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Zoning and Building Permit (Commercial New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) in Conrad, Montana

Required for new commercial construction, additions, alterations, and repairs within Conrad city limits. Issued by the City of Conrad under its DLI-certified local Building (B) program, using the same combined Zoning and Building Permit Application reviewed by Building Inspector Keith Thaut against the City's adopted 2021 IBC (Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 1). City Code 4-1-8 (Territorial Application) states the building department's jurisdictional area is 'residential and commercial buildings and structures and permits therefore within the corporate limits of the city' -- confirming the City, not Pondera County, is the issuing authority for a commercial project inside Conrad city limits. Outside those city limits, in unincorporated Pondera County, Pondera County itself holds a separate DLI certification for Building, commercial only, with its own certified official, Kyle Harlan -- a project on the same road but across the city-limits line into unincorporated county territory is the County's permit, not the City's. Because Conrad's own certification is Building only (no Plumbing, Electrical, or Mechanical), commercial plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work within Conrad city limits is issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, the same trade split documented for residential construction in this jurisdiction.

Verified 2026-08-26 · Source

When you need this permit

  • 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
  • The application's Office Use Only block records Type of Construction, Occupancy Group, Number of Stories, Size of Building, Max. Occupant Load, and Off-Street Parking Spaces -- fields the building inspector completes for a commercial project's IBC occupancy classification
  • 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
  • Confirm the project sits within Conrad's corporate city limits, per City Code 4-1-8 (Territorial Application) -- a commercial project in unincorporated Pondera County outside those limits is permitted by Pondera County (Building, commercial only, Kyle Harlan), not the City
  • Call Building Inspector Keith Thaut at (406) 271-5821 before construction begins so inspections can be scheduled; approval times may vary

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (plan check fee and permit fee)
City Code 4-1-7 states only: 'Building permit fees shall be set and established by the city council from time to time by appropriate resolution.' This applies to commercial permits on the same… Show full citationCity Code 4-1-7 states only: 'Building permit fees shall be set and established by the city council from time to time by appropriate resolution.' This applies to commercial permits on the same combined Zoning and Building Permit Application as residential work, and no fixed valuation-based fee table or separate commercial fee resolution was found published on the City's Building Permits page, Building & Zoning page, or Finance page, or elsewhere online -- the same publication gap already documented for the City's residential Building Permit. The application's Office Use Only block has blank Plan Check Fee and Permit Fee lines filled in by city staff after review; no distinct plan review fee line or percentage was found published for commercial work either. Applicants must contact City Hall at (406) 271-5821 (Building) or (406) 271-3623 (general) for a current quote.
Not published — contact the department

Review timeline

Plan reviewConrad’s published plan-review target
Up to 60 business days

How long did your Zoning and Building Permit (Commercial New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair) permit actually take in Conrad?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing

    Required before concrete pour, per City Code 4-1-4.A. Request must be made 72 hours in advance.

  2. 2

    Foundation Wall

    Per City Code 4-1-4.B.

  3. 3

    Concrete Slab

    Per City Code 4-1-4.C.

  4. 4

    Under Floor (Crawl Space)

    Per City Code 4-1-4.D.

  5. 5

    Frame

    Walls, trusses, rafters, floor, etc., per City Code 4-1-4.E.

  6. 6

    Energy Efficiency

    Insulation, glazing, etc., per City Code 4-1-4.F.

  7. 7

    Wall Board

    Per City Code 4-1-4.G.

  8. 8

    Fire Dept. Special Approval

    Fire Department review/sign-off tracked as a Special Approval (Required/Received/Not Required) on the Zoning and Building Permit Application's Office Use Only block, alongside Zoning, Health Dept., Plans, Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical, before the permit is issued -- the same Special Approval mechanism documented for fire sprinkler/alarm work in this jurisdiction; it is a step within the Building Permit process, not a separate application

  9. 9

    Final

    Issue certificate of occupancy, per City Code 4-1-4.H, conducted in accordance with the International Building Code.

