East Helena building permits

Building department

Address

306 E. Main Street, PO Box 1170, East Helena, MT 59635

Phone

(406) 227-5321

Email

building@easthelenamt.us

Office hours

City Hall, 306 E. Main Street, East Helena, MT 59635 (Administration Department, general questions: (406) 227-5321); Building Official/LEAP staff in Room 201 of City Hall, (406) 457-8583

Website

Official site

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in East Helena — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.

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.

• 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 (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, swimming pool, WUI, etc.); non-certified trades within a certified jurisdiction, and all trades in non-certified areas, fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs and Current Codes pages (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).
• East Helena is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B) and Swimming Pool (SP) ONLY within East Helena city limits — Colin Thomas is the certified building official of record, (406) 594-6322. East Helena is NOT certified for Electrical (E), Plumbing (P), or Mechanical (M); those permits are issued directly by the state DLI Building Codes Bureau for all addresses within East Helena city limits. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'CITY CODES BUILDING OFFICIAL PHONE JURISDICTION' certified-jurisdictions PDF (https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf), updated 04/22/2026 — East Helena row reads 'B, SP / Colin Thomas / 594-6322 / City Limits'; independently cross-confirmed against the DLI 'Certified City, County and Town Programs' HTML page (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/certified-government), same B, SP result. Legend on the PDF: B = Building, P = Plumbing, M/G = Medical Gas, E = Electrical, M = Mechanical, SP = Pool, W = WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface).
• The City of East Helena's own Construction Permit Application confirms the split directly: 'Separate permits are required for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work,' and the city's Planning/Zoning/Building webpage links its 'Electrical Permits' quick-link directly to the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's electrical-permits page (bsd.dli.mt.gov/Building-Codes-Permits/Permit-Information/electrical-permits), not to any city-issued electrical form. Source: City of East Helena Construction Permit Application (PDF), easthelenamt.us/PDF/building_permit.pdf; City of East Helena Planning/Zoning/Building page, easthelenamt.us/coeh/planning-zoning-building/.
• 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — statewide edition effective June 11, 2022, referenced directly on the City of East Helena Construction Permit Application (IBC Sec. 109.3 and 109.3.8 quoted verbatim on the inspection-requirements side of the form) and enforced locally by the city's own DLI-certified building official. Source: City of East Helena Construction Permit Application (PDF).
• 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — statewide edition effective June 11, 2022; the City of East Helena's Residential One- and Two-Family Dwellings Plan Submittal Requirements document cites IRC Section R301 and IRC Section R602.10 directly for structural/lateral-bracing plan-review purposes. Source: City of East Helena Residential Plan Submittal Requirements (PDF), easthelenamt.us/PDF/COEH_BuildingPlanSubmittalInfo_2021.pdf.
• 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — statewide edition effective June 11, 2022; East Helena's Plan Submittal Requirements require insulation R-values for foundations, walls, and roofs to be shown on submitted plans. Source: City of East Helena Residential Plan Submittal Requirements (PDF); Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau Current Codes page.
• 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), and 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard — statewide editions effective June 11, 2022, applicable within East Helena as the locally-enforced editions for the Building and Swimming Pool trades the city is certified for. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Current Codes page, bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes.
• 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) all apply within East Helena city limits as the statewide-adopted editions (effective June 11, 2022) but are administered directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau (Helena), not the City of East Helena, because East Helena holds no local certification for those trades. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Current Codes page; DLI Building Codes Bureau Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical Permits pages.

Permit types & fees

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

  Required for new one- and two-family residential construction, additions, remodels, and other structural building work within East Helena city limits, issued by the City of East Helena Department of Building & Safety under its DLI-certified local Building (B) program (2021 IBC/IRC). Must be preceded by an approved Zoning Application. Submitted at City Hall, 306 E. Main Street.

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• Informational Building Permit (Minor Residential Work)

  A distinct, lower-fee permit required under East Helena City Code 4-1-13 for specific minor work to residential buildings with fewer than 5 dwelling units, or attached/private garage/storage structures for the owner's own use: re-siding, roof-covering replacement, window/door replacement without header changes, interior ceiling/wall covering replacement, and cabinet/closet installation.

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• Construction Permit — Deck / Accessory Structure (Garage, Shed)

  Required for construction of decks, private garages, and accessory storage structures within East Helena city limits, issued under the city's Building (B) program. Structures for the owner's own use consisting only of minor work (see Informational Building Permit) may qualify for the lower-fee track; new construction of a deck, garage, or accessory building otherwise uses the standard Construction Permit Application and Plan Submittal Requirements.

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• Demolition Permit

  Required for demolition of any structure within East Helena city limits. East Helena does not publish a dedicated demolition-specific application separate from its general Construction Permit Application; demolition is covered under the city's Building (B) certification and the standard Construction Permit process, per the Building & Safety Department's general permit notices.

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• Swimming Pool Permit

  Required for construction/installation of a swimming pool within East Helena city limits. East Helena is one of the few Montana jurisdictions DLI-certified for Swimming Pool (SP) permitting in addition to Building (B), so this permit is issued locally by the Department of Building & Safety under the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), rather than being routed to the state. No dedicated pool-specific application form or fee line distinct from the general Construction Permit Application was found published by the city.

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• Electrical Permit (State-Issued)

  Required for electrical installation, alteration, or repair work anywhere in East Helena (city limits) and unincorporated Lewis and Clark County. Because East Helena 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. The City of East Helena's own website links its 'Electrical Permits' page directly to the state DLI electrical-permits page, confirming this routing.

