Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Livingston, Montana
VerifiedRequired for new single-family and two-family dwelling construction within Livingston city limits. Issued by the City of Livingston Building & Planning Department under its DLI-certified local Building program (2021 IBC/IRC editions, locally effective September 23, 2022). Application is a single paper/fillable form covering Residential, Commercial, Sign, Well, and Demolition work categories.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- Building Permit Application (City of Livingston Building Department form) must be completed and signed; application will not be accepted without a signature
- Two complete sets of plans required: site plan, cross-section(s), elevation(s), foundation plan, and floor plan, sufficient to determine code compliance
- Plans are reviewed by the Building Department; any deficiencies are noted and must be corrected by the applicant before permit issuance
- Reviewed against the 2021 IBC and 2021 IRC as adopted locally (effective September 23, 2022)
- Residential projects are charged both a plan review fee and a permit fee (valuation-based); a plan review fee equal to 65% of the building permit fee applies to any project valued over $15,000
- Impact fees (Police, Fire, Transportation, Parks, and Water/Sewer where new service is initiated) apply to new residential construction per the City's Impact Fee Schedule
Required documents
- Required
Building Permit Application
City of Livingston Building Department Permit Application (covers Residential/Commercial/Sign/Well/Demolition); requires project cost, zoning, site address, legal description, applicant/owner/contractor/architect/engineer/plumber/electrician contact information, and project description
- Required
Construction Drawings
Two complete sets: site plan, cross-section(s), elevation(s), foundation plan, and floor plan
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $1.00 to $500.00 | $23.50 | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026), Building Fees table |
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $500.01 to $2,000.00 | $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100, or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000 | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $2,000.01 to $25,000.00 | $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000 | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $25,000.01 to $50,000.00 | $391.25 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000 | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $50,000.01 to $100,000.00 | $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000 | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $100,000.01 to $500,000.00 | $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000 | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation $500,000.01 to $1,000,000.00 | $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000 | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
| Building Permit Fee — Total Valuation over $1,000,000.00 | $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
| Plan Review Fee (projects over $15,000) | 65% of the Building Permit Fee as determined by the fee schedule | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) and City of Livingston Building Department page |
| Impact Fee — Residential/Single Family | Police $106 + Fire $966 + Transportation $1,852 + Parks $1,385 (per unit) | City of Livingston Impact Fee Schedule (Exhibit A, 2021); additional Water/Sewer impact fees apply based on meter size where new service is initiated (e.g., 5/8-3/4 inch: $3,542 water + $4,506 sewer) |
| Inspections outside normal business hours (minimum charge 2 hours) | Overtime rate + benefits of assistant building inspector (currently $53.89/hour) | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026), Other Building Inspection Fees table |
| Inspections with no fee specifically indicated (minimum charge 1/2 hour) | Overtime rate + benefits of assistant building inspector (currently $53.89/hour) | City of Livingston Fee Schedule (Resolution 5181, approved 2/03/2026) |
Review timeline
1–10 business days
Livingston’s published plan-review target
Inspection process
- 1
Footing/Foundation
Required before concrete pour; verified against the approved foundation plan per the adopted 2021 IBC/IRC. A list of required inspections is provided to the permit holder at issuance per the City's FAQ.
- 2
Framing
Structural framing verified against approved plans before walls are closed
- 3
Final
Completed work verified against approved plans prior to occupancy
Tips
- The City of Livingston does NOT issue or inspect electrical, plumbing, or HVAC/mechanical permits for any project — those are handled directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau (Helena), even though the City issues the Building Permit for the structural scope of the same project.
- A plan review fee of 65% of the building permit fee is added to any project valued over $15,000 — budget for this on top of the base permit fee.
- Impact fees apply on top of building permit fees for new construction; ADUs receive a full (100%) impact fee waiver under state law (MCA 76-2-345), which supersedes the City's older 2021 Impact Fee Schedule Exhibit A (which listed only a 50% ADU reduction pre-dating the statute).
- Detached, one-story residential storage buildings 120 sq. ft. or smaller do not need a building permit — smaller than Billings' 200 sq. ft. shed threshold.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the City of Livingston issue electrical, plumbing, or HVAC permits?
- No. Per the City of Livingston Building Department page: 'The City of Livingston does not issue permits or conduct inspections for electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work. These services are regulated at the state level.' Contact the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau for those permits.
- What procedures must be followed before a building permit is issued in Livingston?
- Two complete sets of plans (site plan, cross-sections, elevations, foundation plan, floor plan) must be submitted with a completed Permit Application. Plans are reviewed, deficiencies noted and corrected, then the permit may be issued. Residential projects are charged both a plan review fee and a permit fee; commercial projects are charged only a permit fee, at a higher rate. Source: City of Livingston FAQs page.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
- City of Livingston Building & Planning Department (Building Division) — city-certified for Building and Swimming Pool permits only; Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau — official building department
- Building Department | City of Livingston
- Building & Planning Department | City of Livingston
- Building Permit Application (PDF) | City of Livingston
- City Fee Schedule (PDF, approved 2/03/2026) | City of Livingston
- Impact Fee Schedule (PDF, Exhibit A, 2021) | City of Livingston
- FAQs | City of Livingston
- MCA 50-60-106(2)(c) — Powers and duties of department (10-working-day permit/disapproval requirement for certified jurisdictions)
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 Livingston building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Other permits in Livingston
Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in other cities
Compare residential building permit (new construction) fees across Montana →
Project checklist — coming soon
Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Livingston — in one checklist. Leave your email and we'll tell you when it's ready.
We only use your email to send permit updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.