Conrad building permits

Requirements

• Complete the Zoning and Building Permit Application (Jurisdiction of Conrad): legal description, owner, contractor and architect/engineer contact information, use of building, class of work (New/Addition/Alteration/Repair/Move/Demolition), full description of work, change of use (if any), and valuation of work
• Complete a Plot Plan showing building/site/setback dimensions, easements, finish contours or drainage, first floor elevation, street elevation, sewer service elevation, and location of water/sewer/gas/electrical service lines and survey pins, drawn on a 5-foot grid (1 inch = 20 feet), with north indicated
• Read and sign the Validity of Permit/Disclaimer form acknowledging the City does not control contractors/subcontractors, does not review floodplain location, property lines, or federal ADA compliance, and that issuance of a permit does not constitute approval of any code violation
• Return the completed application, plot plan, and signed disclaimer to the City office and pay required fees
• Read Conrad City Code Title 4, Building Regulations, Chapter 1, before construction begins
• Plans and specifications indicating the entire scope of work must be submitted per City Code 4-1-2.B; the building inspector may require additional documents deemed relevant, or may waive requirements for work of an insubstantial nature or effect
• Call Building Inspector Keith Thaut at (406) 271-5821 before construction begins so inspections can be scheduled; approval times may vary

Required documents

• RequiredZoning and Building Permit ApplicationCity of Conrad combined application form; includes class-of-work checkboxes (New/Addition/Alteration/Repair/Move/Demolition) and an office-use block for plan check fee, permit fee, and special department approvals (zoning, health, fire, plans, electrical, plumbing, mechanical)
• RequiredPlot PlanCity of Conrad graph-grid site plan form (5-foot squares, 1 inch = 20 feet) showing building location, setbacks, utilities, drainage, and survey pins; signed certification that construction will conform to dimensions/uses shown
• RequiredValidity of Permit/DisclaimerSigned acknowledgement that the City does not control contractors, does not review floodplain/property-line/ADA compliance, and that no refund is given after 60 days of permit issuance or construction commencement, whichever occurs first

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Class of Work box 'Repair' or 'Alteration' checked on the combined Zoning and Building Permit Application, with a full description of the re-roof/re-side scope of work
• Project valuation (prior value and completed value) must be provided
• Signed Validity of Permit/Disclaimer form required, same as new construction
• Reroof/re-side inspections (tear-off, in-progress, final) requested 72 hours in advance per City Code 4-1-4

Required documents

• RequiredZoning and Building Permit Application (Repair/Alteration)Same combined City of Conrad form with 'Repair' or 'Alteration' selected under Class of Work

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Class of Work box 'Move' or 'Demolition' checked on the Zoning and Building Permit Application, with a full description of the scope of work
• Project valuation (prior value and completed/post-project value) must be provided
• Signed Validity of Permit/Disclaimer form required, same as new construction
• City Code 4-1-11.A makes it unlawful to demolish, raze, remove, move, or convert any building or structure in the city contrary to or in violation of Title 4, Chapter 1

Required documents

• RequiredZoning and Building Permit Application (Move/Demolition)Same combined City of Conrad form with 'Move' or 'Demolition' selected under Class of Work

Fee schedule

Requirements

• The City's Building Permits page states permits are required for construction 'including but not limited to: decks, sidewalks, siding/roof replacements, additions, storage sheds, garages, homes, and fences'
• Class of Work box 'New' or 'Addition' checked on the Zoning and Building Permit Application, with a full description of work
• Plot Plan required showing the accessory structure's location, setback dimensions, and relationship to existing structures/utilities
• Factory-built accessory structures/appurtenances (landings, stairs, decks, covered porches) bearing a Montana Building Codes Division insignia are subject to local government zoning, utility connections, building permit, and subsequent inspections per City Code 4-1-6

Required documents

• RequiredZoning and Building Permit Application (New/Addition)Same combined City of Conrad form used for all building/zoning work
• RequiredPlot PlanRequired to show the accessory structure's location and setbacks

