Glasgow building permits

Requirements

• Building Permit Application completed in full: owner, contractor, and architect/engineer contact information; class of work (new/addition/alteration/repair/mobile home); legal description (street address, lot, block, subdivision, zoning district); off-street parking spaces provided; change of occupancy if any; valuation of work and number of family units; type of construction (foundation, exterior walls, roof, interior walls)
• Minimum of TWO complete sets of plans required for residential remodel/garage projects; THREE complete sets required for residential new construction, per the Building Permit Application Instructions
• Required drawings: plot plan/site plan (scale not less than 1/4 inch = 1 foot, showing dimensions, north point, front/rear/side yards, walks/driveways/parking, steps/terraces/porches/fences/retaining walls, easements and setbacks, grading and drainage), construction/floor plan, exterior elevations (front, rear, both sides), and typical cross sections/wall sections (multiple sections required for a typical house, more for commercial)
• As of Ordinance No. 966 (effective July 27, 2020): property pins must be established and clearly visible before permit issuance for any new building project or any project that modifies an existing structure's footprint; the Building Inspector must witness the pins in place, or a licensed surveyor must establish them first
• Submitted roof truss diagrams must bear the seal of a Montana-licensed professional engineer
• All commercial plans for public buildings must be wet-stamped (each set original-stamped) by a Montana-licensed architect or engineer
• Projects within the designated 500-foot Critical Zone of the Glasgow/Cherry Creek/Milk River Levee require mandatory additional review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the City can issue an approved permit
• Offset/setback requirements are measured from the wall to the property line and are non-negotiable Zoning Code minimums; where a garage is accessed from an alley, the setback from the structure to the edge of the alley must be 20 feet

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Building PermitCity of Glasgow form; submit to City of Glasgow, Department of Public Works, Building Codes, 319 3rd Street South, Glasgow, MT 59230, or electronically to codecompliance@cityofglasgowmt.com
• RequiredPlot Plan / Site PlanScale not less than 1/4 inch = 1 foot; shows dimensions, north point, yard dimensions, walks/driveways/parking, steps/terraces/porches/fences/retaining walls, easements, setbacks, grading and drainage
• RequiredConstruction/Floor Plan, Elevations, and Cross SectionsFloor plan of each floor/basement; exterior elevations (front, rear, both sides); typical cross sections/wall sections from footing to roof peak, showing construction materials, sizes, and spacing

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application must be signed and dated by the licensed electrical contractor's person in charge
• Payment must be submitted with the application; incomplete applications are returned unprocessed
• Property address, county, and whether the job is inside city limits must be indicated
• 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 (Rev. 12/22); mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Application must be signed by the Master Plumber and include the Master Plumber License Number
• Property address, county, GEOCODE/parcel/lot/block, and whether the job is inside city limits must be indicated
• Type of Building, Type of Work, 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 Permit (BCP-1)Montana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (Rev. 10/2019); mailed with payment to Building Codes Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

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 Permit (BCP-1)Montana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (Rev. 06/2022); mailed with payment to Department of Labor and Industry / BCB, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Permit required for: new construction/installation of fencing on residential or commercial properties; rebuilding or extensive repair of existing fences; general repair replacing more than 20% of pickets/rails/surface boards/chain-link fabric or more than 2 posts on the same run; any new additional run of fencing over 10 feet added to existing fencing
• NOT required for: spot repair of occasional boards, repainting/staining of existing fences (under 20% of a given run); replacement of 2 existing posts in any given run
• Fences/walls/hedges up to 3 feet in height may be erected anywhere on a property, including within required clear-vision zones
• Fences/walls/hedges exceeding 3 feet must meet yard setback requirements and must NOT be located within the mapped clear-vision zones (Figures C3-1, C3-2, C3-3, varying by uncontrolled/semi-controlled/fully-controlled intersection type)
• No fence may be erected or maintained in a public right-of-way
• Permissible materials: wood, brick, concrete block, landscape block, split rail, chain-link, smooth wire, vinyl, ornamental iron. NOT permitted: railroad ties, wood pallets, tires, rubble, metal panels, barbed wire, salvaged materials (any unlisted material subject to Public Works Department review/approval)
• Finished side of the fence must face the outside of the property
• Fence installed exactly on a shared property line requires a written, notarized mutual-use agreement between both property owners, explicitly voidable if either property is sold, or the application will not be approved
• Owner/contractor must contact Montana 811 (Call Before You Dig) before any excavation for posts or footings
• Commercial, Unrestricted, and Industrial zoning districts have separate setback and material regulations (inquire with Public Works for commercial fencing)