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

Tips

  • A commercial project inside Conrad's corporate city limits is the City's Building permit, per City Code 4-1-8; a commercial project in unincorporated Pondera County outside those limits is Pondera County's Building (commercial only) permit -- the two certifications do not overlap, and Pondera County's commercial-only status is unusual among Montana's certified local programs.
  • Conrad uses the same combined Zoning and Building Permit Application for commercial as for residential work -- there is no separate commercial application form.
  • The application's Office Use Only block adds Type of Construction, Occupancy Group, Max. Occupant Load, and Off-Street Parking Spaces fields that the building inspector completes for a commercial project's IBC occupancy classification.
  • No fixed fee schedule or separate plan review fee is published for commercial work; request a fee quote from City Hall before budgeting a project.
  • Fire Department review is a Special Approval line item on the same application, not a standalone fire-sprinkler or fire-alarm permit.
  • Separate permits are required for Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, Ventilating, or Air Conditioning work on a commercial project -- these are issued by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, not the City, since Conrad is Building-certified only.

Frequently asked questions

Conrad requires a zoning and building permit (commercial new construction / addition / alteration / repair) for: 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; The application's Office Use Only block records Type of Construction, Occupancy Group, Number of Stories, Size of Building, Max. Occupant Load, and Off-Street Parking Spaces -- fields the building inspector completes for a commercial project's IBC occupancy classification; 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; Confirm the project sits within Conrad's corporate city limits, per City Code 4-1-8 (Territorial Application) -- a commercial project in unincorporated Pondera County outside those limits is permitted by Pondera County (Building, commercial only, Kyle Harlan), not the City; Call Building Inspector Keith Thaut at (406) 271-5821 before construction begins so inspections can be scheduled; approval times may vary. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Conrad Building & Zoning Department — Building Official Keith Thaut; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits within Conrad city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 271-5821 before starting work.

City Code 4-1-3 requires plan review to be completed within sixty (60) working days of a completed application submission, extendable by up to twenty (20) additional working days if the building inspector consults the state Building Codes Division or other design professionals. This is the same clock that governs residential review; City Code 4-1-3 does not carry a separate commercial figure.

You'll need: Zoning and Building Permit Application; Plot Plan; Validity of Permit/Disclaimer. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Conrad requires 9 inspection(s) for a zoning and building permit (commercial new construction / addition / alteration / repair), in order: Footing, Foundation Wall, Concrete Slab, Under Floor (Crawl Space), Frame, Energy Efficiency, Wall Board, Fire Dept. Special Approval, Final. Schedule each through City of Conrad Building & Zoning Department — Building Official Keith Thaut; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits within Conrad city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. ((406) 271-5821).

Apply through City of Conrad Building & Zoning Department — Building Official Keith Thaut; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits within Conrad city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at 413 South Main Street, Conrad, MT 59425-2337. Phone: (406) 271-5821, email: office@cityofconrad.com. Office hours: City Hall: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Building Inspector Keith Thaut should be called directly at (406) 271-5821 before construction begins so inspections can be scheduled; approval times from the Building Inspector may vary. Building & Zoning general line (406) 271-3623, fax (406) 271-5602..

The City of Conrad issues commercial Building permits within its corporate city limits, under its Montana DLI 'Building (B) only' certification, with Building Inspector Keith Thaut. City Code 4-1-8 states the building department's jurisdiction covers 'residential and commercial buildings and structures' within the city.

No. Pondera County holds its own DLI certification for Building, commercial only, but that certification governs unincorporated Pondera County outside Conrad's city limits. A commercial project inside Conrad is permitted by the City, not the County.

The City of Conrad does not publish a fixed fee schedule for commercial permits; City Code 4-1-7 states fees are set by city council resolution from time to time, the same as for residential work. Contact City Hall at (406) 271-5821 for a current quote.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-26.

Checklists & handouts

Codes & ordinances

Department & other records

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

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