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Fence Permit in Laurel, Montana

Required for fence installation within Laurel city limits. Laurel's own Building Department page lists fence installation explicitly among the permit types it handles directly. 'Fence' is defined at Laurel City Code 17.08.460 as 'a barrier of posts connected by boards, rails, panels or wire ... including masonry walls, ornamental structures, privacy screens and shrubs.'

Verified 2026-07-13 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Fence permit required for installation of a fence within city limits, per the City of Laurel Building Department's published list of city-handled permit types
  • Application submitted on the universal Construction Permit and Application form, including subdivision/lot/block/tract and zoning fields
  • 'Fence' is defined at Laurel City Code 17.08.460 to include masonry walls, ornamental structures, privacy screens, and shrubs used as a barrier, in addition to conventional post-and-rail/panel/wire fencing

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Fence PermitResolution No. R25-18, Building Permit Fees and Charges table, page 11 (flat fee)
$100.00

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Fence Permit permit actually take in Laurel?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Building Final

    Completed fence verified against approved permit/site plan

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

Tips

  • The Fence Permit fee is a flat $100.00 regardless of fence length or material.
  • Laurel's zoning code (17.08.460) defines 'fence' broadly enough to include masonry walls, ornamental structures, privacy screens, and even shrubs used as a barrier — confirm with the Building Department whether a specific installation needs a permit under this definition.
  • No review timeline is published for this permit. A fence is not a building/single-family dwelling, so the MCA 50-60-106(2)(c) 10-working-day checklist deadline does not govern it (the statute sets no day-count for fences), and Laurel handles fence permits itself rather than routing them to the state, so the state Building Codes Bureau's 3-week average does not apply either. Checked: City of Laurel Building page, FAQs, Construction Permit application PDF, and Resolution No. R25-18 — none states a fence-permit turnaround. Contact the Building Department at (406) 628-4796 ext. 5304 for current review timelines.

Frequently asked questions

Laurel requires a fence permit for: Fence permit required for installation of a fence within city limits, per the City of Laurel Building Department's published list of city-handled permit types; Application submitted on the universal Construction Permit and Application form, including subdivision/lot/block/tract and zoning fields; 'Fence' is defined at Laurel City Code 17.08.460 to include masonry walls, ornamental structures, privacy screens, and shrubs used as a barrier, in addition to conventional post-and-rail/panel/wire fencing. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Laurel Building Department — city-certified for Building (B) and Swimming Pool (SP) only; Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel/Gas permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau at (406) 628-4796 ext. 5304 before starting work.

$100.00 flat fee, per Resolution No. R25-18's Building Permit Fees and Charges table.

Laurel does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Laurel Building Department — city-certified for Building (B) and Swimming Pool (SP) only; Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel/Gas permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau at (406) 628-4796 ext. 5304 for current turnaround.

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

Laurel requires 1 inspection(s) for a fence permit, in order: Building Final. Schedule each through City of Laurel Building Department — city-certified for Building (B) and Swimming Pool (SP) only; Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel/Gas permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau ((406) 628-4796 ext. 5304).

Apply through City of Laurel Building Department — city-certified for Building (B) and Swimming Pool (SP) only; Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel/Gas permits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau at 115 W 1st St, Laurel, MT 59044. Phone: (406) 628-4796 ext. 5304, email: jgonzales@laurel.mt.gov. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (fax (406) 628-2241). Official information: https://cityoflaurelmontana.com/1295/City-Building-Code-Enforcement.

