This is PermitBase’s published record for Hamilton as of 2026-07-03. It has since been superseded — see the current record. A historical record reflects what PermitBase had verified at that time; it may not capture a real-world change the jurisdiction had made but PermitBase had not yet verified, and it includes any errors we later corrected. Snapshots are never edited retroactively.
Hamilton building permits
VerifiedHamilton, Montana — as published 2026-07-03.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Codes adopted
Montana has a mandatory statewide building code administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Building Codes Bureau, amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Title 24, Chapter 301. Cities, counties, and towns may become 'certified' to locally administer permitting and inspection for all or part of the code; a certified local program's adopted code 'may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau' (ARM 24.301.202). Non-certified areas fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf, updated 04/22/2026).Hamilton is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), Plumbing (P), Mechanical (M), Electrical (E), and Swimming Pool (SP) — full-trade certification — within Hamilton city limits. Certified program contact on file with DLI: Tim Netzley, (406) 880-5832. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'Certified City, County and Town Programs' roster (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf, updated 04/22/2026), row 'Hamilton — B, P, M, E, SP — Tim Netzley — 880-5832 — City Limits'. Directly verified by fetching and OCR-extracting the PDF text during this research pass (2026-07-03).2021 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by City of Hamilton per the Building Department's Adopted Codes list on the Residential Building Permit Application2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted by City of Hamilton (referenced on the permit application as '2021 International Residential Building Code')2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted by City of Hamilton2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted by City of Hamilton2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted by City of Hamilton2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted by City of Hamilton2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — adopted by City of Hamilton (Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code)2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted by City of Hamilton2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted by City of Hamilton; consistent with Hamilton's DLI Swimming Pool (SP) certification2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility — adopted by City of HamiltonAll codes listed verbatim on the City of Hamilton 2023 Residential Building Permit Application, page 2 ('All construction shall comply with the minimum requirements of the following codes'). Source: City of Hamilton Residential Building Permit Application (PDF).
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)
VerifiedRequired for new single-family and two-family dwelling construction, additions, remodels, re-siding, and repairs in Hamilton. Reviewed against the 2021 IRC/IBC and related adopted codes by the Planning Department, Public Works, and the Building Official. Applications are submitted to the Building Department at 920 New York Ave.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Complete, signed permit application including legal description of the property, owner, and contractor information
- Complete, signed site plan checklist
- Two copies of complete construction plan sets plus one digital (PDF) copy for residential building
- Signed and completed ResCheck (energycodes.gov/rescheck) for new construction energy compliance
- Plan sets must be complete at submittal — the City does not accept deferred-submittal projects
- Plans prepared by a licensed Architect or Engineer required unless the project is a single-family dwelling (2 stories + basement max), a small multi-family building (up to 4 units, 2 stories + basement max), an appurtenant garage/accessory structure, or an agricultural/ranch building
- Detached structures (garages, ADUs) require separate permits from the primary residential permit
- Submittals routed to Planning, Zoning, Public Works, and the Building Official for approval
Required documents
- RequiredResidential Building Permit ApplicationCity of Hamilton 2023 Residential Building Permit Application, including Document Submittal Checklist
- RequiredSite Plan ChecklistSigned site plan showing lot dimensions, building footprint, utilities, and site improvements
- RequiredConstruction DrawingsGeneral information/cover sheet, site plan, architectural plans, structural/foundation plans, and detail sheets/elevations per the Document Submittal Checklist
- RequiredResCheck Energy Compliance ReportSigned and completed ResCheck for new construction (energycodes.gov/rescheck)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee | No valuation-based residential building permit fee table was found published on the City of Hamilton website. The 2021 Planning & Public Works Fee Schedule covers only Planning/Public Works fee items (floodplain, zoning, subdivision, encroachment, site-plan-review fees) — it does NOT include a Building Division valuation fee table. Chase trail: checked the Building Department index and Permits & Applications pages, the 2023 Residential Building Permit Application (5 pages, no fee table), and the 2021 PW & Planning Fee Schedule PDF directly (extracted via curl + pypdf) — no building-valuation fee schedule located in any. Left null rather than inferring a plausible-sounding valuation table; confidence for this specific field is unverified. |