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application must be signed and dated by the licensed electrical contractor's person in charge, or filed as a homeowner permit for owner-performed work
• Payment must be submitted with the application; incomplete applications are returned unprocessed
• Property address, GEOCODE/parcel/lot/block, owner information, and power company must be provided
• Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431
• The City of Conrad's own Building Permit Application form states under NOTICE that separate permits are required for electrical work, confirming it is not handled by the City

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form; mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application must be signed by the Master Plumber and include the Master Plumber License Number, or filed as a homeowner permit for owner-performed work where allowed
• Property address, county, and whether the job is inside city limits must be indicated
• Type of Building and Type of Work must be indicated; sewer service type (public/septic) and potable water source must be indicated
• Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 505, MCA and ARM 24.301.301 / 24.301.361
• The City of Conrad's own Building Permit Application form states under NOTICE that separate permits are required for plumbing work, confirming it is not handled by the City

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Plumbing PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1); mailed with payment to Building Codes Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Project Value must be provided; permit fee is calculated from the state's valuation-based fee schedule
• Type of Building and Type of Work must be indicated
• Boiler work requires a separate Boiler Permit form, not the Mechanical Permit
• Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 104, MCA and ARM 24.301.172
• The City of Conrad's own Building Permit Application form states under NOTICE that separate permits are required for heating, ventilating, or air conditioning work, confirming it is not handled by the City

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Mechanical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1); mailed with payment to Building Codes Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Complete the state's Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1 series, Rev. 11/25): identify the alternative energy type as Solar and the system type (PV String System, Generator, or Micro Inverter/AC Module System)
• If the system will produce 90 or more volts, the electrical work must be performed by a Montana-licensed electrical contractor unless the homeowner is doing the work on their own private house
• If the project involves a grid-tied alternative energy generator (virtually all net-metered residential/commercial solar), a licensed electrical contractor must obtain an ADDITIONAL permit for the final utility interconnection — stated directly on the state application form
• Mail the completed application and fee to Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or apply online at https://aca-prod.accela.com/bcb/
• Because Conrad holds full DLI Building certification, a separate City of Conrad Building Permit application is likely required for the roof-mount racking/structural attachment portion of the installation — confirm with the City of Conrad building department

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Alternative Energy PermitMontana DLI Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1 series, Rev. 11/25) covering solar, wind, and hydro installations
• OptionalCity of Conrad Building Permit ApplicationRequired for the structural/racking portion of the installation, since Conrad holds its own DLI Building certification

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application must be signed and dated by the licensed electrical contractor's person in charge, or filed as a homeowner permit for owner-performed work
• Payment must be submitted with the application; incomplete applications are returned unprocessed
• Property address, GEOCODE/parcel/lot/block, owner information, and power company must be provided
• Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431
• No EV-charger-specific line item exists on the state's Residential Electrical Permit form (Rev. 12/22); a Level 1/Level 2 charger installed as a single new circuit/outlet is most consistent with the form's 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' category (items E-H, scaled by number of circuits and whether a panel/service change is involved)
• The City of Conrad's own Building Permit Application form states under NOTICE that separate permits are required for electrical work, confirming EV charger circuits are not handled by the City

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical Permit (or Commercial Electrical Permit for non-residential chargers)Montana Building Codes Bureau statewide form; mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• For a billboard or other structure used for advertising purposes: obtain City Council permission per City Code 4-1-9.A before erecting the sign/structure
• Give one week's written notice, personally or by mail, to the owners, occupants, or agents of all houses and lots within two hundred feet (200') of the location where the billboard or structure is to be erected (City Code 4-1-9.A)
• No billboard/advertising-structure application may be considered by the City Council without verified proof of service of the required notice, or the written consent of the owners/occupants/agents notified
• Under Zoning Code 10-7-4.G, a billboard is a permitted use only in the C-1 General Commercial District, and only if of fire-resistive construction; billboards are not listed as a permitted use in the C-2 Neighborhood Commercial District (10-8-4)
• Using a fence, barn, shed, building, or other structure as a billboard/advertising structure requires the same City Council consent and 200-foot neighbor notice process (City Code 4-1-9.B)
• A sign proposal involving location, height, area, or number outside the district's standard parameters may require a conditional use permit (Zoning Code 10-2-13) or variance (10-2-14), both of which are filed with the city finance officer and require a public hearing before the zoning commission and/or board of adjustment

