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Commercial Building Permit & Fire Plan Review in Belgrade, Montana

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.

Verified 2026-07-03 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Commercial building permit required for new construction, additions, alterations, and occupancy changes, reviewed against the 2021 IBC
  • Plans must comply with City of Belgrade Design Criteria: 46 psf ground snow load, 41 psf roof snow load, 115 mph wind speed, 36in/48in frost depth, Seismic Design Category D (commercial, determined per IBC Sections 1613.2.1-1613.2.5)
  • Site-specific Geotechnical Analysis required at permit application; Final Observation Report required prior to footing inspection
  • Fire Protection/Alarm/Sprinkler/Hood-Suppression systems require a separate Fire Plan Review submittal and fee, tiered by system type, sprinkler head count, or square footage
  • Documentation of state inspection results required for elevators and boilers
  • Provide a final set of building plans reflecting any changes made during construction, prior to final inspection
  • Apply through the Cityworks Portal (cityworks.belgrademt.gov/publicaccess/login)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building PermitCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, BUILDING CODE table
Valuation x 0.0076
Plan ReviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, BUILDING CODE table
Valuation x 0.0024
Fire Protection & Fire Alarm Review — BaseCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Plan Review Service Fees table
$125
Fire Protection Only Review — BaseCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Plan Review Service Fees table
$575
Add Sprinkler Heads (up to 100 heads)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Plan Review Service Fees table
$818.75
Add Sprinkler Heads (101-200 heads)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Plan Review Service Fees table
$962.50
Add Sprinkler Heads (201-300 heads)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Plan Review Service Fees table
$1,375
Add Sprinkler Heads (301-500 heads)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Plan Review Service Fees table
$1,100, plus $31.25 per additional 50 heads
Add additional sprinkler heads beyond 500 (top tier)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule; source HTML literally labels this tier 'Add 01+ Sprinkler Heads' (likely a truncated '501+') — reported verbatim as published, not corrected
$63.75
Fire Detection & Alarm System — Base FeeCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$125
Fire Detection & Alarm System (up to 2,500 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$462.50
Fire Detection & Alarm System (2,501-7,500 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$575
Fire Detection & Alarm System (7,501-10,000 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$962.50
Fire Detection & Alarm System (10,001-25,000 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$1,375
Fire Detection & Alarm System (25,001-50,000 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$1,625
Fire Detection & Alarm System (50,001-100,000 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$1,812.50
Fire Detection & Alarm System (100,001-200,000 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$2,062.50
Fire Detection & Alarm System (200,001-400,000 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$1,500
Fire Detection & Alarm System (over 400,001 SF)City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule; source table shows only "$0.19" with no explicit per-SF unit label on this row, unlike the flat-dollar tiers above — reported verbatim as published
$0.19
Add Dry Chemical suppression reviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$518.75
Add Hood System ReviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$518.75
Add Ansul System ReviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Fire Detection and Alarm System table
$518.75
General Fire Code ReviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Other Fire Plan Review Services table
$143.75 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE)
Fire Department Access reviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Other Fire Plan Review Services table
$206.25 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE)
Building, Plumbing, Mechanical & Energy Code reviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Other Fire Plan Review Services table
$143.75 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE)
Structural Engineering Plan ReviewCity of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Other Fire Plan Review Services table
$206.25 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE)

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Commercial Building Permit & Fire Plan Review permit actually take in Belgrade?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Concrete (Footings, Foundation Walls, Slabs, Columns, CMU, Elevator Shaft)

    Before concrete pour — includes elevator shaft footings and walls for commercial projects

  2. 2

    Building (Shear Walls, Rough Framing, Roof Dry-In, Insulation, Suspended Ceiling Grid, Above-Ceiling MEPF, Anchoring)

    Structural and above-ceiling mechanical/electrical/plumbing/fire rough-in

  3. 3

    Fire (Fire Walls, Draft Stopping, Penetrations, Alarms/Detectors, Sprinkler Piping/Heads, Fire Riser Flow Test)

    Fire-rated construction and fire suppression/detection systems, now inspected directly by the City's Building Department

