Do I Need a Permit to Pour Concrete in Montana?
Concrete and driveway permit requirements. When flatwork needs a permit, right-of-way bonds, and drainage rules.
Only if it connects to the street, modifies drainage, or is a structural element.
When You Don't Need a Permit
Simple concrete flatwork on your own property — a backyard patio, a walkway, or a small pad — typically does not require a building permit in most cities, as long as it doesn't alter drainage patterns or connect to the public right-of-way.
When You Do Need a Permit
A permit is required for: new driveways or driveway widenings (curb cut modification), sidewalk work in the public right-of-way, any concrete that changes drainage patterns, and structural concrete (retaining walls, foundations). Driveway permits may also require a refundable right-of-way bond ($500-$2,000).
Drainage Is Key
The biggest issue with concrete work isn't the concrete itself — it's drainage. Most cities prohibit directing water runoff onto neighboring properties. If your new concrete changes how water flows on your lot, you may need a drainage plan even for otherwise exempt work.
ADA at the Sidewalk
If your driveway crosses a public sidewalk, the approach must meet ADA slope requirements. This is enforced during the permit process and is a common reason driveway permits are revised.
Backyard patio? Probably no permit. Driveway or anything touching the street? Yes. Always check drainage impact.
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) → |