This is PermitBase’s published record for Choteau 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 It has since been superseded — see the current record.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.
Choteau building permits
VerifiedChoteau, Montana — as published 2026-07-03.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Alteration)
VerifiedRequired for new single-family home construction, additions, and alterations within Choteau city limits. Issued by the City of Choteau under its DLI-certified local Building (B) program using a combined Zoning/Building Permit Application form. Reviewed by contracted Building Official Kyle Harlan against the state-adopted IBC/IRC/IECC editions referenced on the City's own permit packet.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Combined Zoning/Building Permit Application must be completed: project location, owner, contractor, and architect/designer contact information, change-of-use indication, flood plain zone indication, type of work (New/Addition/Alteration/Repair/Move/Re-Roof/Other), full description of work, and project valuation (prior value and completed value)
- A signed Zoning/Building Permit Acknowledgement Form must be submitted, acknowledging the City does not oversee contractors, does not review floodplain/property-line/accessibility compliance, and that the applicant is solely responsible for code compliance
- A Plot Plan must be submitted for new buildings, drawn to a 5-foot grid (1 inch = 20 feet), showing building/site/setback dimensions, easements, drainage or finish contours, first floor elevation, street elevation, sewer service elevation, water/sewer/gas/electrical service line locations, and survey pin locations, with north indicated
- If the property is in Flood Zone 'A', additional applications are required per the City's 2024 Floodplain Regulations
- Applicant must call Building Inspector Kyle Harlan at (406) 788-3398 prior to construction and during the project so required inspections can be scheduled
Required documents
- RequiredZoning/Building Permit ApplicationCombined City of Choteau form covering both the Zoning Permit and Building Permit application numbers, project description, valuation, and office-use fee block
- RequiredZoning/Building Permit Acknowledgement FormSigned acknowledgement of applicant/owner responsibility for code compliance; must be signed before permit issuance
- RequiredPlot PlanSite plan drawn on the City's graph-grid form showing building location, setbacks, utilities, and survey pins for new construction
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning, Building, Board of Appeals, Public Works, and (commercial-only) Plan Review fees | Not published as a fixed table by the City of Choteau — the permit application's 'For Office Use' block has blank dollar-amount lines for each fee category, filled in by city staff after review, unlike Billings/Havre which publish standalone valuation-based Fee Schedule PDFs. Confirmed via direct review of the City's Zoning/Building Permit Application form (choteaumt.org/s/Choteau-Zoning-and-Building-Permit-packet.pdf); no published amount exists to cite, so this is left null rather than estimated. Applicants must contact the City Office at (406) 466-2510 for a current quote. |
Re-Roofing Permit
VerifiedRequired for roof repair or replacement within Choteau city limits, using the same combined Zoning/Building Permit Application with 'Re-Roof' checked under Type of Work. The applicant must confirm receipt of the City's general re-roof/roofing requirements as part of the application certification.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Type of Work box 'Re-Roof' checked on the combined Zoning/Building Permit Application
- Applicant certifies on the application signature line: 'I have received a copy of the general re-roof/roofing requirements'
- Description of work, project valuation (prior and completed value), and property/owner/contractor information required as with any other permit type on this form
Required documents
- RequiredZoning/Building Permit Application (Re-Roof)Same combined City of Choteau form used for all building/zoning work, with 'Re-Roof' selected under Type of Work Planned
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Not published as a fixed table; filled in by city staff on the 'For Office Use' block after review. See residential-building-permit fee note for the same finding. |
Demolition / Building Move Permit
VerifiedRequired for demolishing or moving a structure within Choteau city limits, using the combined Zoning/Building Permit Application with 'Move' or 'Other' (for demolition) checked under Type of Work.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Type of Work box 'Move' checked for relocating a structure into, out of, or within city limits; demolition is captured under 'Other' with a full description of work attached
- Full description of the scope of work must be attached on a separate page per the application's instructions
- Project valuation (prior value and completed/post-project value) must be provided
- Signed Zoning/Building Permit Acknowledgement Form required, same as new construction
Required documents
- RequiredZoning/Building Permit Application (Move/Other)Same combined City of Choteau form with 'Move' or 'Other' selected and a full work-scope description attached
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building/Zoning permit fee | Not published as a fixed table; filled in by city staff on the 'For Office Use' block after review. |
Zoning Permit (Fence, Sign, Accessory Structure)
VerifiedA Zoning Permit — separate in purpose from (though co-located on the same form as) a Building Permit — is required for fences, signs, and other site improvements within Choteau city limits. Zoning permits are explicitly not a substitute for a building permit where one is otherwise required.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
Requirements
- Zoning permits are required for new home and business construction, additions, fences, and signs; approval from the City Office is required before work begins
- A zoning permit is NOT the same as a building permit; projects that also require structural work need the Building Permit side of the combined application as well
- Fees for zoning permits are set by City Council resolution
- A denied zoning permit application may be appealed to the Board of Adjustments; Board of Adjustments decisions may be further appealed to District Court
Required documents
- RequiredZoning/Building Permit Application (Zoning Permit Application number)Same combined City of Choteau form; the Zoning Permit Application field/number is used for fence, sign, and similar site-improvement approvals
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning permit fee | Set by City Council resolution; not published as a fixed public table. Confirmed via City of Choteau Services page and permit packet 'For Office Use' block. |
Electrical Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Choteau is DLI-certified for Building only, electrical work anywhere within Choteau city limits requires a Residential (or Commercial) Electrical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Choteau, under the 2020 NEC.
Verified 2026-07-03 · 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; mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.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 (Rev. 12/22) — same statewide fee schedule that applies to all non-electrically-certified Montana jurisdictions, including Choteau |
| Single Family Dwelling or Cabin — 201 to 400-amp service | $380 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (Rev. 12/22) |
| Residential Change of Service — exterior meter base & interior/exterior main disconnect only | $45 | Application for Residential Electrical Permit (Rev. 12/22) |
Plumbing Permit (State-Issued, incl. Water Heater)
VerifiedBecause Choteau is DLI-certified for Building only, plumbing work anywhere within Choteau city limits — including water heater installation/replacement — requires a Plumbing Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Choteau, under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code.
Verified 2026-07-03 · 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
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 — same schedule applied to all non-plumbing-certified jurisdictions, including Choteau |
| Each plumbing fixture or trap | $10 per fixture/trap | Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1) statewide Fee Schedule |
Mechanical / HVAC Permit (State-Issued)
VerifiedBecause Choteau is DLI-certified for Building only, mechanical/HVAC work anywhere within Choteau city limits requires a Mechanical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Choteau, under the 2021 International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code.
Verified 2026-07-03 · 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
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 — same schedule applied to all non-mechanically-certified jurisdictions, including Choteau |
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 Choteau building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.