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Bozeman building permits

Verified

Bozeman, Montana — as published 2026-07-02.

Verified 2026-08-17 · Source

Codes adopted

2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — State of Montana adopted code, ARM 24.301.154 (chapters 11-14 and 16-43 deleted by ARM amendment); Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) adopted2021 International Building Code (IBC) — State of Montana adopted code, ARM 24.301.1462021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — ARM 24.301.1722021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — ARM 24.301.1732021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — ARM 24.301.161; Appendix RB (Solar Ready Provisions) adopted2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — ARM 24.301.4012021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC, IAPMO) — ARM 24.301.3012021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — ARM 24.301.171 (commercial)2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code — ARM 24.301.175 (commercial)2021 International Fire Code — ARM 23.12.601, Admin Order 2023-04ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities — ARM Subchapter 24.301.9 (commercial)NOTE: Montana plans to adopt the 2024 ICC family of codes statewide in mid-2026; the City of Bozeman's Building Division states designs must comply with the code cycle in effect at time of permit application submission and will publish updates when the new cycle takes effect.

Permit types & fees

Residential New Construction Permit

Verified

Required for construction of new single-family, two-family, or townhome dwellings in Bozeman. Reviewed under the 2021 IRC via the ProjectDox electronic plan review portal.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Applies to construction of NEW single-family, two-family, or townhome dwellings
  • Submit through ProjectDox (electronic plan review) after creating a permit application via the online portal
  • 2021 Residential Checklist must be satisfied before submittal is accepted at pre-screen
  • Site-specific geotechnical (soils) analysis required at permit application; Final Observation Report required prior to footing inspection
  • Landscape & Irrigation Self-Certification Form required for new construction (per Ordinance 2155 / Resolution 5586, effective for projects not through prescreen by June 14, 2024)
  • Storm Water Permit required (applied for separately)

Required documents

  • Required2021 Residential Checklist (PDF)Bozeman's required submittal checklist for new single-family/two-family/townhome construction
  • RequiredLandscape & Irrigation Self-Certification Form (PDF)Required for new construction to certify compliance with updated Landscape and Irrigation Design Standards
  • RequiredWater Service Fixture Count (PDF)Documents fixture count for water meter sizing; counts over 39 require confirmation from City Shops (582-3200) that the main will support a larger meter
  • RequiredSump Drain Policy acknowledgment (PDF)Required acknowledgment of the city's sump drain policy
  • RequiredSite Drainage Self Certification Form (PDF)Certifies site drainage plan compliance
  • RequiredTruss/Structural CalculationsRequired construction-related structural documentation
  • RequiredPreliminary Soil AnalysisRequired geotechnical documentation submitted with the application

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Building Permit Fee (formula-based)(Administrative Charges/Employee/Hour + Inspector's Hourly Pay Rate) x Table A factor (amount of inspection time per sq ft, by construction type and fire rating) x Building Square Footage
Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020, as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023); Show full citation

Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020, as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023); specific current dollar-figure Table A/B/C values are published only in the FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF distributed via the City's Building Checklists, Forms, and Guides page — that document could not be independently retrieved this review (see confidence notes); the formula and methodology above are verified verbatim from the ordinance text and the city's official FY26 update notice.

Plan Review Fee (formula-based)(Administrative Charges/Employee/Hour + Plans Examiner Hourly Pay Rate) x Table B factor (amount of plan review time per sq ft, by construction type and fire rating) x Building Square FootageBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020, as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023)
Construction valuation basisICC Building Valuation Data, February 2025 edition, with a Cost Modifier of 70% applied to new-square-footage fees (increased from 60%, per the three-year escalation scale) and a 'Bozeman Multiplier' of .0051 (Building fund annual budget / prior-year permitted valuation, decreased from .0078)
City of Bozeman 'Building Fee Update' notice, effective July 1, 2025 (FY26); Show full citation

