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Fencing Permit in Glasgow, Montana

Required for new fence/wall/hedge construction or installation, extensive repair, or additional runs of fencing over 10 feet in length within Glasgow city limits, per City Fence Ordinance No. 972 (originally required since July 15, 2015 under Ordinance No. 953). Issued by the City of Glasgow Public Works Department.

Verified 2026-07-03 · Source

When you need this permit

  • 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

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Fee schedule

Fence/wall/hedge permit feeCity of Glasgow Fencing Permit Packet: 'Before any fence permit is granted for installation of a fence, wall, or proposed screening shrubbery (hedge) the person(s) making the application for such permit shall pay to the City of Glasgow Public Works Department a fee for $5.00.'
$5.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewGlasgow’s published plan-review target
1–7 business days

How long did your Fencing Permit permit actually take in Glasgow?

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

Inspection process

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

    Tips

    • The City strongly recommends locating your property lines before installing a fence — it is not the City's responsibility to establish or lay out private property lines; a registered land surveyor provides that service.
    • A fence installed exactly on the property line requires a written, notarized mutual-use agreement between both neighbors, or the permit will not be approved.
    • An existing nonconforming fence is not 'grandfathered' to be rebuilt as nonconforming again — once it needs replacement, it must be brought up to current Ordinance 972 standards.
    • Turn in your fence permit application well before you intend to start — while typical review is 1-2 days, it can take over a week.

    Frequently asked questions

    Fences, walls, or hedges up to 3 feet in height may be erected anywhere on a property (even in clear-vision zones) without violating height/setback rules, but a fence PERMIT is still required for new construction, extensive repair, or added runs over 10 feet — the 3-foot threshold governs height/setback rules, not whether a permit is needed.

    A flat $5.00 fee is charged for a fence, wall, or hedge permit, payable to the City of Glasgow Public Works Department. Source: City of Glasgow Fencing Permit Packet.

    Glasgow's published plan-review target for a fencing permit is 1–7 business days.

    You'll need: Application for Fence Permit; Sketch Plan of Proposed Fencing. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Glasgow Public Works Department / Building Codes Department — Rod Dees, Code Compliance Officer; city-certified for Building (B) permits only. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits within Glasgow city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. at 319 3rd Street South, Glasgow, MT 59230. Phone: (406) 228-2476, email: codecompliance@cityofglasgowmt.com. Office hours: City Hall: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM, closed federal holidays. Code Compliance Officer Rod Dees: (406) 228-2476 ext. 8, cell (406) 263-3386. Public Works Department can also be reached at (406) 228-2476 ext. 4 for pre-submittal project discussions.. Official information: https://www.cityofglasgowmt.com/public-works-department.

    Glasgow, 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 list (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).; Glasgow is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B) ONLY within city limits; certified building official on file with DLI: Rod Dees, (406) 228-2476. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'Montana Certified Local Government Program' roster, updated 04/22/2026, https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf — verified directly against the PDF: 'Glasgow | B | Rod Dees | 228-2476 | City Limits'.; Per the City of Glasgow's own 'General Information for Building Permit Applications' packet (Public Information Sheet GIPBA No. 4, dated 11/17/2021): all building designs and plans must adhere to the 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Existing Building Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2012 International Energy Code, and the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code, plus applicable local zoning codes. Source: City of Glasgow Building Permit Packet, cityofglasgowmt.com/_files/ugd/2ff7f3_a263251865d842a9b7db016c72ebf448.pdf; Note on code-edition discrepancy: the City's own packet (last dated 2021) cites 2018-edition I-codes and the 2012 IECC, while the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's statewide 'Current Codes' page lists the newer 2021-edition codes (2021 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, ISPSC, IEBC, UPC; 2021 IECC; 2020 NEC) as effective statewide since June 11, 2022. Because Glasgow is a certified local Building program, ARM 24.301.202 requires its adopted code to be one 'adopted by the Building Codes Bureau' — the City's own document may not have been updated to reflect the 2021-cycle codes. This discrepancy is reported as found rather than resolved by assumption; applicants should confirm current code edition in effect with the City Building Codes Department, (406) 228-2476 ext. 8. Source: bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes vs. City of Glasgow Building Permit Packet.; The City of Glasgow's own Building Permit Packet contains an internal inconsistency regarding Mechanical permits: one bullet in the 'General Information' page states 'The City of Glasgow also issues plumbing/mechanical permits,' while a later 'NOTICE' section in the same packet states plainly: 'The City of Glasgow covers Building Permits and Mechanical Permits; the State of Montana issues plumbing and electrical plans for work in the city.' The DLI's own certified-jurisdictions roster (updated 04/22/2026) lists Glasgow's certification as 'B' ONLY, with no 'M' code shown (contrast with e.g. Havre or Choteau, also 'B' only, or Belgrade/Billings which show explicit 'M' certification). Given the DLI roster is the authoritative statewide certification record, this KB treats Mechanical permits in Glasgow as STATE-ISSUED (routed to the DLI Building Codes Bureau) consistent with the official 'B'-only certification, while flagging the City's own document's contrary claim as an unresolved discrepancy applicants should verify directly with (406) 228-2476 ext. 8 before assuming which office issues a mechanical permit.. Local amendments apply — see the Glasgow overview page for the full list.

    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 Glasgow building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.