Required documents

• RequiredWritten Notice to Adjacent Property Owners (or their written consent)Proof of one week's written notice, personally or by mail, to owners/occupants/agents of all houses and lots within 200 feet of a proposed billboard/advertising structure, or their written consent in lieu of notice -- required before City Council will consider the application (City Code 4-1-9.A)
• OptionalZoning and Building Permit ApplicationNo dedicated sign/billboard application form was found published separately by the City; the general combined Zoning and Building Permit Application is the most consistent vehicle based on the same zoning-conformance framework the City applies to other regulated structures (e.g., fences, per Zoning Code 10-2-7.B), though this specific usage for signs/billboards was not independently confirmed in a City-published source

Fee schedule

Requirements

• The Zoning and Building Permit Application (Jurisdiction of Conrad) is completed and submitted, with the 'Fire Sprinklers Required Yes/No' field in the Office Use Only block filled in by city staff/the building inspector
• Plans and specifications for any required fire protection system must be included in the plans and specifications submitted for the entire scope of work per City Code 4-1-2.B, for review by Building Inspector Keith Thaut
• The application's Special Approvals table requires a 'FIRE DEPT.' sign-off (Required / Received / Not Required), tracked alongside Zoning, Health Dept., Plans, Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical approvals, before the building permit is issued
• Because Conrad is not on the Montana State Fire Marshal's Office's list of IFC-certified local jurisdictions (list updated 11/18/2025), applicants for larger commercial or public-building projects should confirm directly with both the Conrad Volunteer Fire Department, (406) 271-3123, and the Montana SFMO, (406) 606-0778, whether a separate state plan-review submission also applies
• A business selling, servicing, or installing fire alarm systems, special agent fire suppression systems, or fire-extinguishing systems must independently hold a Montana Fire Protection Business Entity License (MCA 50-39-101), which requires commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence (or $500,000 per occurrence for extinguisher-servicing-only entities) -- a contractor-licensing requirement administered by DLI's Fire Protection Licensure Program, separate from the project's own building permit

Required documents

• RequiredZoning and Building Permit ApplicationSame combined City of Conrad form used for all building work; includes a Fire Sprinklers Required Yes/No field and a Fire Dept. special-approval line in the Office Use Only block
• OptionalFire protection system plans and specificationsEngineered sprinkler/alarm plans, where required by IBC Chapter 9 / referenced NFPA standards, submitted as part of the overall plans and specifications for building-inspector and fire-department review

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Complete item 8 ('Change of use from' / 'Change of use to') on the Zoning and Building Permit Application (Jurisdiction of Conrad), in addition to the standard class-of-work, description-of-work, and valuation fields
• The new use must comply with the permitted-use list of the applicable zoning district (Title 10, Chapters 4 through 10, covering R-1, R-2, MH-1, C-1, C-2, LM-1, and M-I); a use not listed as permitted requires a conditional use permit under Zoning Code 10-2-13, filed with the city finance officer with public hearings before the zoning commission and city council
• If the property carries a legal nonconforming use, Zoning Code 10-3-1 governs whether the change is allowed: a nonconforming use discontinued for one year must conform to current district regulations on any future use, and any change made must otherwise comply with all regulations governing the new use (10-3-1.D.1)
• The building inspector issues the certificate of occupancy at the Final inspection (City Code 4-1-4.H), conducted in accordance with the International Building Code, once all other required inspections and special department approvals (zoning, health, fire, electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are complete

Required documents

• RequiredZoning and Building Permit ApplicationSame combined City of Conrad form; item 8 captures 'Change of use from' and 'Change of use to' -- there is no separate change-of-use or certificate-of-occupancy application
• OptionalConditional Use Permit ApplicationRequired only if the proposed new use is not listed as a permitted use in the applicable zoning district; filed with the city finance officer per Zoning Code 10-2-13

Fee schedule