City of Bozeman 'Building Fee Update' notice, effective July 1, 2025 (FY26); Resolution 5287 (April 2021) adopted the ICC valuation methodology Re-verified 2026-07-30 on the City's live Building Checklists, Forms and Guides page (read in a real browser session — bozemanmt.gov returns HTTP 403 to non-browser clients, which is bot protection, not link rot). The page still cites 'ICC Building Valuation Data – February 2025', so that edition is CURRENT and this entry is not stale. ⚠️ DATED CHANGE AHEAD, recorded so this entry does not silently go stale: the City publishes BOTH a 'FY26 Building Fee Schedule (PDF) – Effective July 1st, 2025' and a 'FY27 Building Fee Schedule (PDF) – Effective August 1st, 2026'. As of 2026-07-30 the FY27 schedule has NOT yet taken effect — FY26 still governs — so no FY27 figure is asserted here. The City states 'Updated fees will apply to any projects that pass prescreen after the effective date of the fee schedule.' RE-CHECK AFTER 2026-08-01: the FY27 PDF could not be retrieved for content comparison (403 to HTTP clients; it is reachable only from a browser session), so whether the 70% Cost Modifier escalates again under the three-year scale is UNKNOWN and deliberately not guessed. Governing authorities unchanged on the live page: Resolution 5287 (April 2021, ICC methodology), Ordinance 2143 (August 2023, BMC 10.02.020), Resolution 5517 (September 2023).

Reinspection FeeBased on extra time expended multiplied by the building inspector's total hourly rate; minimum 2 hoursBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(A)(6)(a), as amended by Ordinance 2143
Work commenced without a permitAdditional fee not to exceed twice the permit fee amountBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(B)(4)

Residential Addition / Alteration Permit

Verified

Required for adding new square footage to, or remodeling without adding square footage to, an existing residential structure in Bozeman. Reviewed under the 2021 IRC.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Residential Addition: adding new square footage to an existing residential structure
  • Residential Alteration (Remodel): remodeling an existing residential structure without adding new square footage
  • Water Service Fixture Count form required if adding or removing water fixtures
  • Sump Drain Policy and Site Drainage Self Certification required for additions
  • Truss/structural calculations and spec sheets required as applicable to scope
  • Some remodel work is exempt from permitting — see the city's 'IRC Work Exempt from Permits' guide before applying

Required documents

  • OptionalWater Service Fixture Count (PDF)Required if the project adds or removes water fixtures
  • RequiredSump Drain Policy acknowledgment (PDF)Required for additions
  • RequiredSite Drainage Self Certification Form (PDF)Required for additions
  • OptionalTruss/Structural CalculationsRequired construction-related documentation where structural work is involved
  • OptionalIRC Work Exempt from Permits (PDF)Reference guide listing scopes of residential work that do NOT require a permit

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Building Permit Fee (formula-based, additions)Same Table A / hourly-rate formula as new residential construction, applied to the added square footageBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020, as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023)
Plan Revision Fee — Residential (IRC)$125.00City of Bozeman Building Permit Checklists, Forms, and Guides page (Revisions to Approved Plans section); additional plan check/permit fees may apply if project valuation increases due to the revision

Electric Only Permit

Verified

A stand-alone permit type for electrical work in Bozeman not otherwise part of a larger building permit. Reviewed under the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), as adopted statewide by Montana (ARM 24.301.401) and enforced by Bozeman as a certified jurisdiction.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Stand-alone 'Electric Only Permit' application type available for electrical work not bundled into a building permit
  • Governed by the 2020 NEC per ARM 24.301.401
  • Bozeman's Building Division is certified by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau specifically for Electrical (E) inspection/enforcement
  • Subcontractors must have an active City of Bozeman business license before a permit can be issued to them

Required documents

  • RequiredElectric Only Permit ApplicationSubmitted through the ProjectDox portal as a stand-alone application type

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Electrical Permit Fee (valuation-based)Determined based on contractor valuation of the project, subject to Building Division approval of the valuation, applied against Table CBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(A)(5), as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023) — specific current Table C dollar figures are published in the FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF, which could not be independently retrieved this review

Plumbing Only Permit

Verified

A stand-alone permit type for plumbing work in Bozeman not otherwise part of a larger building permit, plus a related Sewer Only Permit. Reviewed under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC, IAPMO), as adopted statewide by Montana (ARM 24.301.301).

