You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-07-07.
Colstrip building permits
VerifiedColstrip, Montana — as published 2026-07-07.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration / Repair / Move)
VerifiedRequired for new single-family/two-family home construction, additions, alterations, repairs, and moved structures on RESIDENTIAL property within Colstrip city limits. Issued by the City of Colstrip Code Enforcement Office under its DLI certification for Building (B), RESIDENTIAL ONLY, per Colstrip Municipal Code Title 7, Chapter 1. This certification does NOT extend to commercial building work — see the separate commercial-building-permit-state entry.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Complete the City of Colstrip Residential Building Permit Application: job site address, owner/contractor/architect-or-designer mailing address and phone, building setbacks (front/side/side/rear from property line), building dimensions (length/width/height), type of work, description of work, valuation of work, and total square footage
- Select Type of Work: New, Addition, Alteration, Repair, or Move
- Per Municipal Code 7-1-4.B: submit a scale drawing showing lot dimensions and locations of existing/proposed structures, the property owner's name and legal description of the lot, the proposed use of the land/building/structure, and any other information the code enforcement officer requires
- Applicant acknowledges on the form that separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may also be required, and that it is the applicant's sole duty to obtain these (these route to the state DLI Building Codes Bureau — see separate entries)
- Construction may not start until the permit is issued; the building may not be occupied until released for occupancy
Required documents
- RequiredResidential Building Permit ApplicationCity of Colstrip locally-authored one-page application form; available at cityofcolstrip.com/forms or by contacting City Hall, 12 Cherry St., (406) 748-2300
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential building/construction and inspection permit fee | Per Colstrip Municipal Code 7-1-5, the fee schedule for both permitted and nonpermitted construction and inspection is set by resolution of the city council (based on the building inspector's recommendation and comparison to other Eastern Montana communities), NOT fixed in the ordinance text itself. No such council-resolution fee schedule was found published on cityofcolstrip.com (Forms page or Building and Zoning page) as of this review, and the City's own downloadable application form has a blank 'Valuation of Work' field but no printed fee table. This is an honest publication gap after direct review of the ordinance and the City's own forms, not an inferred or invented figure. Applicants must contact the Code Enforcement Office at (406) 748-2300 ext. 2305 for the current fee. |
Commercial Building Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Colstrip's DLI certification for Building covers RESIDENTIAL work only, any commercial building project within Colstrip city limits — new construction, addition, alteration — requires a Building Permit/Plan Review Application issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Colstrip, under the 2021 IBC.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a Building Permit/Plan Review Application together with complete construction plans to the Building Codes Bureau
- Plan review fee is generally 1%-2% of building valuation, calculated by the Bureau after initial screening
- A state building permit must be obtained before construction begins; starting construction beforehand may result in an investigation fee and required corrective construction
- Building permits must be issued before related Plumbing, Mechanical, or Electrical permits can be issued or that work can begin
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, MCA and ARM Title 24, Chapter 301
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit/Plan Review ApplicationMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form; mailed with payment to Building and Commercial Measurements Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59602, or filed online at BuildingPermits.Mt.Gov / ebiz.mt.gov
- RequiredConstruction PlansComplete construction plans and details (site plan, floor plan, accessibility/restroom details, wall sections) are required and expedite plan review per the Bureau's own guidance
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit/Plan Review Fee | Generally 1%-2% of building valuation, calculated by the Building Codes Bureau after screening | Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'Is a State Building Permit Needed?' guidance page — this is the Bureau's own stated fee-calculation method for state-issued building permits, which governs Colstrip's commercial building projects since Colstrip's own certification does not cover commercial building work |
Electrical Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Colstrip holds no DLI certification in Electrical (only a residential-only Building certification), electrical work anywhere within Colstrip city limits — residential or commercial — requires a Residential or Commercial Electrical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Colstrip, under the 2020 NEC.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
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 on the homeowner's own owner-occupied home
- 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
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1); mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov / BuildingPermits.Mt.Gov
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — up to 200-amp service (includes meter base and attached garages if wired at the same time) | $200 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) — the same statewide fee schedule applied to all non-electrically-certified Montana jurisdictions; cross-verified against the identical schedule already confirmed for Hardin and Anaconda-Deer Lodge, MT in this same dataset |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — 201 to 400-amp service | $380 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) |
