Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Alterations) in Choteau, Montana

Choteau requires a commercial building permit (new construction, additions, alterations) for: Combined Zoning/Building Permit Application must be completed, with the Building Permit Application number field used, Type of Work indicated (New/Addition/Alteration/Repair), a full description of work attached, and project valuation (prior value and completed value) provided; The application's 'For Office Use' fee block includes a 'Plan Review (Commercial Only)' line, in addition to the Zoning, Building, Board of Appeals, and Public Works lines applied to every permit type on this form -- confirmed by direct visual review of the packet's page 2; 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; Electrical work requires a separate Application for Commercial Electrical Permit filed directly with the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, since Choteau holds no DLI Electrical certification; this is a different state application and fee schedule from the Residential Electrical Permit documented elsewhere in this jurisdiction's file; Plumbing and mechanical work also require separate permits filed directly with the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, using the same statewide fee schedules already documented for residential plumbing and mechanical work in this jurisdiction's file -- the DLI does not publish a separate commercial-specific plumbing or mechanical application; a Montana-licensed Master Plumber is required on all public/commercial buildings per the DLI's own plumbing-permits page; Fire sprinkler and alarm system work is reviewed by the Montana State Fire Marshal's Office rather than the City, because Choteau does not appear on the SFMO's Fire Inspection Certified Jurisdiction roster. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Choteau — Building Official Kyle Harlan (contracted); city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Zoning permits are administered directly by the City Office; Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Choteau city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 466-2510 before starting work.

Choteau does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Choteau — Building Official Kyle Harlan (contracted); city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Zoning permits are administered directly by the City Office; Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Choteau city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at (406) 466-2510 for current turnaround.

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

Apply through City of Choteau — Building Official Kyle Harlan (contracted); city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Zoning permits are administered directly by the City Office; Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Choteau city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at 38 First Avenue N.W., PO Box 619, Choteau, MT 59422-0619. Phone: (406) 466-2510. Office hours: City Office: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Building Inspector Kyle Harlan (contracted, also serves Toole County and Pondera County as certified building official) should be called directly at (406) 788-3398 prior to construction and during the project to schedule required inspections, per the City's Zoning/Building Permit Acknowledgement Form.. Official information: https://www.choteaumt.org/services.

Montana's statewide 2021 International Building Code, effective June 11, 2022 under Administrative Rules of Montana Title 24, Chapter 301, applies to certified and state-enforced jurisdictions alike. The City's own permit packet names the code families it enforces (International Building Code, Energy Conservation Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Piping Code, ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standards, Uniform Plumbing Code, National Electrical Code) without naming the edition or a municipal code section, consistent with the City having adopted the State Building Code as its own by ordinance effective May 17, 2012.

No. Commercial projects use the same combined Zoning/Building Permit Application as residential projects, with the addition of a 'Plan Review (Commercial Only)' fee line on the form's office-use fee block. Source: City of Choteau Zoning/Building Permit Packet.

The Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, not the City, because Choteau's certification covers Building only. Electrical work uses a distinct Commercial Electrical Permit application with a percentage-of-cost fee schedule; plumbing and mechanical work use the same statewide fee schedules that apply to residential work in Choteau.

No. Fire protection systems are reviewed by the Montana State Fire Marshal's Office, not the City, because Choteau does not appear on the SFMO's Fire Inspection Certified Jurisdiction roster. Contact Deputy State Fire Marshal Doug Ulsh at (406) 431-3172.