Shelby building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Shelby, Montana.
Last verified 2026-07-03 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 112 1st Street South, Shelby, MT 59474
- Phone
- (406) 434-5222
- Office hours
- Shelby City Hall: contact (406) 434-5222 for all building inspection and ordinance enforcement matters, per the City's current Building & Zoning page (the former 'City Building Inspector' page at /city-building-inspector/ is a 404 as of 2026-07-16 — the City's site re-platformed from a custom/WordPress-style CMS to Wix, and this content now lives at /building). Building Official Keith Thaut is named on that live page; the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's certified-jurisdictions roster lists the same position as 'Ken Thaut' (see department name note).
- Website
- Official site
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Shelby — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Montana adopts a single statewide building code by rule and, by default, enforces it directly — local governments only gain enforcement authority once the state certifies them. Under the Montana Building Codes Act (Mont. Code Ann. Title 50, Chapter 60), the Department of Labor & Industry's Building Codes Bureau adopts one state building code applicable everywhere (§ 50-60-203, codified further at Administrative Rules of Montana Title 24, Chapter 301) — currently the 2021 editions of the IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, ISPSC, and UPC, with the 2020 NEC for electrical (effective statewide since 6/11/2022 per the Bureau's own Current Codes page). A city, county, or town may adopt and enforce its own building-code program under § 50-60-301, but its adopted code "may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau" — a local edition can never diverge from or be less stringent than the state's. Critically, under § 50-60-302, a local government cannot enforce ANY building code — even one it has formally adopted — until the Bureau certifies its program (requiring an approved code, a published fee schedule, an enforcement plan, and properly licensed or nationally certified inspectors); certification is granted per TRADE, not as one blanket designation. The Bureau's own "Certified City, County and Town Programs" list uses the key B=Building, P=Plumbing, E=Electrical, M=Mechanical, SP=Pool, W=Wildland-Urban-Interface — a jurisdiction can be certified for Building only while Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical remain directly state-enforced within the same city limits (e.g., Havre, Anaconda-Deer Lodge), or certified across all trades (e.g., Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell). Non-certified jurisdictions — most of Montana's unincorporated county land, since very few counties appear on the certified list — fall under direct enforcement by the state Building Codes Bureau (§ 50-60-304). Montana also exempts private homes and buildings of four or fewer dwelling units not serving transient guests from the state building-permit requirement entirely, though electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits remain separately required regardless. Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction which trades it is certified for versus which remain directly state-enforced.
- 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; non-certified trades in a partially-certified jurisdiction 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/building-codes-permits).
- Shelby is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B) ONLY within city limits; certified building official on file with DLI: Ken Thaut, (406) 434-5222. Verified directly against the DLI Building Codes Bureau's 'Montana Certified Local Government Program' roster PDF (fetched and text-extracted directly from the primary-source PDF, updated 04/22/2026): 'Shelby | B | Ken Thaut | 434-5222 | City Limits'. Source: https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf. NOTE (2026-07-16 re-check): this DLI roster quote is preserved verbatim and re-confirmed current (re-fetched and re-extracted from the same PDF this session, still reading 'Ken Thaut'), but the City of Shelby's own live website (shelbymt.com/building, fetched the same day) spells the position 'Keith Thaut.' This is a genuine discrepancy between two current primary sources that could not be independently resolved — both spellings are recorded rather than one being silently chosen as correct.
