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Residential Building Permit (One- and Two-Family Dwelling — New Construction) in Helena, Montana

Required for construction of new single-family and two-family (duplex) dwellings within Helena city limits. Reviewed against the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted statewide by Montana and enforced locally by the City of Helena Building Division, a DLI-certified building code enforcement program.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Application submitted on the City of Helena universal Permit Application form (covers building, and triggers related plumbing/mechanical/electrical review blocks on the same form)
  • Plans must comply with the 2021 IRC as amended by Helena's local climatic/geographic design criteria (Table R301.2): 30 psf ground snow load, 105 mph basic wind speed/Exposure B, Seismic Design Category D0, 42-inch frost line, -16°F winter design temperature, required ice barrier underlayment, IECC Climate Zone 6
  • Residential One- and Two-Family Dwelling Plan Submittal Requirements checklist must accompany the application
  • 2021 IRC Residential Code Summary Checklist must be completed and submitted with plans, cross-referencing each applicable code section to a specific plan sheet
  • Soils Investigation Report required for areas of unknown, expansive, compressible, or shifting soil conditions; absent a soils report, footings must be designed for a maximum 1,500 psf soil pressure
  • Irregular structures (per IRC Section R301.2.2.6) must be engineered and stamped by a Montana-licensed engineer
  • Contact the City of Helena Engineering Division to determine nearest fire hydrant and available fire flow, which may require upgraded construction materials or an automatic sprinkler system
  • Certificate of Occupancy / final inspection approval required before occupying the dwelling

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation $0–$500Building Permit Fee Tabulation, Figure 1 (Appendix A), Ordinance 3134 — City of Helena Building Permit Valuation Table
$22.00
Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001–$3,000Building Permit Fee Tabulation, Figure 1 (Appendix A), Ordinance 3134
$75.50
Building Permit Fee — valuation $9,001–$10,000Building Permit Fee Tabulation, Figure 1 (Appendix A), Ordinance 3134
$163.00
Building Permit Fee — valuation $99,001–$100,000Building Permit Fee Tabulation, Figure 1 (Appendix A), Ordinance 3134
$892.50
Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001–$500,000Building Permit Fee Tabulation, Figure 1 (Appendix A), Ordinance 3134
$895.00 for the first $100,000 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof (max example: $500,000 = $2,895.00)
Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001–$1,000,000Building Permit Fee Tabulation, Figure 1 (Appendix A), Ordinance 3134
$2,855.00 for the first $500,000 plus $4.25 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof (max example: $1,000,000 = $4,980.00)
Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001 and overBuilding Permit Fee Tabulation, Figure 1 (Appendix A), Ordinance 3134
$4,955.00 for the first $1,000,000 plus $2.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Plan Review (Plan Check) FeeVerified from the City's own worked example (November 2022 Building Permit Valuation Fee Calculation Example): $2,140.00 building permit fee produced a $1,391.00 plan check fee = 65.00%
65% of the calculated Building Permit Fee
Valuation BasisOrdinance 3134, item #25; e.g. for a 2,000 sq ft R-3 (Type VB) home, Helena's Feb-2022 Square Foot Valuation Data table used $150.87/sq ft for finished floor area and $60.43/sq ft for garage/deck (U occupancy)
Greater of the applicant's stated construction contract dollar amount, or the square-foot valuation from the ICC Building Valuation Data table as regionally modified by the City

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Helena building department
~10–15 business days

How long did your Residential Building Permit (One- and Two-Family Dwelling — New Construction) permit actually take in Helena?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation / Footings

    Before concrete pour; footings minimum 42 inches below grade or otherwise frost-protected

  2. 2

    Framing

    After framing complete, before insulation or wall cover; verifies wall bracing per 105 mph wind speed and Seismic Design Category D0

  3. 3

    Insulation / Energy

    Insulation and IECC Climate Zone 6 compliance before drywall

  4. 4

    Final

    Required approved final inspection prior to moving in and occupying the dwelling

See the full Helena inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Helena's building permit and plan review fees are calculated on the GREATER of your stated contract value or the City's square-foot valuation table — a low self-reported contract price will not reduce your fee below the square-foot-based valuation.
  • Budget for a plan review (plan check) fee equal to 65% of your building permit fee, billed at the time of plan submittal per the applicant affidavit on the permit application.
  • The 2021 IRC Residential Code Summary Checklist is not optional paperwork — it is the City's primary plan-review tool, and each line item must be cross-referenced to a specific sheet in your plan set.
  • Helena's design snow load (30 psf) and wind speed (105 mph, Exposure B) are fixed local values published directly in the City's own Table R301.2 — you do not need to independently derive these from ASCE for a standard Helena-limits project.

Frequently asked questions

Helena requires a residential building permit (one- and two-family dwelling — new construction) for: Application submitted on the City of Helena universal Permit Application form (covers building, and triggers related plumbing/mechanical/electrical review blocks on the same form); Plans must comply with the 2021 IRC as amended by Helena's local climatic/geographic design criteria (Table R301.2): 30 psf ground snow load, 105 mph basic wind speed/Exposure B, Seismic Design Category D0, 42-inch frost line, -16°F winter design temperature, required ice barrier underlayment, IECC Climate Zone 6; Residential One- and Two-Family Dwelling Plan Submittal Requirements checklist must accompany the application; 2021 IRC Residential Code Summary Checklist must be completed and submitted with plans, cross-referencing each applicable code section to a specific plan sheet; Soils Investigation Report required for areas of unknown, expansive, compressible, or shifting soil conditions; absent a soils report, footings must be designed for a maximum 1,500 psf soil pressure; Irregular structures (per IRC Section R301.2.2.6) must be engineered and stamped by a Montana-licensed engineer; Contact the City of Helena Engineering Division to determine nearest fire hydrant and available fire flow, which may require upgraded construction materials or an automatic sprinkler system; Certificate of Occupancy / final inspection approval required before occupying the dwelling. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Helena — Community Development Department, Building Division at (406) 447-8438 before starting work.

Per City Ordinance 3134, your fee is based on the GREATER of your stated construction contract value or the City's ICC-based square-foot valuation table, run through the Building Permit Fee Tabulation table (Appendix A). A plan review fee equal to 65% of the building permit fee is added.

Plan review for a residential building permit (one- and two-family dwelling — new construction) in Helena typically runs 10–15 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: Permit Application (City of Helena Building Division); Residential One- and Two-Family Dwelling Plan Submittal Requirements; 2021 IRC Residential Code Summary Checklist; Construction Drawings (Site Plan, Foundation, Framing, Elevations, Sections and Details). Depending on your project, Helena may also ask for: Soils Investigation Report. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Helena requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (one- and two-family dwelling — new construction), in order: Foundation / Footings, Framing, Insulation / Energy, 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.

The 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted statewide by Montana effective June 11, 2022 and enforced locally by the City of Helena Building Division, which is certified by the Montana DLI Building Codes Program to enforce Building, Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical codes within Helena city limits.

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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