Electrical Permit
VerifiedRequired for electrical installation, alteration, or repair work in Hamilton, governed by the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the City. Hamilton is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for electrical permitting.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Electrical permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of electrical systems
- Master/Journeyman license number and Contractor license number required on application
- Governed by the 2020 NEC as adopted by City of Hamilton
- Commercial projects must include load calculations, panel/feeder schedules, grounding detail, and equipment specifications
- Related permit numbers (Building, Plumbing, Mechanical) must be cross-referenced on the application if applicable
Required documents
- RequiredElectrical Permit ApplicationCity of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application (2021 revision), submittable electronically
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General valuation tiers — $0-$1,000 | $45 for the first $500 plus 6.0% of the balance of construction cost | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application, Electrical Permit Fees table |
| General valuation tiers — $1,001-$10,000 | $75 for the first $1,000 plus 2.0% of the balance of construction cost | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application, Electrical Permit Fees table |
| General valuation tiers — $10,001-$50,000 | $255 for the first $10,000 plus 0.5% of the balance of construction cost | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application, Electrical Permit Fees table |
| General valuation tiers — $50,001 or more | $455 for the first $50,000 plus 0.3% of the balance of construction cost | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application, Electrical Permit Fees table |
| Single-family dwelling or cabin — up to 200 amp service (includes attached garage if wired at same time) | $200 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Single-family dwelling or cabin — 201 to 400 amp service | $380 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Single-family dwelling or cabin — 401 to 600 amp service | $600 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Single-family dwelling or cabin — 601 amp service and up | $800 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Private property accessory building — up to 200 amp panel | $80 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Private property accessory building — 201 to 300 amp panel | $150 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Private property accessory building — 301 amp panel or more | $250 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Single-family interior/exterior rewiring — more than 3 circuits and change of service and/or panelboard | $120 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Single-family interior/exterior rewiring — 2-3 additional circuits or equipment | $70 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Single-family interior/exterior rewiring — 1 additional circuit/equipment (hot tub, A/C, etc.) | $45 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Renewable energy system (PV, wind, hydro) — commercial or residential | $65 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Permit Renewal Fee | $60 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
| Failure-to-permit investigation fee (per hour) | $45 | City of Hamilton Electrical Permit Application |
Plumbing Permit
VerifiedRequired for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Hamilton, governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted by the City. Hamilton is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for plumbing permitting. Work must be performed by a licensed Master Plumber.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Plumbing permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing fixtures, water/sewer service, water heaters, and related systems
- Work must be performed by a licensed Montana Master Plumber holding a current Hamilton business license, per Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 505, MCA and ARM 8.70.302-.305
- Permit becomes null and void if authorized work has not commenced within 180 days or the permit expiration date
- 24 hours' notice required to schedule all plumbing inspections, at (406) 363-3316
- Schedule of plumbing fixtures (bath tub, lavatory, shower, water closet, kitchen sink, etc.) must be itemized on the application
Required documents
- RequiredPlumbing Permit ApplicationCity of Hamilton Plumbing Permit Application, including Schedule of Plumbing Fixtures and Amended Schedule of Plumbing Permit Fees (effective 1/1/2015)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requested plumbing inspection fee | $75 (for services under 1 hour); $35 per additional 30-minute increment beyond 1 hour; travel/per diem may be charged at the State of Montana's existing rate | City of Hamilton Plumbing Permit Application, Note 1, Amended Schedule of Plumbing Permit Fees effective 1/1/2015 |