- Shelby Municipal Code Title 10 (Building Regulations), Chapter 1 (Building Codes), Section 10-1-1 (Adoption Of Model Building And Technical Codes By Administrative Action), last amended by Ordinance 803 (9-20-2010): adopts by reference, through administrative action of the building inspector as authorized by Mont. Code Ann. Section 50-60-301(1)(b), 'the current editions of the building, mechanical and related codes and all accompanying appendices, amendments and modifications adopted by the bureau of building and measurement standards, Montana department of labor and industry (or its successor), as set out in the administrative rules of Montana.' Source: City of Shelby Code of Ordinances, https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/shelbymt/latest/shelby_mt/0-0-0-2417 (section 10-1-1)
- Per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's Current Codes page (statewide effective date June 11, 2022, applicable to all certified and state-enforced jurisdictions alike): 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IECC, 2021 ISPSC, 2021 UPC, 2020 NEC, 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility. Shelby's own municipal code (Title 10, Chapter 1) adopts the state-published editions by administrative reference rather than authoring independently amended code text, consistent with a small B-only-certified jurisdiction enforcing the state-adopted editions. Source: bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes
Permit types & fees
Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Structural Alteration)
Required for new single-family home construction, additions, and structural alterations within Shelby city limits. Issued by the City of Shelby under its DLI-certified local Building (B) program, reviewed by the City's Building Official (named 'Keith Thaut' on the City's live Building & Zoning page as of 2026-07-16; the Montana DLI certified-jurisdictions roster spells the same position 'Ken Thaut' — see department record for this unresolved discrepancy) against the state-adopted building and technical codes referenced in Shelby Municipal Code Title 10, Chapter 1.
Non-Structural Remodel (Permit-Exempt) / Structural Alteration Permit
Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-9 creates a specific no-fee/no-permit exception for defined non-structural 'remodeling' of single-family dwellings, while any structural change requires the standard Building Permit and fee.
Fence Zoning Permit
Construction of a fence within Shelby city limits is explicitly classified as a 'structural change' under Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-9.B and requires a zoning permit (administered under Title 13, Zoning Regulations) and payment of the appropriate fee.
Moving Building Permit
Required to move, remove, or relocate any building or structure within or into Shelby city limits, per Shelby Municipal Code Title 10, Chapter 4 (Moving Buildings).
Electrical Permit (State-Issued)
Because Shelby is DLI-certified for Building only, electrical work anywhere within Shelby 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 Shelby, under the 2020 NEC.
Plumbing Permit (State-Issued, incl. Water Heater)
Because Shelby is DLI-certified for Building only, plumbing work anywhere within Shelby 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 Shelby, under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code.
Mechanical / HVAC Permit (State-Issued)
Because Shelby is DLI-certified for Building only, mechanical/HVAC work anywhere within Shelby city limits requires a Mechanical Permit issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Shelby, under the 2021 International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
Required for installing a rooftop or ground-mount photovoltaic system within Shelby city limits. Because Shelby is DLI-certified for Building only, TWO permits and TWO authorities apply: a City of Shelby Building Permit for the structural/roof-mount work (valuation-based, City Building Official) and a State of Montana Residential (or Commercial) Electrical Permit for the PV electrical installation, issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, which adds a flat Alternative Energy Source fee on top of its standard electrical fee.
EV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit
Installing an EV charger in Shelby is electrical work, and because Shelby is DLI-certified for Building only (not Electrical), the permit for the charging circuit is issued directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not by the City of Shelby -- the same state-issuance mechanism already documented in this file for the electrical-permit-state and solar-pv-permit entries. The state's Application for Residential Electrical Permit does not carry a dedicated 'EV charger' or 'EVSE' line item (unlike its explicit $65 Alternative Energy Source add-on for solar/wind/hydro); a new EV charger circuit at an existing single-family dwelling is billed under the form's general 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' fee categories for adding one or more circuits or pieces of equipment. A City of Shelby Building Permit is required in addition only if the installation includes new structural work (e.g., a carport built to house the charger), billed under the City's general valuation-based fee schedule at Shelby Municipal Code 1-12-13, the same mechanism documented for solar's structural/racking scope.
Sign Permit (Zoning Permit for Signs)
Shelby Municipal Code Title 13, Chapter 9 (Signs) sets substantive placement, lighting, and duration standards for on-site, off-site, and temporary signs, while Title 13, Chapter 12 (Administration and Enforcement) establishes the actual permit mechanism: Section 13-12-2.A requires a ZONING PERMIT from the City's Zoning Administrator prior to erecting 'any sign or group of signs having permanent geographical location.' The Zoning Administrator may also serve as the City Building Inspector (13-12-1.A), so the same city office typically handles both reviews.
Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Permit
Shelby has NO distinct local permit product for fire sprinkler or fire alarm systems. The Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's certified-jurisdictions roster (updated 04/22/2026, verified via direct PDF text extraction) confirms Shelby is certified for Building (B) ONLY; the roster's own code key (B, P, M/G, E, M, SP, W) contains no distinct 'Fire' trade designation for ANY Montana jurisdiction, consistent with the statewide pattern that DLI does not certify a separate Fire trade. Shelby Municipal Code Title 8 (Fire Regulations) covers only the Volunteer Fire Department's organizational structure (Chapter 1, sections 8-1-1 through 8-1-13: creation, officers, chief, membership, equipment, arson suppression, right of entry, fire-hazard abatement) and Fireworks (Chapter 3) — it contains no sprinkler/alarm permit process or fee schedule. Fire protection system review for new construction and alterations is instead folded into the standard City of Shelby Building Permit (Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-2), under the state-adopted 2021 IBC/2021 IFC (Chapter 9, Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems), reviewed by the same City Building Official who handles all of Shelby's city-certified Building permits.
Change Of Use / Certificate Of Occupancy Permit
Two governing layers apply to a commercial change of use or occupancy change in Shelby. First, Shelby Municipal Code 13-12-2.A requires a ZONING PERMIT from the Zoning Administrator prior to 'any change of use of any building or land,' and 13-12-2.C requires a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE before any nonconforming structure or use is changed or extended. Second, the state-adopted 2021 IBC (Montana Building Code, administratively adopted by Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-1) Section 111 (Certificate of Occupancy) independently requires the City Building Official to issue a certificate of occupancy before a 'change of occupancy' of a building or structure is made. Because Shelby's Zoning Administrator 'may also serve as the building inspector for the city' (13-12-1.A), both reviews are typically conducted by the same city office.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- No data reported
- Year to date
- No data reported
- Full year 2025
- No data reported
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Montana building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Shelby is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for BUILDING (B) permits ONLY — verified directly against the DLI Building Codes Bureau's own 'Montana Certified Local Government Program' roster PDF (updated 04/22/2026), re-fetched and text-extracted directly from the primary-source PDF on 2026-07-16: 'Shelby | B | Ken Thaut | 434-5222 | City Limits'. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits anywhere within Shelby city limits are issued DIRECTLY by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau in Helena, not the City — mail to PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or apply online at ebiz.mt.gov.
- Unincorporated Toole County (outside Shelby city limits) holds its OWN separate, narrower DLI certification: Building (B), COMMERCIAL ONLY, with certified official Kyle Harlan, (406) 424-8310 (same roster, re-confirmed 2026-07-16). This is distinct from and should not be confused with the City of Shelby's own city-limits Building certification (DLI roster: 'Ken Thaut'; City's own live website: 'Keith Thaut' — see the 2026-07-16 re-verification note below). Toole County is tracked as a separate jurisdiction entity, not part of this Shelby record. Residential building in unincorporated Toole County, and all Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical work countywide, route to the state DLI Building Codes Bureau.
- Shelby Municipal Code Title 10, Chapter 1 (last amended by Ordinance 803, 9-20-2010) adopts the current Montana DLI-published building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical codes by administrative reference through the building inspector's authority under Mont. Code Ann. Section 50-60-301(1)(b).
- Building plan review timeline is a genuine Shelby-published figure: Municipal Code 10-1-2.C requires completion within 30 working days of a complete application submittal, extendable at the building official's discretion (10-1-2.D) if state or outside professional consultation is needed. This is Shelby's own governing figure — deliberately NOT the DLI's separate state-issued-permit FAQ figure, which applies to non-certified jurisdictions' permits, a different administrative track.
