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Plumbing Permit in Billings, Montana

Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Billings, governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted statewide and by the City of Billings. Billings is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for plumbing (mechanical/gas) permitting.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Plumbing permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of any plumbing system, fixture, water heater, gas piping, or sewer/water service line
  • Governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted by City of Billings (Administrative Order #150) — not the International Plumbing Code
  • Minimum permit issuance fee of $20.00 plus per-item unit fees
  • Apply through the CityView Portal

Required documents

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This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our checklist will assemble all of them, free →

Fee schedule

Permit Issuance (minimum per permit)City of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$20.00
Each plumbing fixture or trap (including water, drainage piping, and backflow protection)City of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$7.00
Each building sewer and each trailer park sewerCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$15.00
Each private sewage disposal systemCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$40.00
Each water heater and/or ventCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$7.00
Each gas-piping system of one to five outletsCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$5.00
Each additional gas piping system outlet (per outlet)City of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$1.00
Installation, alteration, or repair of water piping and/or water-treating equipment, eachCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$7.00
Each lawn sprinkler system on any one meter, including backflow protection devicesCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$7.00
Backflow protective device (other than atmospheric vacuum breaker), 2 inch diameter and smaller / over 2 inchCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$7.00 (2 inch and smaller) / $15.00 (over 2 inch)
Other Inspections and FeesCity of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule
$45.00 minimum, or total hourly City cost if greater

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Billings building department
~4–7 business days

How long did your Plumbing Permit permit actually take in Billings?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Underground/Slab

    Before concrete pour — verify pipe slope, materials, and cleanouts

  2. 2

    Rough-In

    After pipes installed, before walls closed

  3. 3

    Final

    All fixtures connected, water heater T&P and expansion tank verified, cleanouts exposed, no leaks

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

Tips

  • Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), not the International Plumbing Code — verify fixture and venting requirements against the 2021 UPC.
  • Water heater replacement requires a plumbing permit at $7.00 per water heater/vent, plus the $20.00 issuance fee.
  • Billings is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for plumbing (mechanical/gas) permitting within city limits.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. A plumbing permit is required, with a $20.00 issuance fee plus $7.00 per water heater/vent per the City of Billings Plumbing Permit Fees schedule.

In Billings, the published Permit Issuance (minimum per permit) is: $20.00. Additional published fees: Each plumbing fixture or trap (including water, drainage piping, and backflow protection) — $7.00; Each building sewer and each trailer park sewer — $15.00; Each private sewage disposal system — $40.00; Each water heater and/or vent — $7.00; Each gas-piping system of one to five outlets — $5.00; Each additional gas piping system outlet (per outlet) — $1.00; Installation, alteration, or repair of water piping and/or water-treating equipment, each — $7.00; Each lawn sprinkler system on any one meter, including backflow protection devices — $7.00; Backflow protective device (other than atmospheric vacuum breaker), 2 inch diameter and smaller / over 2 inch — $7.00 (2 inch and smaller) / $15.00 (over 2 inch); Other Inspections and Fees — $45.00 minimum, or total hourly City cost if greater. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a plumbing permit in Billings typically runs 4–7 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Billings Building Division at (406) 657-8270.

You'll need: Plumbing Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Billings requires 3 inspection(s) for a plumbing permit, in order: Underground/Slab, Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through City of Billings Building Division ((406) 657-8270).

Apply through City of Billings Building Division at 316 N 26th St, 5th Floor, Billings, MT 59101. Phone: (406) 657-8270, email: permits@billingsmt.gov. Office hours: Building Division front counter, 5th Floor, City Hall, 316 N. 26th St., Billings, MT 59101 (inspection requests: inspections@billingsmt.gov or 406-657-8270). Official information: https://www.billingsmt.gov/67/Building.

Billings, 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 (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, swimming pool, etc.); a certified local program's adopted code 'may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau' (ARM 24.301.202). Non-certified areas fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs and Current Codes pages (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).; Billings is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), Plumbing — Mechanical/Gas (P(M/G)), Electrical (E), Mechanical (M), and Swimming Pool (SP) within Billings city limits; certified program contact on file with DLI: Jessica Fust, (406) 657-8270. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Current Codes page (list of certified jurisdictions), bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes; 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings, last readopted September 1, 2022 per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150. Note: per the City's Adopted Codes page, IRC Chapters 11-14 and 16-43 are deleted in their entirety; IRC Chapter 15 (Exhaust Systems) is adopted as an alternative to the IMC for exhaust systems only, with all other mechanical-system requirements for detached 1-2 family dwellings and townhouses (3 stories or less) found in the adopted IMC; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150 (Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code); 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; Billings is DLI-certified for swimming pool (SP) permitting; 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) — per City of Billings Building Division FAQ, current adopted code list; ICC A117.1-2017 Accessibility — effective statewide June 11, 2022 (state-adopted; referenced for commercial accessibility compliance); NFPA 99c, Standard on Gas and Vacuum Systems (medical gas), 2021 Edition — per City of Billings Adopted Codes page; All codes amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Title 24, Chapter 301. City of Billings Building Codes were last (re)adopted September 1, 2022 per Administrative Order #150. Local amendments apply — see the Billings overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-02.

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