Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions) in Lewistown, Montana

Lewistown requires a residential building permit (new construction / additions) for: 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. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Lewistown Building Department — Building Inspector Joe Ward; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Lewistown city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 535-1776 before starting work.

Lewistown does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Lewistown Building Department — Building Inspector Joe Ward; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Lewistown city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 535-1776 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Residential Building Permit Application (New Structures and Additions); Building Plans (2 complete sets, drawn to scale); Site Plan (2 copies). Depending on your project, Lewistown may also ask for: Soils Report. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Apply through City of Lewistown Building Department — Building Inspector Joe Ward; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Lewistown city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at 305 W Watson St, Lewistown, MT 59457 (Building Department office also cited at 308 4th Avenue South, Lewistown, MT). Phone: (406) 535-1776, email: building@ci.lewistown.mt.us. Office hours: Not published on the City's Building Department page as of this review. Building Inspector: Joe Ward, (406) 535-1776, building@ci.lewistown.mt.us; general Building Department line/fax (406) 535-1760 / (406) 535-3323 per city directory listings.. Official information: https://www.cityoflewistown.com/services/building-department.

Lewistown, 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 Local Government Program roster (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).; Lewistown is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B) ONLY within city limits; certified building official on file with DLI: Holy Phelps, (406) 535-1776. 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 against the PDF (row: 'Lewistown | B | Holy Phelps | 535-1776 | City Limits').; Per the City of Lewistown's own Public Notice 'Adoption of Building Codes' (Lewistown Public Works Administrative Order, dated August 12, 2022, issued pursuant to Lewistown Ordinance Section 4-4-1 adopted by the City Commission May 6, 2002, signed by Public Works Director Tim Majerus), the following codes are adopted and effective within the City of Lewistown as of September 1, 2022: International Building Code 2021 Edition (as amended by ARM 24.301.131), International Residential Code 2021 Edition (as amended by ARM 24.301.154), International Energy Conservation Code 2021 Edition (as amended by ARM 24.301.161), and International Existing Building Code 2021 Edition (as amended by ARM 24.301.171). Source: City of Lewistown, images/pdf/2021-Code-adoption.pdf; The City's Commercial Building Permit Checklist (Revised 9/1/2022) additionally references the International Fire Code, 2012 Edition, as amended by ARM 23.12.601, and the City of Lewistown's Ordinance #1749 and #1750 as part of the adopted codes and ordinances applicants must show compliance with. Source: City of Lewistown, images/pdf/Commercial-Permit-Checklist-10.2022.pdf; The City's Residential Building Permit Application Procedure (Admin approved 1/30/2015) states plans must comply with the '2012 International Residential Code (IRC), 2012 International Energy Conservation Code as amended by ARM 24.301.161' — this is a stale reference predating the City's own September 2022 code-adoption notice; the governing current codes are the 2021 editions per the City's 2022 Public Works Administrative Order above. Source: City of Lewistown, images/pdf/Respremit012015.pdf (dated 2015, superseded in substance by the 2022 adoption notice but still the only published residential application-procedure document found); Per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's Current Codes reference (statewide effective date June 11, 2022): 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IECC, 2021 ISPSC, 2021 UPC, 2020 NEC, 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility — consistent with the codes the City of Lewistown's own 2022 adoption notice cites for its Building-certified scope.. Local amendments apply — see the Lewistown overview page for the full list.

The City of Lewistown issues its own Building permits under a Montana DLI 'Building (B) only' certification. The certified building official on file with the DLI is Holy Phelps, (406) 535-1776. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau certified-jurisdictions roster (updated 04/22/2026) and City of Lewistown Building Department page.

The City of Lewistown does not publish a fixed fee schedule online. Contact the Building Department at (406) 535-1776 or building@ci.lewistown.mt.us for a current fee quote.