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Certificate of Occupancy / Business Registration (Change of Use) in Havre, Montana

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.

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Required for every new or existing business operating within Havre city limits — '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' (City of Havre Public Works page)
  • In effect since May 1, 2024
  • Applicant must specify whether the business is New or Existing, describe the business activity as specifically as possible, and provide location address, mailing address, and owner/applicant contact information
  • Checklist disclosures required where applicable: Home Occupation status; sale of alcoholic beverages (State of Montana License #); six or more gaming machines; auctioneer or pawnbroker services (Federal ID #); sale of tobacco/tobacco products; marijuana dispensary or grow operation (State of Montana License #, permitted only in certain zoning districts per Title 11, Chapter 1, Section 9); mobile vendor status (with vehicle description)
  • Registrant must notify the City within 30 days of any change to the information on file; failure may result in penalties and/or suspension or revocation of the registration
  • Application is internally reviewed and approved/denied following sign-off from five departments: Building Department, Planning/Zoning Department, Public Works Department, 911 Coordinator, and Fire Department
  • A Zoning Variance Y/N field is completed by the City on intake, alongside a Permit # and Date Submitted

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Business Registration / Certificate of Occupancy FeeThe General Business Registration Application records a 'Fee due' amount in its Office Use Only block, but neither the application itself nor the City of Havre Fee Schedule (effective 3/25/2026, which covers only Building Department valuation-based permit fees) publishes a fixed dollar figure for business registration/certificate of occupancy. Confirm the current amount with the City of Havre Finance/City Clerk or Public Works Department.
Not a fixed published amount

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Certificate of Occupancy / Business Registration (Change of Use) permit actually take in Havre?

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Inspection process

    Tips

    • This process doubles as Havre's change-of-use/change-of-occupancy check — even an existing business changing hands or changing its activity at the same address should re-file to keep its registration and certificate of occupancy current.
    • Five departments sign off internally (Building, Planning/Zoning, Public Works, 911 Coordinator, Fire) — budget time for multi-department review, even though no fixed turnaround is published.
    • Marijuana dispensaries and grow operations are only permitted in certain zoning districts under Title 11, Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Havre City Code — confirm zoning eligibility before registering that business type.

    Frequently asked questions

    Havre requires a certificate of occupancy / business registration (change of use) permit for: Required for every new or existing business operating within Havre city limits — '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' (City of Havre Public Works page); In effect since May 1, 2024; Applicant must specify whether the business is New or Existing, describe the business activity as specifically as possible, and provide location address, mailing address, and owner/applicant contact information; Checklist disclosures required where applicable: Home Occupation status; sale of alcoholic beverages (State of Montana License #); six or more gaming machines; auctioneer or pawnbroker services (Federal ID #); sale of tobacco/tobacco products; marijuana dispensary or grow operation (State of Montana License #, permitted only in certain zoning districts per Title 11, Chapter 1, Section 9); mobile vendor status (with vehicle description); Registrant must notify the City within 30 days of any change to the information on file; failure may result in penalties and/or suspension or revocation of the registration; Application is internally reviewed and approved/denied following sign-off from five departments: Building Department, Planning/Zoning Department, Public Works Department, 911 Coordinator, and Fire Department; A Zoning Variance Y/N field is completed by the City on intake, alongside a Permit # and Date Submitted. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Havre Public Works Department (Building Division) — city-certified for Building permits only; Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau at (406) 265-4941 before starting work.

    The City of Havre does not publish a fixed fee for business registration or the certificate of occupancy; the amount is recorded at intake on the application's Office Use Only block. Confirm the current fee with the City of Havre Finance/City Clerk or Public Works Department.

    Havre does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Havre Public Works Department (Building Division) — city-certified for Building permits only; Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau at (406) 265-4941 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: General Business Registration Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Havre Public Works Department (Building Division) — city-certified for Building permits only; Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau at 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. Official information: https://www.ci.havre.mt.us/public-works.

    Havre, Montana has adopted: 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. Local amendments apply — see the Havre overview page for the full list.

    Yes. Since May 1, 2024, every business operating in Havre — new or existing — must complete a General Business Registration Application and obtain a certificate of occupancy from the City before operating. The application is reviewed internally by the Building Department, Planning/Zoning Department, Public Works Department, 911 Coordinator, and Fire Department.

    Other permits in Havre

    Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)Roofing Permit (Repair or Replacement)Miscellaneous Building Permit (Fence, Driveway, Sidewalk, Curb Cut)Residential Electrical PermitResidential Plumbing Permit (including Water Heater)Residential Mechanical / HVAC PermitSolar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit — Alternative Energy SourceEV Charger / EVSE PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit

    Certificate of Occupancy / Business Registration (Change of Use) in other cities

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