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Non-Structural Remodel (Permit-Exempt) / Structural Alteration Permit in Shelby, Montana

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.

Verified 2026-07-03 · Source

When you need this permit

  • 'Remodeling' is defined to specifically include siding, reroofing, replacing cupboards/counters/countertops, and repairing or replacing interior walls; windows and doors are included as remodeling so long as the original opening is used and not enlarged
  • No fee and no permit are required for remodeling of a single-family dwelling, provided the work does not in any way affect the structural integrity of the dwelling
  • Any structural change (work that increases or decreases the size of the structure) requires a building permit and payment of the applicable fee under the 1-12-13 valuation schedule
  • The building of any fence is explicitly classified as a structural change requiring a ZONING permit (not a building permit) and payment of the appropriate fee
  • Whether contemplated work constitutes a 'structural change' (vs. exempt remodeling) is determined by the building inspector on a case-by-case basis

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Fee schedule

Non-structural remodel (siding, reroof, cabinets/counters, interior walls, same-opening window/door replacement)Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-9.A.2 — applies only if structural integrity of the single-family dwelling is unaffected
$0 (no fee, no permit required)
Structural change (size increase/decrease) — valuation-basedShelby Municipal Code 10-1-9.B and 1-12-13
Per Shelby Municipal Code 1-12-13 valuation schedule, starting at $23.50 for $1-$500 valuation

Review timeline

Plan reviewShelby’s published plan-review target
Up to 30 business days

How long did your Non-Structural Remodel (Permit-Exempt) / Structural Alteration Permit permit actually take in Shelby?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

    See the full Shelby inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

    Tips

    • This is a genuine, code-specified permit-exemption category unique among the Montana small towns documented so far — confirm with the Building Official (named 'Keith Thaut' on the City's current website; 'Ken Thaut' on the DLI roster) whether a specific project (e.g., a reroof that also involves structural repair) qualifies for the no-fee exemption or requires a full building permit.
    • A fence is NOT covered by the remodeling exemption — Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-9.B explicitly requires a zoning permit for any fence.

    Frequently asked questions

    No permit or fee is required for siding, reroofing, or similar remodeling of a single-family dwelling, as long as the work does not affect the structural integrity of the home, per Shelby Municipal Code 10-1-9. If the building inspector determines the work is a structural change, a standard building permit and fee apply.

    In Shelby, the published Non-structural remodel (siding, reroof, cabinets/counters, interior walls, same-opening window/door replacement) is: $0 (no fee, no permit required). Additional published fees: Structural change (size increase/decrease) — valuation-based — Per Shelby Municipal Code 1-12-13 valuation schedule, starting at $23.50 for $1-$500 valuation. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Shelby's published plan-review target for a non-structural remodel (permit-exempt) / structural alteration permit is Up to 30 business days.

    Depending on your project, Shelby may also ask for: Building Permit Application (only if a structural change). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Shelby Building Department — Building Official Keith Thaut (per the City's live Building & Zoning page, https://www.shelbymt.com/building, fetched 2026-07-16: 'Keith Thaut Building Inspector'); city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits within Shelby city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. NOTE: the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's own certified-jurisdictions roster PDF (updated 04/22/2026) spells the same position 'Ken Thaut' — a name-spelling discrepancy between two current primary sources (city website vs. state roster) that could not be independently resolved as of 2026-07-16; both are cited so nothing is silently reconciled. at 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).. Official information: https://www.shelbymt.com/building.

    Shelby, Montana has adopted: 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. Local amendments apply — see the Shelby overview page for the full list.