinator, and the Fire Department
• Applicant acknowledges responsibility for compliance with all City codes, rules, and regulations; omissions in required documentation may delay the review process

Required documents

• RequiredResidential Building Permit Application (New Structures and Additions)City of Lewistown form specifying property owner, legal description, work description, and required plan/site-plan submittals
• RequiredBuilding Plans (2 complete sets, drawn to scale)Floor plan, foundation/framing plan, exterior elevations, cross sections, code-compliance details, finish schedule, and mechanical/plumbing/electrical plans where applicable
• RequiredSite Plan (2 copies)Shows current/proposed construction, building orientation, and dimensions from property lines with setbacks
• OptionalSoils ReportRequired only if the site requires special design considerations

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plans must be stamped by a Montana-licensed Architect or Engineer
• The Prime or General Contractor must be a Registered Contractor licensed with the State of Montana and hold a current City Business License
• Three paper copies (Architectural D: 24" x 36") and one electronic copy of the final plan set required
• If located within a FEMA-designated floodplain, a floodplain permit is required with documentation of approval
• Plans must include: job name/legal address/legal description, site plan with setbacks, foundation/roof/floor framing plan, floor plan, cross sections, exterior elevations, mechanical/plumbing/electrical where applicable, engineer-stamped fire protection plans with calculations and cut sheets, code-compliance details, finish schedule, interior/exterior finishes, utility connection details, storm-water drainage/retention ponds if required, curb & gutter/sidewalk plan, parking plan, and signage plan (separate sign permit required)
• Application undergoes internal review by Building, Planning/Zoning, Public Works, 911 Coordinator, and Fire Department; may also be sent for external review at the building official's discretion, with additional plan-review costs added to the permit fee
• Tenant improvements, change of use, or change of occupancy are reviewed on a case-by-case basis

Required documents

• RequiredCommercial Building Permit ChecklistCity of Lewistown form (Rev. 9/1/2022) listing required plan contents, contractor licensing, and floodplain determination
• RequiredStamped Plans (3 paper + 1 electronic copy)Montana-licensed architect/engineer-stamped plan set, Architectural D size (24" x 36")
• OptionalFloodplain Permit DocumentationRequired only if the property is within a FEMA-designated floodplain

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Detached tool/storage sheds, playhouses, greenhouses, and other accessory buildings must be set back 3 feet from a side property line, 3 feet from a rear property line without street/alley frontage, 0 feet from an alley property line, and 10 feet from a side street property line
• Site plan showing dimensions from property lines to the proposed structure, consistent with the Residential Building Permit Application Procedure requirements for additions
• Decks and accessory structures involving new structural framing follow the same plan submittal requirements as additions (floor plan, foundation/framing plan, cross sections)
• Private Property Accessory Building electrical work (garage, barn, etc.) requires a separate STATE-issued electrical permit — see electrical-permit-state

Required documents

• RequiredResidential Building Permit Application (Additions)Same City of Lewistown form used for additions and new structures, applied to decks/accessory structures
• RequiredSite PlanShows setback dimensions from property lines to the proposed deck or accessory structure

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No solid fence, wall, or hedge over 3 feet in height may be erected or maintained on any street frontage
• Fences not exceeding 4 feet may be erected along street frontage if constructed of chain-link or other material providing an unobstructed view, approved by the building official
• Fences, walls, or hedges along side or rear yards not fronting streets must not exceed 6 feet
• No barbed wire, other sharp fence materials, electrically charged fencing, or metal T-posts allowed in any district
• Fences must be constructed of approved materials; may not be constructed from railroad ties, rubble, or salvaged material (Ord. 1726, 7-6-2009)
• Corner lots may not have fences, walls, hedges, or other sight obstructions over 3 feet within the designated 'clear view triangle'
• No fence, wall, or hedge may be erected or maintained in any public right-of-way unless a Temporary Fence Encroachment Permit has been obtained from the Public Works Director
• Where no sidewalk exists, no fence may be installed closer than 1 foot to the back of any future sidewalk
• To obtain a Temporary Fence Encroachment Permit: obtain an application at the Public Works Office; include a scaled drawing showing property lines and proposed fence location; permit must be approved by the Public Works Director prior to construction; all projects require a City inspection after completion

Required documents

• OptionalTemporary Fence Encroachment Permit ApplicationObtained at the Public Works Office; required only for fences proposed within the public right-of-way
• RequiredScaled DrawingShows property lines and proposed fence location, submitted with the encroachment permit application