- A fixed, published valuation-based Building Permit fee schedule EXISTS for Shelby (Municipal Code 1-12-13, Ord. 780, 5-21-2007) — unlike Choteau and Conrad, which have no published fee table. Fees run from $23.50 ($1-$500 valuation) up to $5,608.75 plus $3.65/$1,000 for valuations over $1,000,000.
- Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-9 (Exceptions) is a distinctive local amendment not documented in Choteau/Conrad: non-structural 'remodeling' of single-family dwellings (siding, reroofing, cabinet/counter replacement, interior wall work, same-opening window/door replacement) requires NO permit and NO fee if structural integrity is unaffected, while any structural change (including any fence, explicitly) requires a permit/zoning permit and fee.
- Zoning permit fees (1-12-15) and moving-building permit fees (1-12-9) are NOT published as fixed dollar tables in the codified ordinances — both cross-reference a non-codified 'schedule of fees and permits on file at the City Hall or Department of Public Works.' This is an honest publication gap confirmed by direct review of both sections, not an inferred or invented number.
- General voluntary demolition of a building is not governed by a distinct demolition-permit chapter in Shelby's code — Municipal Code 10-1-1.B folds 'demolition' into the general Building Code's scope, meaning it is handled through the standard Building Permit process (30-working-day review, 1-12-13 fee schedule). A separate Moving Buildings permit (Title 10, Chapter 4) applies only when a structure is relocated rather than demolished. Title 10, Chapter 5 (Dangerous Buildings) is a distinct city-initiated nuisance-abatement process for unsafe structures, not a voluntary owner permit.
- For Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical work (all state-issued in Shelby since only Building is city-certified), the applicable fee tables are identical to those already verified for Choteau and Conrad, MT (other Montana B-only jurisdictions in this dataset) — sourced directly from the Montana Building Codes Bureau's own statewide application PDFs.
- The Shelby Municipal Code is hosted on American Legal Publishing's codelibrary.amlegal.com platform, which blocks default automated fetches (WAF/403) but serves content to a request with full browser headers (User-Agent, Accept, Referer) — consistent with the general civic-site fetch pattern used across this project. Current supplement at time of research: 2025 S-13.
- 2026-07-16 re-verification: the City of Shelby's website re-platformed from a custom/WordPress-style CMS to Wix. Three previously-cited shelbymt.com URLs are now hard 404s — https://www.shelbymt.com/city-building-inspector/, https://www.shelbymt.com/community-development-2/, and https://www.shelbymt.com/shelby-municipal-codes/ — while shelbymt.com itself still resolves and Google's index still shows other stale pre-migration URLs (/contact/, /directory-d-k/, /category/codes-ordinances/) that also now 404. The live site's current nav (fetched 2026-07-16) has no 'Community Development' department; that function now lives under 'Building & Zoning' (https://www.shelbymt.com/building), which is the fixed replacement citation used throughout this record — content-verified to contain the department address, phone (406) 434-5222, fax (406) 434-2039, and the Building Inspector's name. The municipal-code index function is now served by the site's 'City Code' nav link, which points directly to https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/shelbymt/latest/overview (already cited elsewhere in this record). SEPARATE FINDING, flagged prominently: the live Building & Zoning page names the Building Inspector 'Keith Thaut,' while the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's certified-jurisdictions roster PDF (re-fetched 2026-07-16, same URL as before) still reads 'Ken Thaut' for Shelby, same phone number. This is a genuine, unresolved discrepancy between two current primary sources — not a typo I could confirm on either side — so both spellings are recorded across this file rather than one being silently chosen. All other facts in this file (fees, review timelines, code adoption, permit-exemption rules) are sourced from codelibrary.amlegal.com and bsd.dli.mt.gov, neither of which was among the dead URLs, and were not re-audited in full this session beyond the department-contact fields above; the file's top-level and per-permitType lastVerified dates are left untouched to reflect that.