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• Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit — State-Issued Electrical Permit Add-On

  Rooftop or ground-mount residential solar photovoltaic installation within East Helena city limits is not a separate stand-alone permit type — it is billed and processed as an Alternative Energy Source add-on to the state-issued Residential Electrical Permit, since East Helena is not DLI-certified for Electrical and all electrical permitting for East Helena addresses is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena) under the 2020 NEC. The Bureau's own Application for Residential Electrical Permit form itemizes 'Alternative Energy Source (solar/wind/hydro)' as a fixed $65 fee added on top of whichever base electrical work-type fee applies (e.g., service upgrade, change of service), and requires the applicant to specify the system type (Micro Inverter/AC Module System or PV String System).

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• EV Charger / EVSE Permit — State-Issued Electrical Permit (No Distinct Line Item)

  Installation of a Level 2 (or higher) electric vehicle charger/EVSE anywhere in East Helena (city limits) requires an electrical permit, since East Helena is not DLI-certified for Electrical and all electrical permitting for East Helena addresses is issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena) under the 2020 NEC. The Bureau's own Application for Residential Electrical Permit form (Rev. 12/22) has NO dedicated 'EV charger' or 'EVSE' line item — its explicit 'Alternative Energy Source' add-on fee is defined only for Solar/Wind/Hydro generation systems, not vehicle-charging equipment. An EV charger circuit is billed under the same general per-circuit/per-service fee table used for any other electrical equipment addition: as an added circuit to an existing panel (options G/H) if no service or panel change is needed, or under the applicable service-upgrade tier (options A-D) if the charger install requires a panel/service upgrade.

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• Plumbing Permit (including Water Heater) — State-Issued

  Required for plumbing work anywhere in East Helena (city limits) and unincorporated Lewis and Clark County, including new water heater installation/replacement. Because East Helena 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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• Mechanical / HVAC Permit — State-Issued

  Required for mechanical/HVAC work anywhere in East Helena (city limits) and unincorporated Lewis and Clark County, including furnaces, gas piping, ventilation, and cooling equipment. Because East Helena 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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• Sign Permit (Sketch Plan Zoning Review)

  East Helena has no standalone sign-permit application. Signs that comply with the Zoning Ordinance are processed under the city's lightweight 'Sketch Plan' zoning review track — the same track used for fences and accessory structures — per Zoning Ordinance Section 7.1.08 (Signs) and the Sketch Plan Checklist, which explicitly lists 'signs in compliance with the zoning ordinance' under its Classification of Sketch Plans. Applicants submit a Development Review Application with the Sketch Plan Checklist (3 sets) to City Hall; City staff review for compliance with the applicable zoning-district sign standards and either approve or refer the application to the appropriate permitting authority. Certain small temporary signs are exempt from a zoning permit entirely.

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• Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit

  East Helena does not publish a separate fire-sprinkler/fire-alarm permit application or maintain a dedicated fire-code-enforcement office. The city's Title 5 (Fire Regulations) municipal code (hosted on American Legal Publishing) contains only a title/intent chapter, an outdoor-burning chapter, and a fireworks chapter — no fire-prevention-code adoption chapter or fire-marshal permitting process was found. The East Helena Volunteer Fire Department's own city page describes it solely as the city's emergency fire/medical response agency (16 volunteers, contact (406) 227-5321); no fire-code-enforcement or plan-review role is described. Under Montana's statewide fire-protection-system rule (ARM 24.301.146, incorporated into the 2021 IBC Chapter 9 as adopted statewide effective June 11, 2022), the 'authority having jurisdiction' over any fire protection system required by the IBC is the local building official by default, unless that authority is delegated to a governmental fire agency organized under Title 7, Chapter 33, MCA and approved by the Montana Department of Justice, Fire Prevention and Investigation Section — no such delegation to East Helena's Volunteer Fire Department was found published. Because East Helena is Montana DLI-certified for Building (B) only (with no separate 'Fire' trade certification listed on the DLI's own certified-jurisdictions legend), fire sprinkler and fire alarm work tied to a building within city limits is understood to be reviewed by the city's certified Building Official as part of the standard Construction Permit Application — the same general form used for demolition and swimming pool work — rather than a dedicated fire-system permit.

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• Change of Use / Occupancy Permit

  East Helena does not publish a single standalone 'change of use' or 'certificate of occupancy' permit application. A change of use or occupancy of an existing building — including new business start-ups in existing buildings — is processed through two linked city mechanisms rather than one dedicated form. On the zoning side, the project is reviewed as a Site Plan (the track required for 'all developments within the City' other than single-household/two-household dwellings and Sketch-Plan-eligible minor projects), whose own Development Review Application certification statement requires that 'this development shall be in conformance with building and fire codes including required building and occupancy permits'; where the proposed use is not clearly listed as permitted or conditional in the applicable zoning district, the City Council additionally makes a formal 'Classification of Use' determination under Zoning Ordinance Section 2.1.03. On the building side, if the change of occupancy involves construction work or an IBC/IEBC occupancy-classification change, a Construction Permit Application to the city's DLI-certified Building & Safety Department is required, with a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Building Official upon a satisfactory final inspection. No standalone change-of-use or CO-specific fee, form, or turnaround distinct from these general zoning and building fee lines was found published.

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