| Re-inspection fee | $45 (or the original permit fee if that amount does not exceed $30) | City of Hamilton Plumbing Permit Application, Note 2 |
| Per-fixture/per-item fees (fixture/trap, water service, sewer, storm drain, water heater new/replacement, backflow devices, sprinkler systems, etc.) | The Plumbing Permit Application includes an itemized 'Schedule of Plumbing Fixtures' (Quantity x Cost = Total) covering each fixture/trap, water service, sewer fee, storm drain, water heater, treatment equipment, and sprinkler/backflow items, but the per-item dollar rates are entered on a fillable form field that did not carry a printed rate in the extracted document — only the line-item names extracted, not the associated dollar figures. Chase trail: fetched the PDF directly (Amended Schedule of Plumbing Permit Fees effective 1/1/2015) via curl and extracted text with pypdf; the rate column did not resolve to visible text (likely a form-fill table or scanned rate column not captured by the text layer). Left null rather than inventing a plausible per-fixture rate; confidence for this specific line-item pricing is unverified. The $75 inspection fee and $45 re-inspection fee (Notes 1-2) ARE printed as plain text and are verified above. | |
| Double Fee Penalty | Fee doubled if work commences before permit application/fee submittal | City of Hamilton Plumbing Permit Application, Note 3, citing Section 50-6-509, MCA |
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
VerifiedRequired for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and related mechanical installations in Hamilton, governed by the 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as adopted by the City. Hamilton is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for mechanical permitting.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Mechanical permit required for installation of furnaces, HVAC equipment, and related mechanical systems
- Contractor license number required on application
- New commercial projects must include load calculations and equipment specifications
- Related permit numbers (Building, Plumbing, Electrical) must be cross-referenced on the application if applicable
- Valuation of project must be declared on the application
Required documents
- RequiredMechanical Permit ApplicationCity of Hamilton Mechanical Permit Application (2021 revision), submittable electronically
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical system valuation — $0-$10,000 | $48 for the first $1,000 plus $14 per additional $1,000, up to $10,000 | City of Hamilton Mechanical Permit Application, Mechanical Permit Fees table |
| Mechanical system valuation — $10,000-$50,000 | $166 for the first $10,000 plus $9 per additional $1,000, up to $50,000 | City of Hamilton Mechanical Permit Application, Mechanical Permit Fees table |
| Mechanical system valuation — over $50,000 | $514 for the first $50,000 plus $6 per additional $1,000 | City of Hamilton Mechanical Permit Application, Mechanical Permit Fees table |
Roof Permit
VerifiedRequired for re-roofing work in Hamilton. A flat-fee permit with a fixed $50 charge, reviewed by the Building Official.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Roof permit required for reroofing/roof replacement work
- Application must specify pitch of roof, unit type (single family, duplex, multi-family, commercial), and description of work including number of layers removed/left and type of new roofing/ice-shield
- Contractor license and Hamilton business license required on file
- Proposed starting date must be declared on the application
Required documents
- RequiredRoof Permit ApplicationCity of Hamilton Roof Permit Application (2021 revision)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Permit Fee (flat rate) | $50.00 | City of Hamilton Roof Permit Application — flat fee printed directly on the application form |
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) / Detached Accessory Structure Permit
VerifiedADUs and detached accessory structures (garages, backyard cottages) are permitted by right on lots with a single-family home in Hamilton's RS, RM, RH, and B zoning districts, subject to Hamilton Municipal Code Section 17.16.060, and require their own residential building permit separate from the principal dwelling's permit.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Only one ADU permitted per lot with a single-family home
- Maximum ADU size: 1,000 square feet or 75% of the principal dwelling's size, whichever is less
- New ADUs must meet all zoning-district setbacks
- Detached ADUs must be a minimum of 10 feet behind the principal dwelling (existing accessory-building conversions are exempt from this specific setback)
- Detached ADUs are not allowed in front yards
- ADUs must obtain a unique address from Ravalli County GIS
- No additional off-street parking required for an ADU
- Residential building permit required; plumbing, electrical, and/or mechanical permits required depending on scope of work
- New water or sewer service lines require an additional Public Works permit; existing lines may need to be upsized if undersized for increased usage
Required documents