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Fence PermitCity of Glasgow form; submit in person to the City Clerk's Office or Public Works Department Office at 319 3rd Street South, Glasgow, MT 59230, by mail, or electronically to codecompliance@cityofglasgowmt.com
• RequiredSketch Plan of Proposed FencingDoes not need to be to scale, but must show the general shape of the lot, location of structures, location of the proposed fence, and correct distances from property lines or permanent infrastructure (back of sidewalk or edge of street pavement)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Demolition permit application must include address/location of demolition, legal description (lot, block, subdivision), owner and contractor contact information, and bonding certificate status
• City sewer lines must be plugged at the property line and inspected
• Footing and foundation must be removed and inspected
• Septic systems addressed per the form's septic line item (coordination with relevant health/septic authority implied)
• Utilities (electrical, gas, telephone, cable, sanitary sewer, water) must be disconnected/turned off, with each utility's disconnection signed and dated directly on the permit form before or upon demolition
• Permit fee must be paid (cash, check, or billed) to the Director of Public Works, Public Works Assistant, or City Clerk

Required documents

• RequiredDemolition Permit ApplicationCity of Glasgow Office of Public Works form; includes utility-disconnection sign-off lines and fee payment block

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for: new construction of detached or attached garages/carports; decks over 2 feet off the surrounding ground; accessory buildings or sheds in excess of 120 square feet (10'x12')
• NOT required for detached accessory buildings/sheds that are 120 square feet or smaller
• Garage size is capped by lot size: under 7,000 sq ft lot allows up to 1,000 sq ft garage; 7,000-10,000 sq ft lot allows up to 1,200 sq ft; over 10,000 sq ft (contiguous if more than one lot) allows up to 1,600 sq ft maximum residential garage
• A detached garage closer than 10 feet to a residential or commercial building is treated as 'attached' and requires a firewall facing the building: no windows, solid wood or steel door with no window lights, interior wall covered with 5/8-inch sheetrock
• Setback/offset requirements measured from the wall to the property line apply in every zoning district and are non-negotiable; where access is from an alley, the setback from the structure to the edge of the alley must be 20 feet
• Ordinance No. 966 property-pin requirement applies: pins must be established and witnessed by the Building Inspector before permit issuance if the project modifies the structure's footprint
• Plot plan and construction plan/elevations required per the standard Building Permit Application Instructions (minimum 2 complete sets of plans for garages/remodel-scale projects)

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Building PermitSame City of Glasgow form used for all new construction/alteration work, with 'New' or 'Addition' indicated for the accessory structure or deck
• RequiredPlot Plan and Construction PlanSite plan showing setbacks and structure location; construction/floor plan and typical cross-section for the deck or accessory structure

Fee schedule

Requirements

• City Building Permit Packet submitted to the City's Code Compliance Officer for the structural/racking scope
• Electrical wiring/interconnection scope requires a State of Montana electrical permit application, not a City permit -- Glasgow is not electrically-certified
• Licensed electrical contractors apply for a standard electrical permit and select 'Solar' as the Alternative Energy Source on the state application form; non-electrician installers submit the state's Alternate Energy Permit instead, per the Montana Building Codes Bureau's Alternative Energy Information guidance
• State application must specify whether the solar installation is a Micro Inverter/AC Module System or a PV String System, and whether the system produces 90 or more volts of electricity
• Per the state Application for Residential Contractor Electrical Permit (Rev 6/24), a residential 'Alternative Energy' line item carries its own flat state fee, separate from the amperage-based service fees

Required documents

• RequiredCity Building Permit PacketCity of Glasgow application for the structural/racking scope
• RequiredMontana Application for Residential (or Commercial) Contractor Electrical PermitState of Montana Building Codes Bureau form; includes an Alternative Energy Source section (Solar/Wind/Hydro checkbox, system type, voltage)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical work must be performed and the permit pulled by a Montana-licensed electrical contractor (LCO/UCO), per the Application for Residential Contractor Electrical Permit (Rev 6/24)
• If the EV charger is added as a new dedicated circuit to an existing panel with no service/panel change, this is billed under the form's 'Single Family Interior/Exterior Wire or Rewire' section, line H ('1 additional circuit or piece of equipment') or line G ('2-3 additional circuits or pieces of equipment') depending on scope
• If the installation requires a panel upgrade or new/upsized electrical service to support the charger's amperage draw, it is billed instead under the amperage-based 'Single Family Dwelling or Cabin' service tiers (A-D) rather than the additional-circuit lines
• The state application form has no Alternative-Energy-style checkbox or dedicated question set for EV chargers (unlike its Solar/Wind/Hydro section) -- EVSE is treated as ordinary residential branch-circuit wiring
• Job address, county, and whether the job is inside city limits must be indicated on the application; property owner and licensed electrical contractor information required
• A City of Glasgow Building Permit is required in addition if the EVSE is mounted on, or paired with, new structural construction (e.g., a new carport or accessory structure) per the City's general building-permit trigger list -- not required for a simple wall/pedestal-mounted charger on an existing structure

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Residential (or Commercial) Contractor Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (Rev 6/24); mailed with payment to Building Codes Program, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov/bcb