Laurel, 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, WUI, etc.); non-certified trades within a certified jurisdiction, and all trades in 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).; Laurel is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B) and Swimming Pool (SP) ONLY within Laurel city limits — Jason Gonzales is the certified building official of record, (406) 628-4796. Laurel is NOT certified for Electrical (E), Plumbing (P), or Mechanical (M); those permits are issued directly by the state DLI Building Codes Bureau for all addresses within Laurel city limits. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'CITY CODES BUILDING OFFICIAL PHONE JURISDICTION' certified-jurisdictions PDF (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf), updated 04/22/2026 — Laurel row reads 'B, SP / Jason Gonzales / 628-4796 / City Limits'. Legend on that PDF: B = Building, P = Plumbing, M/G = Medical Gas, E = Electrical, M = Mechanical, SP = Pool, W = WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface).; Unincorporated Yellowstone County (outside Laurel and Billings city limits) does not appear on the DLI certified-jurisdictions list at all — every permit type there (Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical) is issued directly by the state Building Codes Bureau, the same routing documented for unincorporated Yellowstone County in the Billings jurisdiction file. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs list.; The City of Laurel's own Building Department webpage confirms this split directly: 'Electrical, Fuel/Gas, Mechanical and Plumbing permits must be obtained through the State of Montana' at bsd.dli.mt.gov/Building-Codes-Permits/permit-applications. Source: City of Laurel Building/Building Code Enforcement page, cityoflaurelmontana.com/building.; 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by City of Laurel Ordinance No. O22-01 (Aug. 9, 2022), codified at Laurel City Code Chapter 14.12, adopted by reference pursuant to MCA 50-60-301(1)(a) as provided by ARM 24.301.131(1)-(3) with Appendix C (Group U — Agricultural Buildings) and modified through ARM 24.301.146(1)-(44); statewide effective June 11, 2022. Section 101.1 amended to read 'Building Code of City of Laurel'; Section 1612.3 amended to reference the Flood Insurance Study for Yellowstone County, Montana and Incorporated Area dated November 6, 2013 (Ord. No. O21-02, 4-13-2021). Source: Laurel, MT Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14.12 (International Building Code, 2021 Edition), library.municode.com/mt/laurel.; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted by City of Laurel Ordinance No. O22-03 (Sept. 13, 2022), codified at Laurel City Code Chapter 14.16, adopted by reference pursuant to MCA 50-60-301(1)(a) as modified by ARM 24.301.154(1)-(24) with Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) as permitted by ARM 24.301.154(2)(a); statewide effective June 11, 2022. Section R101.1 amended to read 'Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings of City of Laurel' (Ord. No. O21-02, 4-13-2021). Source: Laurel, MT Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14.16 (International Residential Building Code, 2021 Edition), library.municode.com/mt/laurel.; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted by City of Laurel, codified at Laurel City Code Chapter 14.18, adopted by reference pursuant to MCA 50-60-301(1)(a) as provided by ARM 24.301.171(1)-(4); statewide effective June 11, 2022. Section 101.1 amended to read 'Existing Building Code of the City of Laurel' (Ord. No. O21-02, 4-13-2021). Source: Laurel, MT Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14.18 (International Existing Building Code, 2021 Edition), library.municode.com/mt/laurel.; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted by City of Laurel, codified at Laurel City Code Chapter 14.22, declared the energy conservation code of the city for design of new buildings/additions, exterior envelopes, and HVAC/service-water-heating/electrical-distribution/illuminating systems; statewide effective June 11, 2022. Sections C101.1 and R101.1 amended to read 'Energy Conservation Code of the City of Laurel' (Ord. No. O21-02, 4-13-2021). Source: Laurel, MT Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14.22 (International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Edition), library.municode.com/mt/laurel.; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted by City of Laurel Ordinance No. O22-01 (Aug. 9, 2022), codified at Laurel City Code Chapter 14.23, adopted by reference pursuant to MCA 50-60-301(1)(a) and ARM 24.301.175(2), as modified by ARM 24.301.175(1)-(6); statewide effective June 11, 2022. Section 101.1 amended to read 'Swimming Pool and Spa Code of the City of Laurel'; Section 105.6.2 amended so fees are set by the city council fee-schedule resolution rather than the model-code fee table (Ord. No. O21-02, 4-13-2021). Laurel is DLI-certified for Swimming Pool (SP) permitting. Source: Laurel, MT Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14.23 (International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2021 Edition), library.municode.com/mt/laurel.; Laurel's Code of Ordinances Title 14 (Buildings and Construction) contains adoption chapters ONLY for the codes Laurel is DLI-certified to enforce (IBC, IRC, IEBC, IECC, ISPSC) — there is no locally-adopted Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, or Fuel Gas chapter in Title 14, corroborating the DLI certified-jurisdictions list: those trades are enforced directly by the state, not the city. Source: Laurel, MT Code of Ordinances, Title 14, library.municode.com/mt/laurel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT14BUCO.; 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) all apply within Laurel city limits as the statewide-adopted editions (effective June 11, 2022) but are administered directly by the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau (Helena), not the City of Laurel, because Laurel holds no local certification for those trades. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Current Codes page, bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes.. Local amendments apply — see the Laurel overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-13.

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