Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) in Cut Bank, Montana

Cut Bank requires a residential building permit (new construction / addition / alteration) for: Complete Building Permit Application Sections 1 through 7 (owner, contractor if used, project description, construction data, and total project cost including labor); Sign and date the application; Complete a plot plan showing location of construction on the lot with dimensions and setback information (graph squares are 5' x 5', or 1 inch = 20 feet), or submit blueprints/sectional drawings in lieu of the plot plan; Provide supplemental construction plans and drawings for new buildings, and/or cross-sectional drawings for remodels or additions; Complete an Application to Excavate if any public or private excavation work will be performed; Complete a Zoning Permit application when applicable to exterior projects, and a Sidewalk/Driveway permit application when applicable; Minimum frost depth of 48 inches (finish grade to bottom of footing) required for foundations; Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms required per IRC R314/R315 for all new construction and interior alterations/repairs/additions requiring a building permit (roofing, siding, windows, decks, plumbing, and mechanical-only permits are exempted from this specific alarm trigger); Contractors working in the City of Cut Bank must obtain a City business license and carry current workers' compensation and general liability insurance. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Cut Bank Building Department — Building Official Kory Sandon, Certified Residential & Commercial Building Inspector; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Cut Bank city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 873-5526 before starting work.

In Cut Bank, the published Building Permit Fee (minimum, valuation $1-$500) is: $23.50 (subject to the $100.00 minimum permit fee). Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $25,000 — $69.25 for the first $2,000, plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $25,001 to $50,000 — $391.00 for the first $25,000, plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $50,001 to $100,000 — $643.75 for the first $50,000, plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000 — $993.75 for the first $100,000, plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Plan Review Fee — $150.00; Other Inspections and Fees (after-hours inspection, re-inspection for non-compliance, inspection with no specific fee listed, additional plan review from plan changes) — $100.00 per hour (re-inspection: $100.00 each); Permit Extension Fee — $75.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Usually a week or less, though it can take longer when an extensive permit review is needed. The City's Building Permit Application Checklist separately asks applicants to allow a minimum of five business days for the building official's initial review. Source: City of Cut Bank Permitting FAQ's and Building Permit Application Checklist.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Plot Plan; Construction Plans and Drawings; Residential Plan Submittal Requirements. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Cut Bank requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction / addition / alteration), in order: Foundation/Footing, Framing, Final. Schedule each through City of Cut Bank Building Department — Building Official Kory Sandon, Certified Residential & Commercial Building Inspector; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Cut Bank city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. ((406) 873-5526).

Apply through City of Cut Bank Building Department — Building Official Kory Sandon, Certified Residential & Commercial Building Inspector; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Cut Bank city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at 221 West Main Street, Cut Bank, MT 59427. Phone: (406) 873-5526, email: ksandon@cityofcutbank.org. Office hours: City Hall (Winter Hours): Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Building Official Kory Sandon can be reached directly at (406) 873-5526 or ksandon@cityofcutbank.org.. Official information: https://www.cityofcutbank.org/building-department.

Cut Bank, 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 trades in a partially-certified jurisdiction fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs list (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).; Cut Bank is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B) ONLY within city limits; certified building official on file with DLI: Kory Sandon, (406) 873-5526. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'Montana Certified Local Government Program' roster, updated 04/22/2026, https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf — roster row: 'Cutbank | B | Kory Sandon | 873-5526 | City Limits' (verified directly via pdftotext extraction of the primary-source PDF, not a third-party mirror).; The City of Cut Bank's own Building Permit Fee Schedule and Permitting FAQ (published on cityofcutbank.org) confirm the City issues Building permits only, while explicitly directing applicants to the Montana DLI for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits: 'Where do I get my mechanical, electrical, or plumbing permit? Online from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.' Source: City of Cut Bank Permitting FAQ's (PDF), cityofcutbank.org/media/2616; Per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's Current Codes page (statewide effective date June 11, 2022, applicable to all certified and state-enforced jurisdictions alike): 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IECC, 2021 ISPSC, 2021 UPC, 2020 NEC, 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility. Cut Bank's own Building Permit Application checklist references the adopted Uniform/International Residential Code framework (IRC Section R105.2 exemptions, R301.1.3 engineered design, R314/R315 smoke and CO alarms, R311.4 egress) consistent with enforcement of the state-adopted IRC edition rather than a locally-amended one. Source: bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes; City of Cut Bank Building Permit Application Checklist (PDF), cityofcutbank.org/media/2766. Local amendments apply — see the Cut Bank overview page for the full list.

The City of Cut Bank issues its own Building permits under a Montana DLI 'Building (B) only' certification, reviewed by Building Official Kory Sandon. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, not the City. Source: Montana DLI certified-jurisdictions roster and City of Cut Bank Permitting FAQ's.