| Residential Change of Service — exterior meter base & interior/exterior main disconnect only | $45 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) |
Plumbing Permit (State-Issued, incl. Water Heater)
VerifiedBecause Colstrip holds no DLI certification in Plumbing (only a residential-only Building certification), plumbing work anywhere within Colstrip city limits — including water heater installation/replacement, residential or commercial — requires a Plumbing Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Colstrip, under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
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
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 / BuildingPermits.Mt.Gov
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Each NEW water heater (or replacement) | $25 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1) statewide Fee Schedule — the same schedule applied to all non-plumbing-certified jurisdictions; cross-verified against the identical schedule already confirmed for Hardin and Anaconda-Deer Lodge, MT in this same dataset |
| Each plumbing fixture or trap | $10 per fixture/trap | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1) statewide Fee Schedule |
Mechanical / HVAC Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Colstrip holds no DLI certification in Mechanical (only a residential-only Building certification), mechanical/HVAC work anywhere within Colstrip city limits — residential or commercial — requires a Mechanical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Colstrip, under the 2021 International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
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
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 / BuildingPermits.Mt.Gov
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Permit — Project value $0-$10,000 | $48 for the first $1,000, plus $14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Mechanical Permit (BCP-1) statewide Fee Schedule — the same schedule applied to all non-mechanically-certified jurisdictions; cross-verified against the identical schedule already confirmed for Hardin and Anaconda-Deer Lodge, MT in this same dataset |
Solar PV / Alternative Energy Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedRequired for installation of grid-tied residential or commercial rooftop/ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in Colstrip. Because Colstrip holds a Montana DLI certification for Building (B) that is RESIDENTIAL ONLY and no certification at all in Electrical, the electrical/interconnection portion of any solar PV installation is issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena as an Application for Alternative Energy Permit — the same state form used for solar, wind, and hydro systems statewide — not by the City of Colstrip. Roof-mounted racking/structural attachment on a RESIDENTIAL structure may separately require the City's own Residential Building Permit (see residential-building-permit entry); commercial solar structural work would fall to the state's commercial-building-permit-state entry.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
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 — this is 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 Colstrip's own certification is Building (residential only), a separate City of Colstrip Residential Building Permit application may also be required for the roof-mount racking/structural attachment portion of a residential rooftop system — confirm with the Code Enforcement Office, (406) 748-2300 ext. 2305
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 Colstrip Residential Building Permit ApplicationMay be required in addition to the state electrical permit for the structural/racking portion of a residential rooftop installation, since Colstrip's own DLI certification covers Building, residential only
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Change of Service (applies to residential grid-tied solar PV) | $45 | Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1 series, Rev. 11/25), Type of Work item F, 'Residential Change of Service'; this is the flat fee line item under the same form used for solar/wind/hydro alternative energy applications. Directly fetched and text-extracted from the state's own PDF form. |
| Commercial Alternative Energy/Solar — valuation $0 to $1,000 | $45 for the first $500 plus 6% of the balance of the project cost | Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1 series, Rev. 11/25), Commercial fee chart |
| Commercial Alternative Energy/Solar — valuation $1,001 to $10,000 | $75 for the first $1,000 plus 2% of the balance of the project cost | Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1 series, Rev. 11/25) |
| Commercial Alternative Energy/Solar — valuation $10,001 to $50,000 | $255 for the first $10,000 plus 0.5% of the balance of the project cost | Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1 series, Rev. 11/25) |
| Commercial Alternative Energy/Solar — valuation $50,001 or more | $455 for the first $50,000 plus 0.3% of the balance of the project cost | Application for Alternative Energy Permit (BCP-1 series, Rev. 11/25) |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger / EVSE Permit
VerifiedColstrip has no dedicated EV charger/EVSE permit type. Colstrip holds no Montana DLI certification in Electrical (only a residential-only Building certification), so -- exactly as with the solar-pv-permit entry's electrical/interconnection component in this file -- an EVSE circuit installation, residential or commercial, requires a Residential or Commercial Electrical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena (not the City of Colstrip), under the 2020 NEC. The State's own Application for Residential Electrical Permit form (Rev. 12/22) contains an exact governing line item for this scope: under 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire,' item H, '1 additional circuit or piece of equipment,' is $45 -- this is precisely the scope of a standard dedicated EVSE circuit added to an existing service, confirmed by direct reading of the fee-schedule PDF on 2026-07-20 (not merely inferred from an adjacent line).
