Belgrade building permits

Building department

Address

91 East Central Avenue, Belgrade, MT 59714

Phone

(406) 388-3564

Email

mjohnson@belgrademt.gov

Office hours

Community & Economic Development public counter, 91 E. Central Ave., Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Permits and Licensing Division: 406-388-3560). Building Department general line: 406-388-3760. Chief Building Official Lucas Sobeck: 406-388-3564.

Website

Official site

Permit portal

Apply online at Belgrade's portal

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Belgrade — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.

Codes adopted

Montana adopts a single statewide building code by rule and, by default, enforces it directly — local governments only gain enforcement authority once the state certifies them. Under the Montana Building Codes Act (Mont. Code Ann. Title 50, Chapter 60), the Department of Labor & Industry's Building Codes Bureau adopts one state building code applicable everywhere (§ 50-60-203, codified further at Administrative Rules of Montana Title 24, Chapter 301) — currently the 2021 editions of the IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, ISPSC, and UPC, with the 2020 NEC for electrical (effective statewide since 6/11/2022 per the Bureau's own Current Codes page). A city, county, or town may adopt and enforce its own building-code program under § 50-60-301, but its adopted code "may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau" — a local edition can never diverge from or be less stringent than the state's. Critically, under § 50-60-302, a local government cannot enforce ANY building code — even one it has formally adopted — until the Bureau certifies its program (requiring an approved code, a published fee schedule, an enforcement plan, and properly licensed or nationally certified inspectors); certification is granted per TRADE, not as one blanket designation. The Bureau's own "Certified City, County and Town Programs" list uses the key B=Building, P=Plumbing, E=Electrical, M=Mechanical, SP=Pool, W=Wildland-Urban-Interface — a jurisdiction can be certified for Building only while Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical remain directly state-enforced within the same city limits (e.g., Havre, Anaconda-Deer Lodge), or certified across all trades (e.g., Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell). Non-certified jurisdictions — most of Montana's unincorporated county land, since very few counties appear on the certified list — fall under direct enforcement by the state Building Codes Bureau (§ 50-60-304). Montana also exempts private homes and buildings of four or fewer dwelling units not serving transient guests from the state building-permit requirement entirely, though electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits remain separately required regardless. Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction which trades it is certified for versus which remain directly state-enforced.

• 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 (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, swimming pool, etc.); non-certified areas/trades fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified Local Government Program list (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf) and Current Codes page (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes).
• Belgrade is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), Plumbing (P), Electrical (E), Mechanical (M), and Swimming Pool (SP) within Belgrade city limits — the full certification set (matching Billings), not a partial split. Certified building official on file with DLI: Lucas Sobeck, (406) 388-3560/388-3564. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Montana Certified Local Government Program list (PDF, updated 04/22/2026), bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf
• City of Belgrade has adopted (as of 8/8/2022, per the City's Building FAQ) the 2021 editions of the International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC); the 2017 ICC A117.1 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; and the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC). Source: City of Belgrade Building FAQ, 'What building code year has the City of Belgrade most recently adopted?' (belgrademt.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=135)
• 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — applies to single-family, two-family, and townhouse dwellings; effective statewide per ARM 24.301.154. Source: City of Belgrade Adopted Codes (PDF), belgrademt.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1228/Adopted-Codes
• 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — commercial; per ARM 24.301.146
• 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — residential and commercial; per ARM 24.301.172
• 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — residential and commercial; per ARM 24.301.173
• 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — residential and commercial; per ARM 24.301.161. Appendix RB (Solar Ready Provisions) adopted for commercial
• 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — per ARM 24.301.401
• 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) (IAPMO) — per ARM 24.301.301 (Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code)
• 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — commercial; per ARM 24.301.171
• 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — commercial; per ARM 24.301.175; Belgrade is DLI-certified for swimming pool (SP) permitting
• ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities — commercial; per ARM Subchapter 24.301.9
• 2012 International Fire Code — per ARM Rule 23.12.601 (state fire code edition; City of Belgrade Building Department coordinates with the Belgrade Fire Department, and per the City's Inspections page, fire inspections within Belgrade city limits are now handled directly through the City's Building Department due to a recent state rule change)
• IRC Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) — adopted statewide per ARM
• Design Live Loading, Snow Load, Frost Depth, Wind Speed, Weathering, and Seismic Design Category are set out in the City of Belgrade Design Criteria document (see localAmendments) — these are notably more stringent than nearby Billings, reflecting Belgrade's local site conditions
• Source: City of Belgrade Adopted Codes (PDF), https://www.belgrademt.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1228/Adopted-Codes; City of Belgrade Design Criteria (PDF), https://www.belgrademt.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1016/Design-Criteria

