Havre building permits

Building department

Address

520 4th Street, PO Box 231, Havre, MT 59501

Phone

(406) 265-4941

Email

PWinfo@ci.havre.mt.us

Office hours

Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

Official site

Codes adopted

Montana adopts a single statewide building code by rule and, by default, enforces it directly — local governments only gain enforcement authority once the state certifies them. Under the Montana Building Codes Act (Mont. Code Ann. Title 50, Chapter 60), the Department of Labor & Industry's Building Codes Bureau adopts one state building code applicable everywhere (§ 50-60-203, codified further at Administrative Rules of Montana Title 24, Chapter 301) — currently the 2021 editions of the IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, ISPSC, and UPC, with the 2020 NEC for electrical (effective statewide since 6/11/2022 per the Bureau's own Current Codes page). A city, county, or town may adopt and enforce its own building-code program under § 50-60-301, but its adopted code "may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau" — a local edition can never diverge from or be less stringent than the state's. Critically, under § 50-60-302, a local government cannot enforce ANY building code — even one it has formally adopted — until the Bureau certifies its program (requiring an approved code, a published fee schedule, an enforcement plan, and properly licensed or nationally certified inspectors); certification is granted per TRADE, not as one blanket designation. The Bureau's own "Certified City, County and Town Programs" list uses the key B=Building, P=Plumbing, E=Electrical, M=Mechanical, SP=Pool, W=Wildland-Urban-Interface — a jurisdiction can be certified for Building only while Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical remain directly state-enforced within the same city limits (e.g., Havre, Anaconda-Deer Lodge), or certified across all trades (e.g., Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell). Non-certified jurisdictions — most of Montana's unincorporated county land, since very few counties appear on the certified list — fall under direct enforcement by the state Building Codes Bureau (§ 50-60-304). Montana also exempts private homes and buildings of four or fewer dwelling units not serving transient guests from the state building-permit requirement entirely, though electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits remain separately required regardless. Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction which trades it is certified for versus which remain directly state-enforced.

• 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by the City of Havre by reference of the code adopted by the Building Codes Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry (Havre City Code 4-1-1; Ord. 852, 2-21-2006; Ord. 846, 2-18-2003); statewide effective date June 11, 2022
• 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — statewide edition referenced by Havre's Roofing Permit checklist (citing 2021 IRC Sections 905.2.1, 905.1.2, R806); statewide effective June 11, 2022
• 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — statewide edition referenced by Havre's Roofing Permit checklist (citing 2021 IECC Section C504); statewide effective June 11, 2022
• 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — statewide edition per Montana Building Codes Bureau Current Codes page; statewide effective June 11, 2022
• 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — statewide edition, state-administered permit (Havre is not Mechanical-certified); effective June 11, 2022
• 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — statewide edition; effective June 11, 2022
• 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — statewide edition, state-administered permit (Havre is not Plumbing-certified); effective June 11, 2022
• 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — statewide edition per Montana Building Codes Bureau Current Codes page, state-administered permit (Havre is not Electrical-certified); effective June 11, 2022
• 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — statewide edition; effective June 11, 2022
• 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard — statewide edition per Montana Building Codes Bureau Current Codes page

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)

  Required for new single-family residential construction, additions, remodels, repairs, and alterations within Havre city limits. Issued by the City of Havre Public Works Department under its DLI-certified local Building program (2021 IBC/IRC editions). Paper application submitted at City Hall.

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• Roofing Permit (Repair or Replacement)

  Required for roof repair or replacement within Havre city limits, issued by the City of Havre Public Works Department. Covers sheathing, insulation, ice/water barrier, and ventilation compliance under the 2021 IBC/IRC/IECC.

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• Miscellaneous Building Permit (Fence, Driveway, Sidewalk, Curb Cut)

  Required within Havre city limits for fences, driveways, sidewalks, and curb cuts. Issued by the City of Havre Public Works Department.

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• Residential Electrical Permit

  Required for residential electrical work anywhere in Havre (city limits) and Hill County. Because Havre is NOT electrically-certified, this permit is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena) — not the city — under the 2020 NEC. Covers new single-family service, rewiring, change of service, accessory buildings, modular/mobile homes, and alternative energy (solar) add-ons.

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• Residential Plumbing Permit (including Water Heater)

  Required for plumbing work anywhere in Havre (city limits) and Hill County, including new water heater installation/replacement. Because Havre is NOT plumbing-certified, this permit is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena) under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, not the city.

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• Residential Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Required for mechanical/HVAC work anywhere in Havre (city limits) and Hill County, including furnaces, gas piping, ventilation, and cooling equipment. Because Havre is NOT mechanically-certified, this permit is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena) under the 2021 International Mechanical Code, not the city.

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• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit — Alternative Energy Source

  Residential solar PV installations in Havre require a state-issued Residential Electrical Permit with the Alternative Energy Source add-on, since Havre is not electrically-certified. Also requires a City of Havre Building Permit for the structural/mounting component of the installation.

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• EV Charger / EVSE Permit

  Havre has no dedicated EV charger or EVSE permit and no distinct fee line item for electric vehicle charging equipment. Because Havre is NOT electrically-certified, EV charger circuit work is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena), not the city, under the 2020 NEC -- the same state form used for all other electrical work in Havre. The state's Application for Residential Electrical Permit (Rev. 11/25) has no dedicated EV/EVSE line item -- its 'Alternative Energy' option only covers Solar/Wind/Hydro generation, not vehicle-charging loads. A single EV charger circuit added to an existing home instead falls under line H, '1 additional circuit or piece of equipment' ($45), the same category used for a hot tub or A/C circuit.

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• Sign Permit

  Required for installation of ground, wall, roof, projecting, window, temporary/banner, and reface-only signs within Havre city limits. Issued by the City of Havre Public Works Department. The applicant must remain in compliance with Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Official City Code of Havre (the city's sign code) at all times after issuance. A separate Temporary Sign Permit application exists for temporary/banner signage.

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• Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit

  The City of Havre Fire Department is listed on the Montana Department of Justice's Fire Inspection Certified Jurisdiction list, enforcing the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC 2021) within Havre City Limits (phone 406-265-6511) — confirming Havre has genuine local fire-code enforcement authority rather than relying on state fallback. However, unlike its Building/Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical permits, Havre has not published a standalone fire sprinkler or fire alarm permit application or fee schedule on its Public Works or Fire Department web pages. New fire protection system work (sprinkler and alarm systems) is understood to be submitted through the Building Department's Commercial Building Permit process, with Fire Department plan review as one of the standing internal-review departments (Building, Planning/Zoning, Public Works, 911 Coordinator, and Fire Department all appear as internal sign-off checkboxes on the city's own General Business Registration Application) — but no Havre-specific document was found that confirms this process for fire-suppression work specifically, so this entry is marked partial.

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• Certificate of Occupancy / Business Registration (Change of Use)

  Since May 1, 2024, the City of Havre has required every business operating within city limits — new or existing — to complete a General Business Registration Application and obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the City before operating. Per the city's own Public Works page: 'no person or entity shall engage in state-filed business without first receiving a business registration, and obtaining a certificate of occupancy from the City.' The application is routed internally to five departments for sign-off (Building Department, Planning/Zoning Department, Public Works Department, 911 Coordinator, and Fire Department), making it Havre's functional change-of-occupancy/change-of-use review gate. This local process operates within the framework of Montana Code Annotated 50-60-107, under which a certificate of occupancy for a building constructed under the state or local building code is binding and conclusive proof that the building conforms to applicable building-code requirements.

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