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Per the Zone 'C' Commercial District Design Standards (applicable to Retail/Service uses over 2,500 sq ft reviewed as a conditional use): one protruding sign advertising the particular use of the property is permitted per use, not to exceed fifty (50) square feet in area, and not to exceed a height of thirty-five (35) feet
• Signs must not be located on public property or within the public right-of-way
• No sign, outdoor commercial advertising device, or lighting device may conflict with public traffic control devices or create lighting glare/focus/animation/flashing affecting adjacent residential districts; revolving beacons, fountain spot lights, strobe lights, and pogo/zip sticks not used for sign illumination and intended to attract attention are expressly prohibited
• These numeric standards are published only for the Zone 'C' Commercial District's over-2,500-sq-ft conditional-use category -- no equivalent published sign standard was found for Zone 'A'/'B' Residence Districts or for smaller (under 2,500 sq ft) accepted-use commercial buildings; confirm applicability for your specific property and use with Public Works before assuming these figures govern your sign
• If the sign installation itself requires erecting or altering a structure (footings, a freestanding pole/pylon structure, or attachment altering a building's framing), the general Application for Building Permit process applies, including its property-pin (Ordinance No. 966) and plan-submission requirements documented in this KB's residential-building-permit entry
• The City's own guideline document is explicitly advisory only ('general guidelines only ... may not cover specific zoning or use circumstances') and is not itself a permit or a substitute for one -- treat it as the operative published sign standard, not as proof a dedicated sign-permit product exists

Required documents

• OptionalApplication for Building Permit (if the sign involves erecting/altering a structure)Same City of Glasgow combined form used for all other construction not otherwise listed; no dedicated sign-permit application form was found published by the City

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fire protection (sprinkler) system connections/devices: billed at $30 each under the State of Montana Application for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1, Rev. 10/2019) fee line 'Each lawn sprinkler, fire protection system, any meter, or backflow protection device'; application must be signed by a licensed Master Plumber with license number, since Glasgow is not plumbing-certified and plumbing permits are state-issued
• Fire alarm wiring: pulled by a Montana-licensed electrical contractor under the State Application for Residential (or Commercial) Contractor Electrical Permit; billed under the general additional-circuit or amperage-based service fee lines (there is no dedicated 'fire alarm' line item on the current, Rev 6/24 state electrical forms)
• New construction that includes a fire protection/suppression system: the City's own Building Permit Packet requires a 'Fire protection system design concept adequate for shop drawing preparation by others' from a Montana-licensed design professional as part of the plan submission for the City-issued Building Permit
• Businesses that sell, install, or service fire alarm or fire sprinkler/fire protection equipment in Montana must hold a license under the Montana Fire Protection License Program (business entity and/or individual endorsement), administered by the DLI Business Standards Division -- this is contractor licensing, not a per-project permit, and does not replace the state Plumbing/Electrical permits above
• No local Fire Marshal, fire-prevention bureau, or dedicated local plan-review/inspection fee is documented for Glasgow beyond the routing described above; confirm with the Building Codes Department, (406) 228-2476 ext. 8, whether any additional local sign-off applies to your specific project

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Plumbing Permit (BCP-1)Montana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (Rev. 10/2019); used for the fire protection system/sprinkler connection fee line; mailed with payment to Building Codes Bureau, PO Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, or filed online via ebiz.mt.gov
• OptionalApplication for Residential (or Commercial) Contractor Electrical PermitMontana Building Codes Bureau statewide form (Rev 6/24); used to bill fire alarm wiring as ordinary additional-circuit or service work
• OptionalCity Building Permit Packet (if part of new construction)City of Glasgow form; required when a fire protection system is a design element of new construction, triggering the design-professional fire-protection-system design requirement

Fee schedule

Requirements

• File the standard Application for Building Permit, completing the 'CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY FROM ___ TO ___ OCCUPANCY' field in the Legal Description section, alongside standard owner/contractor/architect contact information and the class-of-work designation
• Same supporting materials as any other Building Permit application apply where relevant to the change (e.g., plot plan, construction/floor plan) if the change of occupancy involves any physical alteration; per MCA 50-60-107 the certificate must certify the building conforms to applicable building regulations for the new occupancy
• No separate change-of-use or certificate-of-occupancy fee, form, or office was found distinct from the general Building Permit process -- this KB's residential-building-permit entry documents the same unresolved fee-schedule gap that would apply here
• Because Glasgow is Building-certified but not Electrical/Plumbing-certified (see codesAdopted), a change of occupancy involving those trades would still require separate State DLI-issued Electrical/Plumbing permits per this KB's electrical-permit-state and plumbing-permit-state entries

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Building PermitSame City of Glasgow combined form used for all new construction/alteration/addition work; includes a dedicated 'Change of Occupancy From/To' field in the Legal Description section -- there is no separate change-of-use or certificate-of-occupancy form

Fee schedule