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (New Construction, ADU, Addition, Remodel)

  Required for new single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, detached and attached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), additions, and remodels within Belgrade city limits. Reviewed against the 2021 IRC and City of Belgrade Design Criteria. Applications submitted online via the Cityworks portal.

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• Electrical Permit

  Required for electrical installation, alteration, or repair work in Belgrade, governed by the 2020 NEC. Belgrade is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for electrical permitting, issued directly by the City of Belgrade Building Department (not the state).

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• EV Charger / EVSE Installation Permit

  Belgrade has no separate EV charger/EVSE permit category. A dedicated circuit for a home Level 2 EV charger is billed under the City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule's existing Electrical Permit line items for added circuits or change of service, issued directly by the City of Belgrade Building Department (Belgrade is a Montana DLI-certified local jurisdiction for electrical permitting).

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• Plumbing Permit

  Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Belgrade, governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). Belgrade is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for plumbing permitting, issued directly by the City of Belgrade Building Department.

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• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Required for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and related mechanical installations in Belgrade, governed by the 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). Belgrade is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for mechanical permitting.

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• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit

  Required for installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems in Belgrade. Requires both a Building Permit (structural/CAD review per the City's Solar Checklist) and an Electrical Permit with the Alternate Energy Source add-on. Governed by 2020 NEC, 2021 IBC, and 2021 IRC.

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• Land Use Permit (Fence, Deck, Patio, Shed, Accessory Structure)

  Fences, decks, patios, sheds, greenhouses, and other vertical accessory structures in Belgrade are reviewed under a Land Use Permit (LUP) — a Planning/Zoning-issued permit distinct from the Building Permit — to confirm allowable use, height, and setback compliance. Larger residential/accessory or multi-family/commercial projects use the Standard or Major LUP tiers, which include a Site Plan Review.

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• Demolition Permit

  Required for demolition of a building or structure within Belgrade city limits, per the City's Building Permit framework (demolition is one of the work types explicitly requiring a permit).

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• Commercial Building Permit & Fire Plan Review

  Required for new commercial construction, additions, and alterations in Belgrade, reviewed against the 2021 IBC and City of Belgrade Design Criteria, plus a separate Fire Plan Review fee schedule for fire protection, alarm, and suppression systems. Fire inspections within city limits are now handled directly by the City's Building Department per a recent state rule change.

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• Sign Permit

  Required to erect, place, relocate, expand, modify, or structurally alter most signs within Belgrade city limits, per Belgrade City Code Title 10, Chapter 5 (Signs) and Chapter 6, Section 10-6-13 (Sign Permit Required). Applications are filed with Planning & Zoning staff and issued by the Community Development Director; a Sign Variance may be requested if the sign standards create undue hardship.

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• Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Permit

  Fire sprinkler and fire alarm system installations within Belgrade city limits are reviewed and permitted by Central Valley Fire District (CVFD), not the City of Belgrade Building Department — Belgrade voters annexed into CVFD in 2020. Plans are submitted through CVFD's own portal, governed by the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) as adopted by CVFD.

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• Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit

  Belgrade has no standalone 'change of use' or 'certificate of occupancy' permit product. Under Belgrade City Code 10-6-14, no land use may be established or changed within city limits without a permit issued by the Community Development Department; occupancy and use changes are processed as a standard Building Permit through the Cityworks Portal, reviewed against the 2021 IBC and (for existing buildings) the 2021 IEBC. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Building Department once construction, inspections, and Public Works' Site Improvements Verification are complete.

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