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Zoning Conformance & Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) — Polson, Montana · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source: https://www.cityofpolson.com/media/10566
PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements change and vary by project — confirm current details with the building department before you submit.
Zoning Conformance & Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) in Polson, Montana
Required for new single-family and two-family dwelling construction, additions, and remodels within Polson city limits. Uses a single combined Zoning Conformance & Building Permit Application reviewed against the Polson Development Code (Zoning Conformance) and the adopted 2021 IBC/IRC/IECC/IEBC (Building Permit). Applications submitted to the Building Department at 106 1st Street East, or online at GovWell.com.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
When you need this permit
- Complete Zoning Conformance & Building Permit Application, indicating Residential or Commercial, with owner, contractor, and site information, project valuation, and floor area
- Part I (Zoning Conformance): two copies of a site plan showing setbacks, lot size, lot slope, lot coverage, and all easements; Zoning Conformance Fee must be paid at time of submittal; allow up to 10 working days for review
- Applicant must address all applicable Performance Standards per Chapter IV of the Polson Development Code
- Part II (Building Permit): two complete sets of detailed construction drawings covering building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing information (1/4 inch scale preferred), including foundation plan, floor plan for each level, exterior elevations, and complete structural drawings (wall section, floor framing, stair sections, roof/truss detail)
- Must demonstrate compliance with current energy code requirements
- Design must reflect City of Polson design criteria: 62 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind load, Seismic Zone D (per Standards for Design & Construction page)
- Signature required granting City departments (Building, Planning, Water, Sewer, Fire, Parks, Streets) and the City Engineer permission to enter the property to evaluate the application and resulting construction
- Permanent water/sewer service granted only after all code requirements (paving, landscaping, permits, inspections, fees) are confirmed complete
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Plan Review FeeCity of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2021); paid at plan submittal per the Building Department page
35% of the Building Permit Fee
Additional Plan Review (required by changes, additions, or other revisions)City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$75.00
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $1-$500City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$23.50
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $501-$2,000City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$23.50 for the first $500, plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $2,001-$25,000City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$69.25 for the first $2,000, plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $25,001-$50,000City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$391.75 for the first $25,000, plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $50,001-$100,000City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$643.75 for the first $50,000, plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $100,001-$500,000City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$993.75 for the first $100,000, plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $500,001-$1,000,000City of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$3,233.75 for the first $500,000, plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $1,000,001 and upCity of Polson Building Department Fee Schedule
$5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Review timeline
Plan reviewPolson’s published plan-review target
Up to 10 business days
Inspection process
- 1
Foundation
Before concrete pour, per department inspection sheet requirements
- 2
Framing
Structural framing per approved plans before walls are closed
- 3
Final
Completed work verified against approved plans; a Certificate of Compliance and Occupancy is issued only after the department inspection sheet is submitted and signed off by each required department
See the full Polson inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- The City uses ONE combined application for both Zoning Conformance and the Building Permit — Zoning Conformance review (up to 10 working days) happens first and its fee is due at submittal; Building Permit fees are assessed and the permit issued only after plan review is complete.
- Two copies of both the site plan and full construction drawing sets are required; the City recommends engineer-prepared plans.
- Design criteria to confirm on submitted plans: 62 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind load, Seismic Zone D (per the City's Standards for Design & Construction page).
- Applications can be submitted by mail, by email to bp@cityofpolson.com, or online via GovWell.com.
- A signed department inspection sheet (kept onsite with field plans and the yellow Building Official inspection card) must be submitted before a Certificate of Compliance and Occupancy will be issued; work will be stopped if a required inspection hasn't been signed off.
Frequently asked questions
Polson requires a zoning conformance & building permit (new construction / addition / remodel) for: Complete Zoning Conformance & Building Permit Application, indicating Residential or Commercial, with owner, contractor, and site information, project valuation, and floor area; Part I (Zoning Conformance): two copies of a site plan showing setbacks, lot size, lot slope, lot coverage, and all easements; Zoning Conformance Fee must be paid at time of submittal; allow up to 10 working days for review; Applicant must address all applicable Performance Standards per Chapter IV of the Polson Development Code; Part II (Building Permit): two complete sets of detailed construction drawings covering building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing information (1/4 inch scale preferred), including foundation plan, floor plan for each level, exterior elevations, and complete structural drawings (wall section, floor framing, stair sections, roof/truss detail); Must demonstrate compliance with current energy code requirements; Design must reflect City of Polson design criteria: 62 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind load, Seismic Zone D (per Standards for Design & Construction page); Signature required granting City departments (Building, Planning, Water, Sewer, Fire, Parks, Streets) and the City Engineer permission to enter the property to evaluate the application and resulting construction; Permanent water/sewer service granted only after all code requirements (paving, landscaping, permits, inspections, fees) are confirmed complete. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Polson Building Department (Planning & Building Department) at (406) 883-8214 before starting work.
