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Plumbing Permit — Helena, Montana · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-02 · Source: https://www.helenamt.gov/Departments/Community-Development/Building/Building-Permitting-Applications/Permit-Types
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.
Plumbing Permit in Helena, Montana
Required for installation, removal, alteration, or repair of plumbing, water and sewer service lines, gas lines, and drainage systems within Helena city limits. The City of Helena is DLI-certified to enforce plumbing code within city limits under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted statewide by Montana.
Verified 2026-07-02 · Source
When you need this permit
- Plumbing permits must be obtained by a State of Montana licensed Plumber Contractor
- Homeowner exemption: a homeowner performing their own interior plumbing in their own owner-occupied residence (not built on speculation or intended as a rental) does not need a permit — unless they want Building Division inspection, in which case a permit is required to cover inspection costs Owner-builder
- Exempt from permit: stopping leaks in drains/pipes (unless replacement of concealed piping is required, which then requires a permit), clearing stoppages, repairing leaks not requiring pipe/fixture replacement or rearrangement, removal/reinstallation of water closets without repiping
- Governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted statewide by Montana effective June 11, 2022
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Plumbing Permit — issuance fee (each permit)City of Helena Plumbing Permit Application (fee schedule printed directly on the application form)
$21.00
Plumbing Permit — each plumbing fixture (sinks, tub/showers, toilets/urinals/bidets, dishwasher, washing machine, wall hydrant, commercial ice maker, grease trap)City of Helena Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule
$8.50 each
Plumbing Permit — each water heaterCity of Helena Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule
$8.50
Plumbing Permit — gas piping, 1 to 4 outletsCity of Helena Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule
$8.50
Plumbing Permit — gas piping, 5 outlets or moreCity of Helena Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule
$3.00 per outlet
Plumbing Permit — installation, alteration, or repair of water piping and/or water treatment equipmentCity of Helena Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule
$8.50
Water and Sewer Permit — Water and Sewer Inspection (both)City of Helena Plumbing Permit Application — Water and Sewer Permit Fees section
$43.50
Water and Sewer Permit — Water Only InspectionCity of Helena Plumbing Permit Application — Water and Sewer Permit Fees section
$29.50
Water and Sewer Permit — Sewer Only InspectionCity of Helena Plumbing Permit Application — Water and Sewer Permit Fees section
$35.00
Review timeline
Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Helena building department
~1–5 business days
Inspection process
- 1
Underground / Under-slab
Before concrete pour — pipe slope, materials, cleanouts
- 2
Rough-In
After pipes installed, before walls closed
- 3
Final
All fixtures connected, no leaks, proper venting verified
See the full Helena inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- Helena's plumbing fee schedule is a per-item schedule (issuance fee + per-fixture + per-water-heater + per-gas-outlet), not a valuation-based table like the building permit fee.
- A homeowner doing their own interior plumbing in their own owner-occupied (non-rental, non-spec) home can skip the permit entirely — but only if they don't want the work inspected. Owner-builder
- Water and Sewer tapping permits can only be purchased by a Montana Licensed Master Plumber, separate from the standard plumbing fixture permit.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily. A homeowner does not need a plumbing permit for interior plumbing work they perform themselves in their own owner-occupied residence, provided it is not built on speculation of resale or intended as a rental. If you want the Building Division to inspect the work, a permit is still required to cover inspection costs.
In Helena, the published Plumbing Permit — issuance fee (each permit) is: $21.00. Additional published fees: Plumbing Permit — each plumbing fixture (sinks, tub/showers, toilets/urinals/bidets, dishwasher, washing machine, wall hydrant, commercial ice maker, grease trap) — $8.50 each; Plumbing Permit — each water heater — $8.50; Plumbing Permit — gas piping, 1 to 4 outlets — $8.50; Plumbing Permit — gas piping, 5 outlets or more — $3.00 per outlet; Plumbing Permit — installation, alteration, or repair of water piping and/or water treatment equipment — $8.50; Water and Sewer Permit — Water and Sewer Inspection (both) — $43.50; Water and Sewer Permit — Water Only Inspection — $29.50; Water and Sewer Permit — Sewer Only Inspection — $35.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.
Plan review for a plumbing permit in Helena typically runs 1–5 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Helena — Community Development Department, Building Division at (406) 447-8438.
You'll need: Plumbing Permit Application (City of Helena Building Division). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.
Helena requires 3 inspection(s) for a plumbing permit, in order: Underground / Under-slab, Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through City of Helena — Community Development Department, Building Division ((406) 447-8438).
Apply through City of Helena — Community Development Department, Building Division at 316 N. Park Avenue, Room 435, Helena, MT 59623. Phone: (406) 447-8438, email: CityBuilding@helenamt.gov. Office hours: City County Building, 316 N Park Ave, Helena, MT 59623; applications and permits also processed online via Civic Access (helenamt.gov/business/civic-access/). Official information: https://www.helenamt.gov/Departments/Community-Development/Building.
Helena, Montana has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; enforced by the City of Helena within city limits under its DLI-certified Building Code Enforcement Program; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), for One- and Two-Family Dwellings — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; City of Helena Building Division is the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for one- and two-family dwellings under IRC Chapters 8 and 9, including roofing/re-roofing; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; ICC A117.1-2017 (Accessibility) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; City of Helena is certified to enforce plumbing (P) within city limits; 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; City of Helena is certified to enforce mechanical (M) within city limits; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022 (Technical Advisory NEC_TIA-23-3_210.8 issued August 12, 2022); City of Helena is certified to enforce electrical (E) within city limits; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022; 2021 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Code — Montana statewide adoption, effective June 11, 2022 (Helena is NOT listed as WUI-certified; WUI enforcement in Helena's jurisdiction area is not confirmed — see notes); Statewide code administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI), Business Standards Division, Building Codes Program (formerly/also referenced as the Building Codes Bureau) — Mont. Code Ann. Title 50, Chapter 60, Parts 1-4. Local amendments apply — see the Helena overview page for the full list.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-02.
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 Helena building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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