You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-07-07.
Forsyth building permits
VerifiedForsyth, Montana — as published 2026-07-07.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration)
VerifiedRequired for new single-family/two-family home construction, additions, and alterations on RESIDENTIAL property within Forsyth city limits. Issued by the City of Forsyth under its DLI certification for Building (B), RESIDENTIAL ONLY, reviewed against the locally-adopted 2012 IBC / 2018 Residential Building Code / 2018 IECC / 2012 IEBC (Forsyth Code of Ordinances 11-1-1). This certification does NOT extend to commercial building work — see the separate commercial-building-permit-state entry.
Verified 2026-07-04 · Source
Requirements
- Contact Forsyth City Hall, (406) 346-2521, 247 N 9th Ave, Forsyth, MT 59327, to initiate a residential building permit application — no downloadable application form or online portal was found published on the City's own website (forsythmt.info) as of this review
- Pole building construction is capped at 900 square feet, single-story, 25 feet in height, per Forsyth Code 11-1-4
- Garages in Residential Districts 1 and 2 are capped at 1,200 square feet, per Forsyth Code 11-1-4
- Living quarters in a garage may be allowed only if a lumber criterion is met and zoning code requirements are satisfied, per Forsyth Code 11-1-4
- Project must comply with the codes adopted at Forsyth Code 11-1-1 (2012 IBC, 2018 Residential Building Code, 2018 IECC, 2012 IEBC, 2017/ARM accessibility rules)
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationNo downloadable application form was found published on the City of Forsyth's own website (forsythmt.info) as of this review; the site's 'Permit Application' page is a generic Wix Bookings service-page template with no attached form or fee schedule. Contact City Hall, (406) 346-2521, to obtain the current application.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential building permit fee | No fixed valuation-based fee table was found published on forsythmt.info (a Wix-hosted site whose Permit Application page is a generic Bookings template with no attached fee schedule), in Forsyth Code of Ordinances Title 11, or anywhere else searched (city council meeting minutes/agendas, Rosebud County Planner page) as of this review — an honest publication gap after exhausting the City's own website, the Wayback Machine's complete archive index for the domain, and the codified ordinances, not an inferred or invented figure. Applicants must contact Forsyth City Hall at (406) 346-2521 for a current fee quote. |
Commercial Building Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Forsyth's DLI certification for Building covers RESIDENTIAL work only, any commercial building project within Forsyth 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 Forsyth.
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 / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
- 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 Forsyth's commercial building projects since Forsyth's own certification does not cover commercial building work |
Electrical Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Forsyth holds no DLI certification in Electrical (only a residential-only Building certification), electrical work anywhere within Forsyth 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 Forsyth, under the National Electrical Code as currently adopted statewide (2020 NEC per the Bureau's Current Codes page; Forsyth's own local ordinance text at 11-1-1 references the older 2014 NEC edition for its own — inapplicable to this state-enforced trade — reference).
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
- 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 / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential — Up to 200-amp service (new single-family dwelling or cabin) | $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, MT and Anaconda-Deer Lodge, MT in this same dataset |
| Residential — 201 to 400-amp service | $380 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit |
| Residential Change of Service — exterior meter base & interior/exterior main disconnect only | $45 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit |
Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit — State-Issued Electrical Permit Add-On
VerifiedBecause Forsyth holds no DLI certification in Electrical (only a residential-only Building certification), rooftop or ground-mount residential solar PV installation within Forsyth city limits is not a separate stand-alone permit — it is billed and processed as an Alternative Energy Source add-on to the state-issued Residential Electrical Permit, issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau (Helena), the same office that issues all electrical permits for Forsyth addresses. The Bureau's statewide Application for Residential Electrical Permit form (BCP-1) itemizes 'Alternative Energy Source (solar/wind/hydro)' as a fixed $65 fee added on top of whichever base electrical work-type fee applies, and requires the applicant to specify system type (Micro Inverter/AC Module System or PV String System). If the racking/mounting requires structural roof modification, that scope would separately require Forsyth's own residential-certified Building permit (or the state's commercial-building-permit-state entry, for non-residential property).