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Electrical work for an EVSE circuit anywhere within Colstrip city limits requires a Residential or Commercial Electrical Permit issued by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, because Colstrip holds no DLI Electrical certification
- Apply using the Montana DLI Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) or Commercial equivalent
- No EV-charger-specific line item exists by name, but the state's own service-tier fee table maps a standard EVSE circuit to Type of Work item H, '1 additional circuit or piece of equipment' ($45), on the Application for Residential Electrical Permit
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical Permit (Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, BCP-1)State-issued application form, submitted to the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena because Colstrip is not DLI-certified for Electrical
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire -- item H: 1 additional circuit or piece of equipment | $45 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (Rev. 12/22), Type of Work table, item H -- the governing line item for a standard dedicated EVSE circuit added to an existing panel/service. Confirmed by direct read of the fee-schedule PDF on 2026-07-20. |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin -- up to 200-amp service (includes meter base and attached garages if wired at the same time) | $200 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) -- applies instead of the $45 circuit-addition fee if the EVSE install requires a new or upgraded electrical service rather than just an additional circuit |
| Residential Change of Service -- exterior meter base & interior/exterior main disconnect only | $45 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) -- applies instead if the EVSE install involves only a service/panel change rather than a new service or simple circuit addition |
Sign Placement Permit (Streets and Alleys)
VerifiedColstrip has no dedicated general commercial sign-permit ordinance or Title 8 zoning sign chapter (a chapter-by-chapter check of Title 8 Zoning found only Chapter 1 Administration and Enforcement and Chapter 3 General Requirements sections, with no standalone sign-standards chapter). The one genuine, codified sign-permitting provision found in Colstrip's Municipal Code is narrower: Municipal Code 6-1B-2.D.1, within Title 6 Public Ways and Property, requires a permit from the CITY COUNCIL before any sign, billboard, or similar structure is placed or maintained on a street or alley (i.e., the public right-of-way) within city limits. This does not by its terms cover a sign mounted on private property/a building facade outside the public right-of-way -- no separate permit requirement for that scenario was located after directly fetching and reviewing the Municipal Code (via browser-header curl, since codelibrary.amlegal.com returns 403 to default fetch tools), the City's Building and Zoning page, and all 21 downloadable forms on the City's own Forms page.
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- Per Municipal Code 6-1B-2.D.1: obtain a permit from the Colstrip City Council before placing or maintaining any shaft of wood, iron or other material, billboard, sign, fence, pole, rod, or cable on a street or alley of the city
- No standard published application form exists for this permit on cityofcolstrip.com as of this review -- request must be made directly to the City Council, via City Hall, (406) 748-2300
- This provision governs signage placed IN the public right-of-way (streets/alleys); no separate codified permit requirement was found for signage on private property outside the right-of-way
Required documents
- RequiredWritten Request/Application to City CouncilNo standardized fillable form is published on cityofcolstrip.com's Forms page (21 downloadable forms reviewed directly on 2026-07-22, none titled for signs); applicants must submit a request to the City Council through City Hall
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sign Placement Permit (streets/alleys) | No fee amount for this permit is codified in Municipal Code 6-1B-2 or published anywhere on cityofcolstrip.com as of this review. Unlike Title 7's building-permit fees (set by council resolution per 7-1-5, per the existing residential-building-permit entry in this file), Title 6 does not even reference a fee-setting mechanism for this permit. This is an honest publication gap after direct review of the ordinance and the City's own site, not an inferred or invented figure. Contact City Hall, (406) 748-2300, for current requirements. |
Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Permit (State-Administered)
Colstrip has no local fire-prevention or fire-code chapter in its Municipal Code (Title 4 Public Health and Safety was directly checked and contains only Chapter 1 Garbage and Refuse -- no fire chapter exists), and no fire sprinkler/alarm permit application, fee schedule, or process is published on the City's own Fire Department, Fire Prevention, or Forms pages (all directly fetched and checked for 'sprinkler'/'alarm'/'permit'/'inspection' content on 2026-07-22; none found). Unlike Building, Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical, fire protection is NOT part of the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's certified-jurisdiction scheme at all: the DLI's own certified-city roster PDF's key defines its two non-'B/P/E/M' codes as 'SP=POOL' and 'W=WUI' (wildland-urban interface) -- there is no 'F' (fire) category anywhere in that roster, for Colstrip or any other Montana jurisdiction. Fire-safety rulemaking and inspection authority instead sits with the Montana Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Fire Prevention and Investigation Section (informally the State Fire Marshal's Office), under Montana Code Annotated 50-3-102, which is statutorily separate from the DLI Building Codes Bureau (MCA 50-3-102(2): the department may adopt fire-safety rules 'if the rules do not conflict with building regulations adopted by the department of labor and industry'). Rosebud County (where Colstrip sits) falls in that office's 'Area 9' territory, covered by a Bozeman-based Deputy State Fire Marshal.
Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- No dedicated online permit application, fee schedule, or numeric plan-review timeline for fire sprinkler/alarm systems is published by the City of Colstrip or by the Montana DOJ Fire Prevention and Investigation Section (both directly checked 2026-07-22)
- Per MCA 50-3-102(1)(b), the department (DOJ) inspects public, business, or industrial buildings and requires conformance to fire-safety rules -- this is the state authority that would govern a fire sprinkler/alarm system in a Colstrip public or commercial building, since neither the City nor the DLI Building Codes Bureau administers this trade
- Applicants should contact the Area 9 Deputy State Fire Marshal (covering Rosebud County) directly to determine the current plan-review/permit process before starting fire sprinkler or fire alarm work
- Because Colstrip holds no DLI Electrical certification, the electrical/wiring portion of an alarm system installation would separately require a state Electrical Permit from the DLI Building Codes Bureau -- see the electrical-permit-state entry in this file
Required documents
- RequiredDirect inquiry to Area 9 Deputy State Fire MarshalNo standardized fillable fire sprinkler/alarm permit application was found published by the City of Colstrip or the Montana DOJ Fire Prevention and Investigation Section as of this review; applicants must contact the Deputy State Fire Marshal covering Rosebud County directly
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fire sprinkler/alarm plan review and permit fee | No fee schedule for fire sprinkler or fire alarm permits/plan review was found published by the City of Colstrip or the Montana DOJ Fire Prevention and Investigation Section (its public webpage lists only a 'Contact Information' page and a 'Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes' page under Fire Prevention and Investigations -- no plan-review or permit-fee page). This is an honest gap after a direct, real chase of both the city and state sources, not an inferred or invented figure. |
Zoning Permit (Change of Use / Occupancy)
VerifiedColstrip Municipal Code 8-1-5.A (Title 8 Zoning, Chapter 1 Administration and Enforcement) requires a Zoning Permit from the Zoning Officer 'before any building, structure or land may be used or occupied' and before any building or structure permitted under the zoning title 'may be erected, placed, moved, expanded or structurally altered' -- issued only when the proposed building, structure, parcel, or use meets Title 8's requirements. This is Colstrip's standing local mechanism for a change of use or change of occupancy, and applies even when no new construction is involved (e.g., an existing building changing from one use to another, or a new business occupying an existing structure). It is distinct from the construction-linked certificate of occupancy issued under Municipal Code 7-1-4.F as part of the residential-building-permit process (see that entry), which applies specifically to newly-permitted building construction. Per Colstrip's own Building and Zoning webpage: 'Zoning permits are usually required with all building permits to ensure that setback requirements are met to protect public safety and property values.'
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- Per Municipal Code 8-1-5.A: obtain a Zoning Permit from the Zoning Officer before any building, structure, or land is used or occupied, or before any building/structure is erected, placed, moved, expanded, or structurally altered under Title 8
- The Zoning Officer will issue the permit only when the proposed building, structure, parcel, or use meets Title 8's zoning requirements
- Per Municipal Code 8-1-7: the Zoning Officer receives applications for zoning permits, conditional use permits, and variance requests; reviews applications and plans; grants and issues zoning permits; and coordinates inspection of premises and properties
- A use specified as a conditional use within a given zoning district instead requires a separate Conditional Use Permit approved by the Zoning Commission (Municipal Code 8-1-5.B), not a standard Zoning Permit
- For a commercial change of occupancy that also requires building/structural compliance work, a separate state-issued Commercial Building Permit may additionally be required from the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, since Colstrip's own Building certification is residential-only (see commercial-building-permit-state entry)
Required documents
- RequiredZoning Permit ApplicationNo standardized fillable Zoning Permit application form was found published among the 21 downloadable forms on cityofcolstrip.com/forms as of this review (2026-07-22); apply through the Code Enforcement / Building and Zoning office, (406) 748-2300 ext. 2305
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning Permit fee | No fee amount for a standalone Zoning Permit is codified within Title 8 of the Municipal Code or published on cityofcolstrip.com as of this review. This differs from Title 7's building-permit fee provision (7-1-5), which at least states that fees are set by city council resolution; Title 8 does not contain an equivalent fee-setting clause. This is an honest publication gap after direct review of Title 8 (Chapter 1, sections 8-1-4 through 8-1-8, directly fetched and read) and the City's own Forms/Building-and-Zoning pages, not an inferred or invented figure. Contact the Code Enforcement / Building and Zoning office, (406) 748-2300 ext. 2305, for current requirements. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-04.
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 Colstrip building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.