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Stand-alone 'Plumbing Only Permit' application type for plumbing work not bundled into a building permit
  • Separate 'Sewer Only Permit' application type available for sewer-line-specific work
  • Governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) per ARM 24.301.301 — NOT the International Plumbing Code
  • Bozeman's Building Division is certified by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau specifically for Plumbing (P) inspection/enforcement
  • Sewer Connection Self Verification Form applies to sewer connection work

Required documents

  • RequiredPlumbing Only Permit ApplicationSubmitted through the ProjectDox portal as a stand-alone application type
  • OptionalSewer Connection Self Verification Form (PDF)Self-certification form for sewer connection work

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Plumbing Permit Fee (valuation-based)Determined based on contractor valuation of the project, subject to Building Division approval of the valuation, applied against Table CBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(A)(5), as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023) — specific current Table C dollar figures are published in the FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF, which could not be independently retrieved this review

Mechanical Only Permit

Verified

A stand-alone permit type for mechanical/HVAC work in Bozeman not otherwise part of a larger building permit, including a specific 'New Air Conditioning Unit' application type. Reviewed under the 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC).

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Stand-alone 'Mechanical Only Permit' application type for HVAC/mechanical work not bundled into a building permit
  • Separate 'New Air Conditioning Unit' stand-alone application type also available
  • Governed by the 2021 IMC (ARM 24.301.172) and 2021 IFGC (ARM 24.301.173)
  • Bozeman's Building Division is certified by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau specifically for Mechanical (M) inspection/enforcement

Required documents

  • RequiredMechanical Only Permit ApplicationSubmitted through the ProjectDox portal as a stand-alone application type

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Mechanical Permit Fee (valuation-based)Determined based on contractor valuation of the project, subject to Building Division approval of the valuation, applied against Table CBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(A)(5), as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023) — specific current Table C dollar figures are published in the FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF, which could not be independently retrieved this review

Re-Roof Permit

Verified

Required for residential re-roofing (residential residing/re-roofing) in Bozeman. A dedicated Residential Re-roof Guide is published by the Building Division.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Stand-alone 'Re-Roof' permit application type (listed alongside 'Residential Residing' as related stand-alone applications)
  • Must follow the city's Residential Re-roof Guide
  • Reviewed under the applicable roofing provisions of the 2021 IRC/IBC as adopted statewide

Required documents

  • RequiredResidential Re-roof Guide (PDF)City of Bozeman's guide to re-roofing permit scope and requirements

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Re-Roof Permit FeeAssessed per the Building Division's current fee schedule (formula/valuation-based per Sec. 10.02.020)Specific current dollar figure not independently retrieved this review — see FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF reference below

Solar Electric Permit (PV)

Verified

Required for installation of solar photovoltaic systems in Bozeman. A dedicated Solar Submittal Checklist is published, and the state-adopted energy code includes solar-ready provisions.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Stand-alone 'Solar Electric Permit (PV)' application type
  • Solar Submittal Checklist (PDF) must be satisfied
  • 2021 IECC Appendix RB (Solar Ready Provisions) is adopted as part of Montana's statewide energy code
  • Solar & Sign permits: no need to bring plans/documents into the city office for stamping, but a representative must still physically come in for permit issuance

Required documents

  • RequiredSolar Submittal Checklist (PDF)City of Bozeman's required checklist for solar PV permit submittals

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Solar Electric Permit FeeAssessed per the Building Division's current fee schedule (valuation-based per Sec. 10.02.020(A)(5), Table C, as electrical work)Specific current dollar figure not independently retrieved this review — see FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF reference below

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit

Verified

Required for construction of an accessory dwelling unit on a residential property in Bozeman. ADUs require both zoning/Planning review and a Building Permit, plus a unique street address.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Requirements

  • Building permit review required in addition to Planning/zoning review of ADU eligibility for the specific lot and zoning district
  • ADUs (and any additional dwelling unit on a lot) require a unique address, separate from the primary address on the property — request via building@bozemanmt.gov
  • For planning/zoning eligibility questions specific to a property, contact PlanningTech@bozemanmt.gov

Required documents

  • RequiredBuilding Permit Application (ProjectDox)Submitted the same as new residential construction/addition, scoped to the ADU

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Building Permit Fee (formula-based, same as residential new construction/addition)(Administrative Charges/Employee/Hour + Inspector's Hourly Pay Rate) x Table A factor x Building Square FootageBozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020, as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023); ADUs are not billed under a separate fee category from other residential construction in the ordinance text reviewed

EV Charger / EVSE Permit

Installation of a Level 1 or Level 2 electric vehicle charging station (EVSE) at a Bozeman property is processed as a standard Electrical Permit through the City's Community Development, Building Division — no distinct EV-charger-specific permit type, dedicated EV guidance page, or separate fee line item was found published by the City. The fee is valuation-based under Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(A)(5) (Table C), the same mechanism used for any other electrical work.