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Contact the Building Department at (406) 535-1776 or building@ci.lewistown.mt.us prior to demolition to confirm current permit requirements, since no dedicated demolition checklist or ordinance excerpt is published on the City's site
• As with other building-related work, applications are understood to route through the City's standard multi-department internal review (Building, Planning/Zoning, Public Works, 911 Coordinator, Fire) based on the process described for residential and commercial permits generally

Required documents

• RequiredDemolition Permit ApplicationNo standalone demolition permit application form was found published on the City's Forms & Applications or Plans & Documents pages; applicants should request the current form directly from the Building Department

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, county, whether the job is inside city limits, 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 (Rev. 12/22); 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
• Property address, county, and whether the job is inside city limits must be indicated
• Type of Building, Type of Work, Sewer Service Type (public/septic), and Potable Water Source must be indicated (all required fields)
• Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 505, MCA and ARM 24.301.301 / 24.301.361

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1)Montana Building Codes Bureau statewide form, Rev. 10/2019; 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 fillable form; 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 interconnection requires a state-issued Residential (or Commercial) Electrical Permit from the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau — Lewistown does not hold electrical certification, so the City cannot issue this permit itself
• The state Residential Electrical Permit application includes a distinct 'Alternative Energy Source' add-on fee (solar, wind, or hydro), charged in addition to the base electrical work fee selected on the same application (e.g., a service/panel or change-of-service fee)
• Structural/racking work (roof-mount or ground-mount) requires a City of Lewistown Building Permit, reviewed against the City's 2021 IBC/IRC adoption (effective September 1, 2022) via the standard multi-department internal review
• Apply for the electrical component in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical Permit (state)Montana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (Rev. 12/22); mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov; select the Alternative Energy Source add-on box
• RequiredResidential or Commercial Building Permit Application (city, structural/racking scope)City of Lewistown form for the racking/mounting structural work

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical work must be performed and the permit pulled by a Montana-licensed electrical contractor (LCO/UCO), per the Application for Residential Contractor Electrical Permit (Rev 6/24)
• If the EV charger is added as a new dedicated circuit to an existing panel with no service/panel change, this is billed under the form's 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' section, line H ('1 additional circuit or piece of equipment') or line G ('2-3 additional circuits or pieces of equipment') depending on scope
• If the installation requires a panel upgrade or new/upsized electrical service to support the charger's amperage draw, it is billed instead under the amperage-based 'Single Family Dwelling or Cabin' service tiers (A-D)
• The state application form has no Alternative-Energy-style checkbox or dedicated question set for EV chargers (unlike its Solar/Wind/Hydro section) -- EVSE is treated as ordinary residential branch-circuit wiring
• A City of Lewistown Building Permit is required in addition only if the EVSE is mounted on, or paired with, new structural construction (e.g., a new carport or accessory structure); not required for a simple wall/pedestal-mounted charger on an existing structure

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Residential (or Commercial) Contractor Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (Rev 6/24); mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov/bcb

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application submitted to the administrator (public works director or designated representative) on a form provided by the administrator, per City Code 5-21-71
• Application must include: name and address of the sign owner; street address/location of the property with property owner name and address; the type of sign or sign structure and its weight; a site plan with measurements showing the proposed sign location and the locations of all existing signs on the same premises; and specifications/drawings showing materials, design, dimensions, structural supports, and electrical components
• Initial permit fee of $20.00 per sign due with the application (City Code 5-21-72)
• Signs exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet require additional review by the Design Review Board after administrator approval, before the permit is finalized (City Code 5-21-74)
• All signs must be installed in compliance with the City's building and electrical codes (City Code 5-21-60(A))
• No person may engage in erecting, altering, relocating, constructing, or maintaining signs for hire without a valid city sign contractor's/business license and all required state and federal licenses (City Code 5-21-37)
• If a sign is installed prior to permit issuance, the permit fee is doubled; this does not waive other penalties (City Code 5-21-75(C))
• The following sign types are EXEMPT from the permit requirement (but must still conform to all other chapter requirements): church/civic-organization signs, construction signs ≤16 sq ft, directional/information signs ≤6 sq ft, holiday/special-event decorations, nameplates ≤2 sq ft, political signs, public/emergency signs, real estate signs, window signs, incidental signs, garage sale signs, temporary special event signs, and snipe signs (City Code 5-21-33)

