Do I need a building permit in Belgrade?

Yes, for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or occupancy change of a building, or for electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing system work regulated by City of Belgrade adopted codes. Residential accessory buildings less than 200 square feet are exempt. Source: City of Belgrade Building FAQ.

What building code year has the City of Belgrade most recently adopted?

As of 8/8/2022, the City of Belgrade has adopted the 2021 versions of the IRC, IBC, IMC, IFGC, IEBC, UPC, IECC, and ISPSC; the 2017 edition of the Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; and the 2020 NEC. Source: City of Belgrade Building FAQ (QID=135).

Residential Building Permit (New Construction, ADU, Addition, Remodel) in Belgrade, Montana

Verified

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.

Verified 2026-07-03 · Source

FromValuation x 0.0024Plan Review — see all 3 fees below

When you need this permit

Building permit required for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or occupancy change of a building or structure, or installation/alteration/repair of electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems regulated by City of Belgrade adopted codes
Exempt: residential accessory buildings less than 200 square feet
Plans drawn to 1/4 inch = 1 foot scale, fully dimensioned, clear and legible; minimum page size 24x36 (remodels may be 11x17; digital preferred)
Complete building plans required — no deferred plans or documents accepted; incomplete submittals are returned to the applicant at prescreen
Checklist must be completed by the project's Montana-licensed design professional of record (or the applicant if no design professional is required)
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 (one-story/two-story), Seismic Design Category D0 (residential)
Site-specific Geotechnical Analysis required at permit application; Final Observation Report required prior to footing inspection
Townhouse projects with more than 4 attached units require plans prepared, signed, and sealed by a Montana-licensed architect
ADU submittals require a Water Fixture Count in addition to standard residential plan requirements
Building Envelope Energy Compliance required: REScheck analysis (signed) or prescriptive-method compliance shown on plans
Occupancy granted only after final inspection is completed and Air Test (blower door) results and Energy Sticker are submitted to the inspector
Application submitted online via the Cityworks Portal (cityworks.belgrademt.gov/publicaccess/login)

Required documents

Required
Checklist Submittal for Single Family Dwelling, Detached Dwelling Units (ADU), Accessory Structures; Townhome/Duplex/Attached ADU
City of Belgrade residential plan-submittal checklist covering cover sheet, site plan, foundation plan, floor plans, elevations, structural building section, framing plans, mechanical/electrical information, and additional documents (REScheck, structural calcs, truss keys, water fixture count for ADUs)
Optional
Statement of Special Inspections
Completed by the design engineer (or architect/applicant if no engineer) where applicable
Optional
Planning & Zoning Letter(s) of Approval
Where applicable — e.g., Conditional Use Permit, Planned Unit Development (PUD), NCOA/COA, Flood Plain approval
Required
Cityworks Online Application
Submitted via cityworks.belgrademt.gov/publicaccess/login; see Online Portal User Guide (belgrademt.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1511)

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Plan Review	Valuation x 0.0024	City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-14, effective July 1, 2025), BUILDING CODE table
Building Permit	Valuation x 0.0076	City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, BUILDING CODE table
Addressing Fee	$35 per address/unit number	City of Belgrade Master Fee Schedule, Other Permit Fees table

Review timeline

10–10 business days

Belgrade’s published plan-review target

Inspection process

1
Concrete (Footings, Foundation Walls, Damp Proofing, Slabs, CMU)
Before concrete pour — footings, foundation walls, damp proofing, structural slabs, structural CMU
2
Building (Shear Walls, Rough Framing, Roof Dry-In, Insulation, Sheet Rock Screws)
Structural framing, shear walls, roof dry-in, insulation, and sheet rock screw pattern
3
Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical Rough-In
Underground/building waste/vent/water piping; temporary meter pole and building electrical rough-in; ductwork, exhaust fans, building gas lines, and gas meter bar
4
Final (Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical)
All systems complete; Air Test (blower door) results and Energy Sticker submitted before occupancy is granted

Tips

Inspections must be scheduled by phone (406-388-3560) or email (mjohnson@belgrademt.gov) only, by 3:00 PM for next-day service; inspectors will not pre-schedule future inspections.
Photographs are not accepted in lieu of a re-inspection for failed-inspection corrections.
ADUs (detached or attached, e.g. townhome/duplex-attached) are processed through this same Residential Building Permit checklist — there is no separate ADU permit type or fee line on the Master Fee Schedule.
Belgrade's Design Criteria are notably more stringent than Billings' (46 psf ground snow load vs. 30 psf; 115 mph wind vs. 110 mph; Seismic D0 vs. A) — do not assume Billings' design parameters apply.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building permit in Belgrade?: Yes, for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or occupancy change of a building, or for electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing system work regulated by City of Belgrade adopted codes. Residential accessory buildings less than 200 square feet are exempt. Source: City of Belgrade Building FAQ.
What building code year has the City of Belgrade most recently adopted?: As of 8/8/2022, the City of Belgrade has adopted the 2021 versions of the IRC, IBC, IMC, IFGC, IEBC, UPC, IECC, and ISPSC; the 2017 edition of the Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; and the 2020 NEC. Source: City of Belgrade Building FAQ (QID=135).

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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