Reviewed 2026-07-20 · Source

Requirements

  • Submitted as an Electrical Permit application through the Building Division's standard process
  • Dedicated branch circuit sized to EVSE manufacturer specifications, complying with the electrical code adopted by the City of Bozeman/State of Montana
  • Contractor valuation of the project used to determine the fee under Table C, subject to Building Division approval of the valuation
  • No EV-charger-specific application form, checklist, or fee category was found published separately from the general Electrical Permit

Required documents

  • RequiredElectrical Permit ApplicationStandard City of Bozeman electrical permit application; used for EVSE circuit installation

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Electrical Permit Fee (valuation-based)Determined based on contractor valuation of the project, applied against Table C
Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(A)(5), as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023) — no distinct EV-charger/EVSE fee line item was found; Show full citation

Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020(A)(5), as amended by Ordinance 2143 (2023) — no distinct EV-charger/EVSE fee line item was found; current Table C dollar figures are published in the FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF (effective 9/1/2025), which could not be independently retrieved this review despite exhaustive attempts: bozemanmt.gov returned HTTP 403 to both the an automated fetch tool and a direct an automated fetch request on the Building Permits page, the Building Checklists/Forms/Guides page, and library.municode.com's Chapter 10 fee-schedule page; no Wayback Machine snapshot exists for either bozemanmt.gov page (checked via the CDX availability API); and a general web search plus a third-party permitting-guide site (alliancepermitting.com) turned up no mirrored copy of the Table C dollar figures

Sign Permit

Verified

Required whenever a sign is placed, constructed, erected, or modified on a property in Bozeman. Reviewed under Bozeman Municipal Code (BMC) 38.560 by the Building Division alongside Planning Division sign-area review, submitted as an electronic Building Permit application through the ProjectDox portal.

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

Requirements

  • Required for any sign that is placed, constructed, erected, or modified on a property (BMC 38.560)
  • Complete the Sign Permit Worksheet — Worksheet 1 (Allowable Building Sign Area) is required for all permits; Worksheet 2 (Allowable Unit Sign Area) is required only for multi-tenant buildings — and submit it alongside an electronic Building Permit application via the online portal
  • Total allowable building sign area is capped by zoning district per BMC 38.560.060: 80 sq ft per building in B-1/RO, 400 sq ft per lot in B-2/B-2M, 250 sq ft per lot in all other zones
  • Multi-tenant buildings with a comprehensive sign plan on file with the Planning Division allocate sign area among tenants per that plan (BMC 38.560.080); buildings without one calculate allowable unit sign area as a percentage of total tenant floor area
  • Sign contractor (and electrical contractor, if the sign is illuminated) must be listed by their City of Bozeman business-license name on the worksheet
  • Freestanding signs require a scaled site plan showing sign location, site vision triangles, setbacks, easements, and water/sewer lines

Required documents

  • RequiredSign Permit Worksheet (PDF)Bozeman's required worksheet, including Worksheet 1 (Allowable Building Sign Area, BMC 38.560.060) and Worksheet 2 (Allowable Unit Sign Area for multi-tenant buildings, BMC 38.560.080); revision date August 2021
  • RequiredFull-color sign plansSubmitted for each sign, clearly labeled by Sign ID to correspond with the worksheet's sign details section
  • RequiredSign construction cross-section detailCabinet, individual channel letters, push-through lettering, vinyl, etc.
  • RequiredSign illumination detailInternal illumination or indirect lighting; fixture cutsheets required if indirectly lit
  • RequiredSign mounting/hardware detailDetail of proposed mounting hardware
  • RequiredColor exterior photographsEach building facade, with existing signs to remain called out and new proposed signs overlaid at close-to-actual size
  • OptionalScaled site planRequired for freestanding signs only, showing sign location, vision triangles, setbacks, easements, and water/sewer lines

