Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shed in Montana?
Shed permit requirements. Size thresholds, setback rules, and when you can build without a permit.
Under 200 sq ft and under 10 feet tall? Usually no. Bigger? Yes.
The 200 Sq Ft Rule
Most cities exempt sheds under 200 square feet and under 10 feet in height from building permits. This applies to simple storage sheds, garden sheds, and similar structures without plumbing or electrical. Even exempt sheds must comply with setback requirements.
Setbacks Still Apply
Even without a permit, your shed must meet zoning setbacks — typically 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Sheds cannot be placed in utility easements. Corner lots have additional restrictions. Check your city's zoning code before choosing a location.
When You Definitely Need a Permit
A permit is required for: sheds over 200 sq ft, sheds over 10 feet tall, any shed with electrical wiring, any shed with plumbing, and detached garages or carports regardless of size. Prefab and kit sheds over 200 sq ft still need permits — the rule is based on size, not construction method.
HOA Restrictions
Many HOAs have additional shed restrictions: approved materials and colors, maximum size smaller than city code allows, and sometimes outright prohibition of certain shed types. Get HOA approval before purchasing or building.
Small sheds (under 200 sq ft, under 10 ft tall, no utilities) are usually permit-free. Everything else needs one. Always check setbacks.
Permit fees by city in Montana
Verified from each city’s published fee schedule. Where a city has no separate fee listed for this project, open the city page for the current requirements and amount.
| City | Permit fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge | $12.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Belgrade | Valuation x 0.0024Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction, ADU, Addition, Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction, ADU, Addition, Remodel) → |
| Billings | $30.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Bozeman | (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 FootageVerifiedvia Residential New Construction Permit | Residential New Construction Permit → |
| Butte-Silver Bow | $75.00 per hour, one-hour minimumVerifiedvia New Residential Construction Permit | New Residential Construction Permit → |
| Choteau | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| City of Deer Lodge | $20Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Colstrip | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair / Move) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair / Move) → |
| Columbia Falls | Calculated at time of submission based on project valuation; the City's own application form does not print a standalone valuation-fee table (field left blank for Building Department completion). No dedicated Columbia Falls fee-schedule document was found published separately from the application form after exhaustive search of the City's DocumentCenter, site search, and Resolutions listings.Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel / Repair) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel / Repair) → |
| Conrad | See city page for the current Zoning and Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) fee | Zoning and Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) → |
| Cut Bank | $23.50 (subject to the $100.00 minimum permit fee)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Darby | $29.38Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Repair) | Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Repair) → |
| East Helena | See city page for the current Construction Permit — Residential Building (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) fee | Construction Permit — Residential Building (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Forsyth | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Glasgow | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Great Falls | Ranges from $62.61 (value $1-$1,000) up to $710.45 (value $49,001-$50,000), per the $1,000-increment table in Exhibit AVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Hamilton | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Hardin | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Re-Roof) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Re-Roof) → |
| Havre | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Helena | $22.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (One- and Two-Family Dwelling — New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (One- and Two-Family Dwelling — New Construction) → |
| Kalispell | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Laurel | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Lewistown | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Additions) → |
| Libby | $24Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) → |
| Livingston | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Manhattan | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel) → |
| Miles City | Set by a City of Miles City fee schedule adopted by council resolution under City Code § 5-4; the specific dollar-valuation table was not independently locatable as a standalone published document as of this review (see note)Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel / Repair) | Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel / Repair) → |
| Missoula | $36 permit fee + $11.00 plan review feeVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Missoula County (Unincorporated) | $26.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Polson | 35% of the Building Permit FeeVerifiedvia Zoning Conformance & Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Zoning Conformance & Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Red Lodge | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration) → |
| Ronan | $35.00 for up to $1,999Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) | Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) → |
| Shelby | $23.50Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Structural Alteration) | Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Structural Alteration) → |
| Sidney | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| Stevensville | $35 (minimum fee)Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Townsend | See city page for the current Building Permit — Residential Building (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) fee | Building Permit — Residential Building (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |
| Troy | $24Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) → |
| Unincorporated Yellowstone County | Calculated based on project valuation (fee schedule not published inline on the application; contact Building Codes Bureau at (406) 841-2056 for the current valuation-based fee table)Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| West Yellowstone | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) → |
| Whitefish | Based on a percentage of the estimated project cost (valuation-based); a deposit is required at time of permit submittalVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) → |