Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in Belgrade, Montana

You need a Building Permit (reviewed against the City's Solar Checklist, covering CAD and engineering requirements) plus an Electrical Permit with the $65 Alternate Energy Source add-on fee. Source: City of Belgrade Solar Checklist and Master Fee Schedule.

In Belgrade, the published Building Permit (valuation-based, project cost used as valuation) is: Valuation x 0.0076, plus Plan Review at Valuation x 0.0024. Additional published fees: Alternate Energy Source add-on (Electrical Permit) — $65, added to the applicable base electrical fee (e.g., a private accessory building or residential rewire fee category). 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: Solar Checklist; Building/Electrical Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Belgrade requires 2 inspection(s) for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit, in order: Electrical Rough-In, Electrical Final. Schedule each through City of Belgrade Building Department ((406) 388-3564).

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.