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Apply using the same statewide Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) used for all Forsyth electrical work, since the state DLI Building Codes Bureau (not the city) issues electrical permits for Forsyth addresses
- Select the applicable base work-type fee (e.g., service, change of service) and add the Alternative Energy Source line item
- Specify system type: Micro Inverter/AC Module System or PV String System
- Application must be signed and dated by the licensed electrical contractor's person in charge; payment must be submitted with the application
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, Section 604, MCA and ARM 24.301.431
- Governed by the 2020 NEC as currently adopted statewide (Forsyth's own local ordinance text at 11-1-1 references the older 2014 NEC for its own — inapplicable to this state-enforced trade — reference)
- If structural roof/mounting modification is needed, that scope separately requires a Forsyth residential Building permit (or the state commercial-building-permit-state track for non-residential property, since Forsyth's Building certification is residential-only)
Required documents
- RequiredApplication for Residential Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (BCP-1), with the Alternative Energy Source (solar/wind/hydro) box checked; mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov / BuildingPermits.Mt.Gov / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Energy Source add-on (solar, wind, or hydro) | $65 additional fee added to the selected base electrical work-type fee | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1) — the only PV-specific line item published on the statewide form used by all non-electrically-certified Montana jurisdictions, cross-verified against the identical fee already confirmed for East Helena, MT in this same dataset. Required in addition to whichever base fee option (e.g., $200 up-to-200-amp service, $45 change of service) applies to the underlying electrical work. |
Plumbing Permit (State-Issued, incl. Water Heater)
VerifiedBecause Forsyth holds no DLI certification in Plumbing (only a residential-only Building certification), plumbing work anywhere within Forsyth 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 Forsyth, under the Uniform Plumbing Code as currently adopted statewide (2021 UPC per the Bureau's Current Codes page; Forsyth's own local ordinance text at 11-1-1 references the older 2012 UPC edition for its own — inapplicable to this state-enforced trade — reference).
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 / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
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, MT and Anaconda-Deer Lodge, MT in this same dataset |
| Each plumbing fixture or trap | $10 per fixture/trap | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1) statewide Fee Schedule |
Mechanical / HVAC Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Forsyth holds no DLI certification in Mechanical (only a residential-only Building certification), mechanical/HVAC work anywhere within Forsyth 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 Forsyth, under the International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code as currently adopted statewide (2021 IMC/IFGC per the Bureau's Current Codes page; Forsyth's own local ordinance text at 11-1-1 references the older 2012 editions for its own — inapplicable to this state-enforced trade — reference).
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 / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
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, MT and Anaconda-Deer Lodge, MT in this same dataset |
EV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Circuit Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Forsyth holds no DLI certification in Electrical (only a residential-only Building certification), an EV charger/EVSE circuit anywhere within Forsyth city limits requires the same state-issued Residential or Commercial Electrical Permit documented in the electrical-permit-state entry, issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena — not the City of Forsyth. The Bureau's statewide Application for Residential Electrical Permit form (BCP-1, Rev. 11/25) has no line item specifically labeled 'EV charger' or 'electric vehicle'; a retrofit EV charging circuit is billed under the 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' category as an additional circuit or piece of equipment, and a charger wired into a new single-family service is folded into the base new-service fee (per the amperage tier).
Verified 2026-07-20 · 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
- For a retrofit EV charger circuit in an existing single-family home, select 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' and check the applicable box: '1 additional circuit or piece of equipment' or '2-3 additional circuits or pieces of equipment'
- For a new single-family home wired with an EV charger circuit at the same time as the main service, no separate line item applies — it is included in the base new-service fee (per the amperage tier, A-D)
- Payment must be submitted with the application; incomplete applications are returned unprocessed
- 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, Rev. 11/25) — no EV-specific version exists; use the standard rewire/additional-circuit category. Mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov / BuildingPermits.Mt.Gov / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 additional circuit or piece of equipment (retrofit EV charger circuit) | $45 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit (BCP-1, Rev. 11/25) — 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' category, item H; no distinct EV-charger line item exists on the form, so a single dedicated EVSE circuit is billed at this generic per-item rate |
| 2-3 additional circuits or pieces of equipment | $70 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit — item G; applies if the EV charger installation is bundled with other new circuits/equipment |
| 4+ circuits & change of service and/or interior panel (if a panel upgrade is needed to support the charger) | $120 | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Residential Electrical Permit — item E |
Sign Permit (Zoning)
Forsyth, MT Code of Ordinances 12-2-9 'Signs' (Title 12 Zoning Regulations, Chapter 2 General Requirements, Ord. 2000-03, 9-13-2000) regulates outdoor advertising and business signs citywide. Subsection B lists specific sign categories exempt from a permit (real-estate signs, address/nameplate signs, non-commercial government flags, government-required legal/directional signs, non-lettered architectural features, non-advertising traffic/parking signs, institutional bulletin boards set back 10'+ from the right-of-way, and temporary political signs removed within 15 days of an election); ordinary on-site business/industrial signage is NOT among the listed exemptions, and subsection D is explicitly titled 'Regulation Of Off-Site Signs Requiring A Permit,' confirming at minimum that off-site (billboard-type) signs require a permit — the ordinance text does not use the word 'permit' again in subsection C's on-site-sign standards, so whether an ordinary on-site business sign is itself a separate permitted transaction (versus simply a standard enforced at zoning review of a broader project) is not fully spelled out in the codified text. Separately, Forsyth's own Building Code (11-1-1(A)(10)) adopts International Building Code Appendix Chapter H (Signs), per ARM 24.301.134, as an optional local building-code chapter governing the structural design/construction of sign structures — a layer distinct from, and in addition to, this Title 12 zoning permit. No fee schedule, application form, administering-department contact, or review timeline for this permit was found published anywhere on the City's own website or in the codified ordinances as of this review.
Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- Permit-exempt under 12-2-9(B): real estate signs (max 12 sq ft, 6 sq ft in residential districts), address/nameplate signs, non-commercial government flags/insignia, government-required legal/directional signs, non-lettered architectural features, non-advertising on-site traffic/parking signs, church/school/institutional bulletin boards (10'+ from the right-of-way line, no traffic-visibility obstruction), and temporary political/campaign signs (removed within 15 days of the election)
- On-site signs in business and industrial districts (12-2-9(C)): no freestanding sign within the required front/side/rear yard setback, and none within 50' of a side/rear lot line abutting a residential district; max freestanding-sign height 75'; signs over a sidewalk/walkway require at least 8' vertical clearance; one wall sign per use plus one freestanding sign per building regardless of the number of businesses in it; total sign surface area capped at 2 sq ft per lineal foot of building frontage, up to a 100 sq ft maximum
- Off-site signs explicitly require a permit under 12-2-9(D): same yard-setback and 50' residential-buffer rule; illumination must be constant intensity only (no flashing/intermittent/rotating/moving lights) and may not create glare, reflection, or a traffic hazard; max area 32 sq ft; max height 35'
- Any electrically-illuminated sign's wiring, fittings, and materials must comply with the state electrical code (12-2-9(D)(2)) — since Forsyth holds no DLI Electrical certification, this means a separate state-issued Electrical Permit (see electrical-permit-state entry) is also required for the sign's electrical connection, in addition to whatever applies under this zoning permit
- Sign structures may separately be subject to International Building Code Appendix Chapter H (Signs), adopted as an optional local building-code chapter at Forsyth Code 11-1-1(A)(10)
Required documents
- RequiredSign Permit ApplicationNo downloadable sign permit application was found published on the City of Forsyth's own website (forsythmt.info) or within the codified Title 12 Zoning Regulations as of this review. Contact Forsyth City Hall, (406) 346-2521, 247 N 9th Ave, Forsyth, MT 59327, for the current application and process.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning sign permit fee | No fee schedule for a sign permit was found published on forsythmt.info, in Forsyth Code of Ordinances Title 12 (Zoning Regulations, Chapter 2, section 12-2-9, reviewed in full), or anywhere else searched as of this review — an honest publication gap, not an inferred or invented figure. Applicants must contact Forsyth City Hall at (406) 346-2521 for current fee information. |
Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Permit (State-Issued)
Forsyth's own local fire code, Forsyth Code of Ordinances 6-1-1 'Adoption Of Fire Prevention Code' (Title 6 Fire Regulations, Chapter 1 Fire Prevention Code, Ord. 2015-06, 9-28-2015), adopts only a generic, undated 'fire prevention code, current edition, as recommended by the National Board Of Fire Underwriters' on file with the city clerk-treasurer — Title 6 Chapter 1 contains just two sections (6-1-1 this adoption clause, and 6-1-2 a voluntary $20 wood/coal stove inspection fee unrelated to sprinkler or alarm systems), confirming Forsyth has NO locally-administered fire sprinkler or fire alarm permit-and-fee mechanism of its own. Because Forsyth's DLI certification also does not extend to commercial Building work or to Electrical work of any kind, fire suppression (sprinkler) systems route through the same state-issued process documented in the commercial-building-permit-state entry: the DLI Building Codes Bureau's statewide Building Permit/Plan Review Application (BCP-1) lists 'Fire Suppression' as one of its explicit 'Type Of Work' checkboxes, alongside New/Addition/Alteration/Change of Use/etc. Fire alarm system wiring, in turn, has no dedicated line item on any state permit form — it is billed under the same general valuation-based Commercial (or Residential) Electrical Permit fee schedule as any other electrical work, since Forsyth holds no local Electrical certification at all. The Montana Fire Protection License Program (administered separately by DLI's Business Standards Division boards office) licenses the businesses and individuals who sell, install, and service fire-suppression and fire-alarm equipment statewide — it is a contractor-licensing program, not a separate permit-issuing authority for individual installations, and does not substitute for the Building Codes Bureau's own plan-review permit process.
Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- Fire suppression (sprinkler) systems: check the 'Fire Suppression' box under Type Of Work on the Building Permit/Plan Review Application (BCP-1) and submit complete plans, subject to the same DLI Building Codes Bureau plan-review process documented for commercial building permits
- Fire alarm systems: apply using the same statewide Commercial Electrical Permit application (or Residential Electrical Permit, for a residential-only project) used for any other electrical work in Forsyth, since the state issues all electrical permits here — there is no separate fire-alarm-specific form or line item
- The contractor performing sprinkler or alarm installation/service must hold a current Montana Fire Protection License (Business Entity and/or Individual Endorsement) issued by DLI's Business Standards Division boards office, separate from the permit itself
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, MCA and ARM Title 24, Chapter 301 (building) or ARM 24.301.431 (electrical), as applicable to the component of work
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit/Plan Review Application (BCP-1) — Fire Suppression box checkedMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form; mailed with payment to Building and Commercial Measurements Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online at BuildingPermits.Mt.Gov / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb. 'Fire Suppression' is one of the form's explicit Type Of Work checkboxes.
- RequiredCommercial (or Residential) Electrical Permit ApplicationMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form used to permit fire alarm system wiring, since no distinct fire-alarm line item exists on any state permit form; mailed with payment to PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Suppression (sprinkler) — 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 — the same fee-calculation method already documented for Forsyth's commercial-building-permit-state entry, since fire suppression is checked as a Type Of Work option on the identical Building Permit/Plan Review Application |
| Fire Alarm wiring — Commercial Electrical Permit (project value $0-$1,000) | $45 for the first $500, plus 6% of the balance of the project cost | Montana Building Codes Bureau, Application for Commercial Electrical Permit — the general valuation-based fee schedule applied to ALL commercial electrical work in non-electrically-certified jurisdictions (Forsyth included), since no fire-alarm-specific line item exists on the form. Higher project-value tiers scale down to $75 for the 1st $1,000 + 2% ($1,001-$10,000), $255 for the 1st $10,000 + 0.5% ($10,001-$50,000), and $455 for the 1st $50,000 + 0.3% ($50,001+). |
Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Forsyth's DLI certification for Building covers RESIDENTIAL work only, a change of use or change of occupancy classification for a COMMERCIAL structure within Forsyth city limits is not a separate stand-alone product — it is filed as the 'Change of Use' Type Of Work option on the same statewide Building Permit/Plan Review Application (BCP-1) used for the commercial-building-permit-state entry, issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, and reviewed under International Existing Building Code Chapter 10 'Change of Occupancy' as currently applied statewide (2021 IEBC per the Bureau's Current Codes page; Forsyth's own local ordinance text at 11-1-1 references the older 2012 IEBC edition for its own — inapplicable to this state-enforced commercial track — reference). Per the Bureau's own guidance, in areas (and, for Forsyth, project types) where it acts as the Authority Having Jurisdiction, the Bureau issues the Certificate of Occupancy upon successful completion of the project and passing all required inspections — there is no additional standalone 'CO fee' beyond the Building Permit/plan-review fee itself. A change of use confined to a purely residential structure/use, remaining within Forsyth's own certified residential Building scope, would instead be filed as Forsyth's own city-issued residential Building Permit (see residential-building-permit entry) rather than through the state.
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a Building Permit/Plan Review Application (BCP-1) with the 'Change of Use' Type Of Work box checked, together with complete plans, to the Building Codes Bureau
- Provide a detailed description of the project's proposed use and occupancy, as required on the application form
- Project must demonstrate compliance with International Existing Building Code Chapter 10 (Change of Occupancy) as currently applied statewide by the Bureau
- A Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Bureau upon successful completion of the project and passing all required inspections; the building may not be used or occupied until approved
- Apply in accordance with Title 50, Chapter 60, MCA and ARM Title 24, Chapter 301
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit/Plan Review Application (BCP-1) — Change of Use box checkedMontana 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 / aca-prod.accela.com/bcb. 'Change of Use' is one of the form's explicit Type Of Work checkboxes, alongside New/Addition/Alteration/Fire Suppression/etc.
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit/Plan Review Fee (Change of Use) | 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 — the same fee-calculation method already documented for Forsyth's commercial-building-permit-state entry, since Change of Use is checked as a Type Of Work option on the identical Building Permit/Plan Review Application. No separate standalone Certificate of Occupancy fee was found published beyond this plan-review fee. |
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 Forsyth building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.