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit ApplicationObtained directly from the administrator (Public Works Department); no downloadable version of this form was found published on the City's Forms & Applications or Plans & Documents pages as of this review
• RequiredSite Plan and Sign Specifications/DrawingsSite plan with measurements showing the proposed sign location and existing signs on the premises, plus specifications/drawings of materials, design, dimensions, structural supports, and electrical components, per City Code 5-21-71(D)-(E)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Engineer-stamped fire protection plans, including hydraulic calculations and manufacturer cut sheets for sprinkler/suppression and alarm systems, submitted as item 8 of the plan set required for the City's Commercial Building Permit (Commercial Building Permit Checklist, Rev. 9/1/2022)
• Reviewed by the Lewistown Fire Department as one of five city departments in the Commercial Building Permit's internal review process; may also be sent for external review at the building official's discretion, with added costs added to the building permit fee
• Automatic sprinkler system hydraulic calculations must include a minimum safety factor of 10% but not less than 5 psi, per the City's local amendment to IFC section 903.3.5 (City Code 7-2-1(B), Ord. 1734, 5-16-2011)
• Fire alarm systems required by the fire code or building code must be monitored by an approved supervising station per NFPA 72, per the City's local amendment to IFC section 907.7.5 (City Code 7-2-1(B)); exceptions apply to single/multi-station smoke alarms, Group I-3 smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings
• New commercial buildings, and existing commercial buildings undergoing remodeling exceeding $1,000, must install a fire department key box ("Knox-Box" style) at a bureau-approved exterior location, stocked with keys to areas containing fire protection system controls and alarm panels, installed on or before final inspection of the building (City Code 7-2-11)
• The City's codified Fire Prevention Code (Title 7, Chapter 2) locally adopts the 2009 International Fire Code by reference (Ord. 1733, 6-6-2011) -- a DIFFERENT, OLDER edition than the "International Fire Code 2012 IFC as amended by ARM 23.12.601" cited in the Commercial Building Permit Checklist (Rev. 9/1/2022); this is reported as a genuine unresolved discrepancy between the codified ordinance and the City's own current-practice checklist document, not an inferred figure
• If a fire alarm system requires new electrical wiring or circuits, that electrical work may separately require a State of Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau Electrical Permit, since Lewistown holds DLI certification for Building only, not Electrical (same split documented elsewhere in this file for electrical-permit-state, solar-pv-permit, and ev-charger-permit)

Required documents

• RequiredEngineer-Stamped Fire Protection Plans (sprinkler/alarm calculations and manufacturer cut sheets)Submitted as item 8 of the plan set required for the Commercial Building Permit; not a standalone fire-department-specific application form
• RequiredCommercial Building Permit ChecklistThe same City of Lewistown form (Rev. 9/1/2022) used for the underlying Commercial Building Permit -- fire protection plans are one required line item within it, not a separate filing

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No dedicated Change of Use / Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy application form is published by the City; per the Commercial Building Permit Checklist (Rev. 9/1/2022), "Requirements for Tenant Improvements, Change in Use or Change in Occupancy will be reviewed on a case by case basis" -- applicants must contact the Building Department directly to determine what documentation is required for their specific scope
• The City's Development Review Checklist requires the applicant to confirm, prior to plan submittal, whether the "Proposed Use" is a Permitted Use under the property's Existing Zoning Classification
• If the proposed use is not a permitted use (or otherwise varies from City Code on setbacks, height, density, or lot coverage), a variance must be approved by the Board of Adjustment and a copy submitted to the Building Department prior to issuance of any building permit (Development Review Checklist)
• Where the change of use/occupancy involves construction or a life-safety reclassification, the applicant is directed through the applicable portions of the Commercial Building Permit process (stamped plans, contractor licensing, fire protection plans, etc.), scaled to the scope determined case-by-case by the Building Department
• Applications route through the City's standard multi-department internal review (Building, Planning/Zoning, Public Works, 911 Coordinator, Fire Department); commercial applications may also be sent for external review at the building official's discretion, with added review costs added to the permit fee

Required documents

• RequiredChange of Use / Change of Occupancy Documentation (determined case-by-case by the Building Department)No standalone form is published; contact the Building Department, (406) 535-1776 or building@ci.lewistown.mt.us, to determine the documentation required for the specific proposed change
• OptionalDevelopment Review ChecklistCity of Lewistown form used to confirm zoning-permitted-use status and identify whether a Board of Adjustment variance is needed before plan submittal

Fee schedule