  4. 4

    Swimming Pool (if applicable): Pool Structure, Bonding/Grounding, Equipment Room, Lighting Wiring, Pool Plumbing, Main Drain Grate

    For commercial pools — Belgrade is DLI-certified for swimming pool (SP) permitting

  5. 5

    Final (Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Fire)

    All systems complete and signed off before Certificate of Occupancy is issued

See the full Belgrade inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Fire inspections within Belgrade city limits — for both new construction and existing buildings — are now handled directly through the City's Building Department due to a recent Montana state rule change, per the Inspections, Checklists, and Fees page.
  • Documentation of state inspection results is required for elevators and boilers on commercial projects.
  • Contact Public Works for water line, sewer line, bacteria test, sidewalk, curb and gutter, ADA compliance, and parking lot inspections, and City Planning/Zoning for landscape and parking lot inspections — these run in parallel with Building Department inspections.

Frequently asked questions

Belgrade requires a commercial building permit & fire plan review for: Commercial building permit required for new construction, additions, alterations, and occupancy changes, reviewed against the 2021 IBC; Plans must comply with City of Belgrade Design Criteria: 46 psf ground snow load, 41 psf roof snow load, 115 mph wind speed, 36in/48in frost depth, Seismic Design Category D (commercial, determined per IBC Sections 1613.2.1-1613.2.5); Site-specific Geotechnical Analysis required at permit application; Final Observation Report required prior to footing inspection; Fire Protection/Alarm/Sprinkler/Hood-Suppression systems require a separate Fire Plan Review submittal and fee, tiered by system type, sprinkler head count, or square footage; Documentation of state inspection results required for elevators and boilers; Provide a final set of building plans reflecting any changes made during construction, prior to final inspection; Apply through the Cityworks Portal (cityworks.belgrademt.gov/publicaccess/login). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Belgrade Building Department at (406) 388-3564 before starting work.

In Belgrade, the published Building Permit is: Valuation x 0.0076. Additional published fees: Plan Review — Valuation x 0.0024; Fire Protection & Fire Alarm Review — Base — $125; Fire Protection Only Review — Base — $575; Add Sprinkler Heads (up to 100 heads) — $818.75; Add Sprinkler Heads (101-200 heads) — $962.50; Add Sprinkler Heads (201-300 heads) — $1,375; Add Sprinkler Heads (301-500 heads) — $1,100, plus $31.25 per additional 50 heads; Add additional sprinkler heads beyond 500 (top tier) — $63.75; Fire Detection & Alarm System — Base Fee — $125; Fire Detection & Alarm System (up to 2,500 SF) — $462.50; Fire Detection & Alarm System (2,501-7,500 SF) — $575; Fire Detection & Alarm System (7,501-10,000 SF) — $962.50; Fire Detection & Alarm System (10,001-25,000 SF) — $1,375; Fire Detection & Alarm System (25,001-50,000 SF) — $1,625; Fire Detection & Alarm System (50,001-100,000 SF) — $1,812.50; Fire Detection & Alarm System (100,001-200,000 SF) — $2,062.50; Fire Detection & Alarm System (200,001-400,000 SF) — $1,500; Fire Detection & Alarm System (over 400,001 SF) — $0.19; Add Dry Chemical suppression review — $518.75; Add Hood System Review — $518.75; Add Ansul System Review — $518.75; General Fire Code Review — $143.75 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE); Fire Department Access review — $206.25 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE); Building, Plumbing, Mechanical & Energy Code review — $143.75 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE); Structural Engineering Plan Review — $206.25 per hour (one-hour minimum if done by a PE). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Belgrade does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Belgrade Building Department at (406) 388-3564 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Commercial/Multi-Family Checklist. Depending on your project, Belgrade may also ask for: Fire Plan Review Submittal. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Due to a recent state rule change, fire inspections within Belgrade city limits — for new construction and existing buildings — are now handled directly through the City of Belgrade Building Department. Source: City of Belgrade Inspections, Checklists, and Fees page.

Apply through City of Belgrade Building Department at 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.. Official information: https://www.belgrademt.gov/166/Building.

Belgrade, 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 (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. Local amendments apply — see the Belgrade overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.

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 Belgrade building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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