- RequiredResidential Building Permit ApplicationSame application used for principal-dwelling construction, filed separately for the ADU/accessory structure
- OptionalADU Fact Sheet (2025)City of Hamilton informational fact sheet summarizing ADU standards under HMC 17.16.060
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Fee | $0 — no impact fees are charged for ADUs | City of Hamilton ADU Fact Sheet (2025 PDF) |
| Building Permit Fee | Same as Residential Building Permit — no valuation-based fee table was found published (see Residential Building Permit entry chase trail) |
Fence Permit
VerifiedFences in Hamilton are reviewed by the Planning Department under a fixed-fee zoning permit process, separate from the Building Department's construction-trade permits.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Fence Permit Review required per the City's Planning & Public Works Fee Schedule
- Contact the Planning Department for zoning-district setback and height-standard questions specific to the property
Required documents
- RequiredFence Permit Review ApplicationReviewed under the Planning & Public Works Fee Schedule; specific standalone fence-permit application form was not found as a separate downloadable document on the Building Department's Permits & Applications page (which lists Building, Commercial, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Roof, Structure Move, and ADU-related documents only) — the Fence Permit Review fee is confirmed from the fee schedule, but the intake form itself may be issued directly by Planning staff rather than published online. Chase trail: checked Building Department Permits & Applications and Building Permits pages (document listings enumerated directly from page HTML) — no distinct 'Fence Permit Application' PDF found in either document list.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fence Permit Review | $25 | City of Hamilton 2021 Planning & Public Works Fee Schedule, effective April 7, 2021 — line item 'Fence Permit Review $25' under the Zoning Review section |
Structure Move Permit
VerifiedRequired for moving an existing building or structure within or into Hamilton city limits.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Structure Move Permit application required before relocating a building within or into Hamilton
Required documents
- RequiredStructure Move Permit ApplicationCity of Hamilton Structure MOVE Permit Application (2012 form). Note: this document is a scanned/image-based PDF — no machine-readable text layer was extractable via automated extraction during this research pass (pypdf returned zero characters from both pages), so specific fee amounts and review-timeline text printed on the form could not be independently confirmed beyond the form's existence and title.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Structure Move Permit Fee | Chase trail: the Structure Move Permit Application PDF is a scanned image form with no extractable text layer (confirmed via direct pypdf text extraction, 0 characters returned from both pages). No separate fee line item for structure moves was found in the 2021 Planning & Public Works Fee Schedule. Left null rather than inventing a figure; contact the Building Department at (406) 363-3316 to confirm. |
Swimming Pool / Spa Permit
VerifiedRequired for installation of swimming pools and spas in Hamilton, governed by the adopted 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC). Hamilton is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Swimming Pool (SP) permitting — one of only a subset of Montana municipalities with this certification. No dedicated standalone pool-permit application form or pool-specific fee line was found published separately from the general Building Permit process; pools are permitted through the standard Residential/Commercial Building Permit application referencing the adopted ISPSC.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Swimming pool/spa construction governed by the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as adopted by City of Hamilton
- Permitted through the standard Residential or Commercial Building Permit application (no separate pool-specific application form was found published)
- Electrical permit required for pool equipment bonding/wiring per 2020 NEC; plumbing permit required for pool piping/drainage connections
Required documents
- RequiredResidential or Commercial Building Permit ApplicationSame general building permit application used for pool/spa construction, since no dedicated pool-permit form was found on the City's Permits & Applications listing
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (pool/spa construction) | Chase trail: reviewed the Building Department's full Permits & Applications and Building Permits document listings (12 + 8 documents respectively, enumerated directly from page HTML) — no separate 'Pool Permit' or 'Swimming Pool Permit' application or fee line exists. The City's DLI Swimming Pool (SP) certification and adoption of the 2021 ISPSC are directly confirmed (see codesAdopted), but a pool-specific fee schedule was not found published; the general Building Permit fee table is also unpublished (see Residential Building Permit entry). Left null rather than inventing a figure. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
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 Hamilton building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.