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Change-of-Use Permit / Certificate of Occupancy in Missoula, Montana

A change-of-use permit is required when a commercial building's occupancy classification or use is fully or partially altered, or when the intensity of an existing use increases (e.g. manufacturing converted to office). It is processed as a Commercial Building Permit (COM permit) requiring plans stamped by a licensed architect or engineer. Following final inspection of any building permit — new construction, addition, alteration, or change-of-use — an applicant must separately request a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) from Development Services; a CO is not issued automatically. A Temporary/Conditional Certificate of Occupancy is available for a separate fee if final conditions cannot yet be fully met.

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A change-of-use is required for a full or partial change in occupancy classification or use, or an increase in the intensity of the use
  • Not required where there is only a change in ownership or a new business replaces an original business at exactly the same use
  • Must apply for a Commercial Building Permit (COM permit) and work with a licensed professional architect or engineer, who is required to stamp the change-of-use plans
  • Applicants must review the City's Change-of-Use Guide before preparing the application, and typically must update a Hazardous Material Inventory Statement (HMIS)
  • A Wastewater Classification Survey is required as part of the change-of-use submittal
  • A Certificate of Occupancy must be actively requested by emailing coordinators@ci.missoula.mt.us with the address, permit number, and any timeline constraints — it is not issued automatically
  • Commercial properties must pass a final fire inspection before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued; residential properties do not require a fire inspection
  • All outstanding permit conditions (default/Code Compliance, Engineering, ZCMP/Planning) must be cleared or addressed before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Change-of-Use Permit Base FeeCity of Missoula FY26 Building-MEP Fee Schedule (Resolution 8887), Section K.1 — a change-of-use is charged this base fee OR the underlying Commercial Building Permit fee based on project valuation, whichever is greater
$400.00
Temporary/Conditional Certificate of OccupancyCity of Missoula FY26 Building-MEP Fee Schedule (Resolution 8887), Section K.4 — charged only if a Temporary or Conditional CO is requested before all final conditions are met; a standard Certificate of Occupancy issued after final inspection carries no separate line-item fee beyond the underlying permit
$154.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewMissoula’s published plan-review target
56–84 business days

How long did your Change-of-Use Permit / Certificate of Occupancy permit actually take in Missoula?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Building Inspection

    Verifies the changed occupancy/use complies with adopted building codes; required before a Certificate of Occupancy can be requested

  2. 2

    Fire Final Inspection (Commercial Only)

    Commercial properties must pass a final fire inspection before CO issuance; schedule using inspection code 191. Residential properties do not require this inspection.

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

Tips

  • Occupying a space without a Certificate of Occupancy carries a $500-per-day penalty fee under the City's Building Code Compliance fee schedule.
  • Review the outstanding-conditions list in the Missoula Citizen Portal (Conditions tab) before requesting your CO — default/Code Compliance items, Engineering items, and ZCMP/Planning items are routed to different contacts (Code Compliance, engdesk@ci.missoula.mt.us, and PlanningConditionsOn-Call@ci.missoula.mt.us respectively).
  • A change-of-use for a cannabis cultivation, extraction, or dispensary use has additional HMIS and licensing considerations — email 420license@ci.missoula.mt.us with the property address, suite number, and intended use.
  • Request your Certificate of Occupancy by emailing coordinators@ci.missoula.mt.us with your address, permit number, and any timeline constraints; the certificate is emailed to you and posted to the permit portal once issued.

Frequently asked questions

Missoula requires a change-of-use permit / certificate of occupancy for: A change-of-use is required for a full or partial change in occupancy classification or use, or an increase in the intensity of the use; Not required where there is only a change in ownership or a new business replaces an original business at exactly the same use; Must apply for a Commercial Building Permit (COM permit) and work with a licensed professional architect or engineer, who is required to stamp the change-of-use plans; Applicants must review the City's Change-of-Use Guide before preparing the application, and typically must update a Hazardous Material Inventory Statement (HMIS); A Wastewater Classification Survey is required as part of the change-of-use submittal; A Certificate of Occupancy must be actively requested by emailing coordinators@ci.missoula.mt.us with the address, permit number, and any timeline constraints — it is not issued automatically; Commercial properties must pass a final fire inspection before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued; residential properties do not require a fire inspection; All outstanding permit conditions (default/Code Compliance, Engineering, ZCMP/Planning) must be cleared or addressed before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Missoula Development Services — Building Division (Community Planning, Development & Innovation) at (406) 552-6630 before starting work.

A change-of-use is charged a $400 base fee or the underlying Commercial Building Permit fee based on project valuation, whichever is greater, per the City of Missoula FY26 Building-MEP Fee Schedule. A Temporary or Conditional Certificate of Occupancy, if needed, carries an additional $154 fee.

Missoula's published plan-review target for a change-of-use permit / certificate of occupancy is 56–84 business days.

You'll need: Commercial Building Permit Application (Accela Citizen Access) — Change-of-Use; Change-of-Use Plans; Hazardous Material Inventory Statement (HMIS); Wastewater Classification Survey. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Missoula requires 2 inspection(s) for a change-of-use permit / certificate of occupancy, in order: Final Building Inspection, Fire Final Inspection (Commercial Only). Schedule each through City of Missoula Development Services — Building Division (Community Planning, Development & Innovation) ((406) 552-6630).

Apply through City of Missoula Development Services — Building Division (Community Planning, Development & Innovation) at 435 Ryman St., Missoula, MT 59802. Phone: (406) 552-6630, email: BLDG@ci.missoula.mt.us. Office hours: Permit/application questions: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, (406) 552-6060, coordinators@ci.missoula.mt.us. Building code questions: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, (406) 552-6630, BLDG@ci.missoula.mt.us. Inspection scheduling: (406) 552-6040 or text (888) 413-4439.. Official information: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/3202/Building-Division.

A change-of-use is required for a full or partial change in occupancy classification or use, or an increase in the intensity of the use. Where there is only a change in ownership or a new business replaces an original business at exactly the same use, a change-of-use will most likely not be required.

Pass the final building inspection (and, for commercial properties, the final fire inspection), clear any outstanding permit conditions in the Missoula Citizen Portal, then email coordinators@ci.missoula.mt.us with your address, permit number, and any timeline constraints. The Certificate of Occupancy is emailed to you and posted to the permit portal once issued — it is not issued automatically.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.

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 Missoula building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Change-of-Use Permit / Certificate of Occupancy in other cities

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