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Sign Permit FeeAssessed against the Building Division's current fee schedule, based on the 'Value of Sign' declared on the Sign Permit Worksheet, per Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020
No sign-specific fee line item separate from the general valuation-based building-permit fee formula was found; Show full citation

No sign-specific fee line item separate from the general valuation-based building-permit fee formula was found; specific current dollar figures are published only in the FY26 Building Fee Schedule PDF, which — consistent with this jurisdiction file's other stand-alone permit entries — could not be independently retrieved this review (bozemanmt.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetch/an automated fetch on its document pages; a Wayback Machine snapshot exists for the general checklists page but not for the fee-schedule PDF itself)

Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Permit (Submitted with Building Permit)

Bozeman does not publish a separate stand-alone fire sprinkler or fire alarm permit application. Fire suppression (sprinkler) and fire alarm system plans are submitted, reviewed, and issued as part of the same Building Permit application (Commercial New Build, Commercial Addition, or Commercial Tenant Improvement) through the ProjectDox portal, and must be approved and issued by the City before framing inspections take place. Reviewed under the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) as adopted statewide by Montana (ARM 23.12.601, Admin Order 2023-04).

Reviewed 2026-08-17 · Source

Requirements

  • No distinct stand-alone 'Fire Sprinkler Permit' or 'Fire Alarm Permit' application type is published separately from the general Building Permit — confirmed against the City's full published Stand-Alone Applications list (Electric Only, Demolitions, Fence/Deck, Manufactured Home, Mechanical Only, Moving Permit, New Air Conditioning Unit, Plumbing Only, Pool, Residential Residing, Re-Roof, Sewer Only, Signs, Solar Electric (PV)), none of which is a fire suppression/alarm category
  • Per the Building Division's official guidance on the Commercial Tenant Improvement checklist: 'If Fire Suppression & Alarms are part of the permit, they must be submitted, approved and issued with the City of Bozeman before framing inspections'
  • Governed by the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted statewide under ARM 23.12.601 and enforced locally per Bozeman Admin Order 2023-04
  • Submitted as part of the Commercial New Build/Construction, Commercial Addition, or Commercial Tenant Improvement building-permit package via ProjectDox, not as an independent application
  • A Water Backflow and Sprinkler Backflow test is required for any project that also requires a Certificate of Occupancy

Required documents

  • RequiredFire suppression/alarm plansSubmitted as part of the Commercial (IBC) building-permit plan set through ProjectDox; no separate fire-only application form is published
  • OptionalSprinkler Backflow Test documentationRequired, alongside a Water Backflow test, for projects that also require a Certificate of Occupancy

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Fire Suppression/Alarm Plan Review & Permit FeeNot published as a distinct fire-only fee line item on the Building Division's fee pages; the associated Commercial building permit fee (Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 10.02.020) is the only fee mechanism directly confirmed
A news report ('Bozeman Fire seeks approval to update permit, plan review fees,' NBC Montana/KECI) describes the Bozeman Fire Department separately maintaining its OWN permit and plan-review fee… Show full citation

A news report ('Bozeman Fire seeks approval to update permit, plan review fees,' NBC Montana/KECI) describes the Bozeman Fire Department separately maintaining its OWN permit and plan-review fee resolution — including new permit types added with adoption of the 2021 IFC — which suggests the Fire Department may assess its own fire-specific plan-review fee under a distinct city resolution. That Fire-Department fee resolution/schedule itself could not be located or independently verified on bozemanmt.gov this review: the site returns HTTP 403 to automated fetch/an automated fetch on its Fire Department and Fire Marshal pages, and no Wayback Machine snapshot exists for any Fire Marshal/Fire Prevention permit or fee subpage (only a Fireworks page and the department landing page were archived, neither showing fee figures). Confirm directly with Bozeman Fire Department, (406) 582-2350 / fire@bozemanmt.gov, whether a separate fire plan-review fee applies. VERIFIED BY READING THE BLOCKED PAGE, 2026-08-17. The prior basis for this entry was that bozemanmt.gov "returns HTTP 403 to automated fetch on its Fire Department and Fire Marshal pages" — an inability to retrieve, which is not evidence of absence. Those pages were opened in a full browser session today: the 403 is script-only and the site renders normally. The Fire Marshal page (bozemanmt.gov/departments/fire/fire-marshal) carries exactly four items — Message from the Fire Marshal, BBQ Rules, Mobile Food Vending, Business Licenses — and no fee schedule, permit fee, or sprinkler/alarm line of any kind. The claim therefore STANDS, but it now rests on a page that was read rather than on one that could not be fetched. Municode's Bozeman code was also checked and carries no fire-only permit fee line.

Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use / Final Routing

Verified

Bozeman's Certificate of Occupancy (CO) and Final Routing process. A CO is required for new commercial construction, a Change In Use, buildings with 5 or more dwelling units, and buildings that are 3 or more stories. Residential single-family homes, townhomes, or duplexes of 3 stories or less do not go through this process — they request a standard final inspection instead. Administered by the Building Division with sign-off routed to applicable city departments.

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

Requirements

  • A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is required for: New Commercial Construction, Change In Use, buildings with 5 or more dwelling units, and buildings that are 3 or more stories
  • Residential Single Family Homes, Townhomes, or Duplexes of 3 stories or less do NOT go through the CO/Occupancy process — instead request a standard final inspection via the Inspection Request Form
  • Occupancy/Final Routing must be requested a minimum of 4 weeks before intended occupancy, using the Final Routing / Occupancy Request Form
  • Step 1: All Final Building and Fire Inspections must be scheduled and approved via the Inspection Request Form before occupancy can be requested
  • Step 2: Submit the Final Routing / Occupancy Request Form; the request routes to applicable departments based on building type and scope, each of which conducts an onsite review
  • Certification letters are required from the project's architect, civil engineer, and landscape architect/design professional, confirming all work was inspected and completed to approved plans; emailed to planningtech@bozemanmt.gov referencing the planning project number, before the city's site inspections
  • A Water Backflow and Sprinkler Backflow test is required for any project needing a CO
  • Step 3 (if applicable): An Improvement Agreement (IA) can financially guarantee completion of incomplete minor site improvements (e.g., landscaping/hardscape); IA approval averages two weeks and must be recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder before occupancy sign-off
  • Any changes from the approved plan require a Modification Application, approved by the Planning Division prior to sign-off
  • Final Routing (a lighter process than a full CO) applies to building permits that don't require a CO but previously went through Planning/Zoning review (e.g., Site Plan, Subdivision, PDZ)

Required documents

  • RequiredFinal Routing / Occupancy Request FormInitiates the CO/Final Routing process; submit a minimum of 4 weeks before intended occupancy
  • RequiredInspection Request FormUsed to schedule all required Final Building and Fire Inspections prior to requesting occupancy
  • RequiredCertification LettersFrom the project's architect, civil engineer, and landscape architect/design professional, confirming work matches approved plans; emailed to planningtech@bozemanmt.gov referencing the planning project number
  • RequiredWater Backflow and Sprinkler Backflow Test resultsRequired for all projects needing a Certificate of Occupancy; see the city's Bozeman Backflow program for certified testers, forms, and checklists
  • OptionalImprovement Agreement (IA)Only required if minor site improvements (landscaping, hardscape) are incomplete at the time of the occupancy request; must include an itemized cost estimate and be recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder
  • OptionalModification ApplicationRequired only if changes are made from the approved plan; must be approved by the Planning Division prior to sign-off

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Certificate of Occupancy / Final Routing FeeNo distinct CO/Final Routing fee line item was found published separately from the underlying building permit fee
Checked the Occupancy Process page, the Building Checklists/Forms/Guides fee section, and the Ordinance 2143 fee-provision text; Show full citation

Checked the Occupancy Process page, the Building Checklists/Forms/Guides fee section, and the Ordinance 2143 fee-provision text; none lists a standalone CO fee, suggesting CO issuance is covered under the fee already paid for the associated building permit rather than billed separately — this was not independently confirmed by phone with the Building Division this review

Improvement Agreement (IA) processingNot publishedIA approval averages two weeks per the Occupancy Process page; no separate dollar fee for IA processing was found published this review

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-17.

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

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Permalink: /montana/gallatin-county/bozeman/as-of/2026-07-02/

Snapshot date: 2026-07-02

Commit: 80f50fc

Reproducible from PermitBase’s version-controlled dataset, commit 80f50fc.