In Polson, the published Plan Review Fee is: 35% of the Building Permit Fee. Additional published fees: Additional Plan Review (required by changes, additions, or other revisions) — $75.00; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $1-$500 — $23.50; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $501-$2,000 — $23.50 for the first $500, plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $2,001-$25,000 — $69.25 for the first $2,000, plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $25,001-$50,000 — $391.75 for the first $25,000, plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $50,001-$100,000 — $643.75 for the first $50,000, plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $100,001-$500,000 — $993.75 for the first $100,000, plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $500,001-$1,000,000 — $3,233.75 for the first $500,000, plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $1,000,001 and up — $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.
The City's Zoning Conformance & Building Permit Application states directly: 'Please allow up to 10 working days for review' for the Zoning Conformance portion. Source: City of Polson Zoning Conformance & Building Permit Application (Revised 10/20/22).
You'll need: Zoning Conformance & Building Permit Application; Site Plan (2 copies); Construction Drawings. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.
Polson requires 3 inspection(s) for a zoning conformance & building permit (new construction / addition / remodel), in order: Foundation, Framing, Final. Schedule each through City of Polson Building Department (Planning & Building Department) ((406) 883-8214).
Applications can be mailed or delivered to the Building Department at 106 1st Street East, Polson, MT 59860, emailed to bp@cityofpolson.com, or submitted online at GovWell.com.
Polson, 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; a certified local program's adopted code 'may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau' (ARM 24.301.202). Non-certified trades/areas fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf, updated 04/22/2026).; Polson is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), Plumbing (P), Electrical (E), and Mechanical (M) — but explicitly NOT Swimming Pool (SP) — within Polson city limits. Certified program contact on file with DLI: 'Office', (406) 883-8214. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'Montana Certified Local Government Program' roster (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf, updated 04/22/2026), row 'Polson | B, P, E, M | Office | 883-8214 | City Limits'. Directly fetched and text-extracted from the PDF during this research pass (2026-07-04); no 'SP' designation appears for Polson in the roster, unlike Darby, Hamilton, Manhattan, and other full-trade-certified Montana towns in this same roster which explicitly list 'SP'. No separate Lake County-level DLI certification row exists in the roster (the county itself is not a certified jurisdiction), so there is no competing county-level certification for areas outside Polson city limits.; 2021 International Building Code (IBC), as amended by ARM 24.301.131 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page (Montana Building Codes / International Code Council list); 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), as amended by ARM 24.301.154 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), as amended by ARM 24.301.161 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), as amended by ARM 24.301.171 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page; 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), as amended by ARM 24.301.172 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page; also cited directly on the City's Mechanical Permit Application ('Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 104, MCA and ARM 24.301.172'); 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), as amended by ARM 24.301.173 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), as amended by ARM 24.301.175 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page. Note: this code is listed among Montana's statewide-adopted codes referenced by the City's own Standards page, but Polson is NOT DLI-certified for Swimming Pool (SP) permitting — see codesAdopted certification note above; pool-specific permitting/inspection is understood to route to the state DLI Building Codes Bureau rather than being issued locally by Polson.; 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), as amended by ARM 24.301.301 — per City of Polson Standards for Design & Construction page; also cited directly on the City's Plumbing Permit Application ('Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 505, MCA and ARM 24.301.301 and ARM 24.301.361'). Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code.; 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022 per Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau Current Codes summary; cited directly on the City of Polson Electrical Permit Application ('Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431'). Not separately listed on the City's own Standards for Design & Construction code list (which enumerates only ICC/UPC family codes), but confirmed via the statewide DLI source and the City's own electrical permit application form citation.; All codes verified directly against the City of Polson 'Standards for Design & Construction' page (Montana Building Codes / International Code Council section), https://www.cityofpolson.com/building/page/standards-design-construction, fetched and read directly during this research pass (2026-07-04).. Local amendments apply — see the Polson overview page for the full list.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-04.
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Polson building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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