To provide better service for our valued customers, we urge you to read over this information. For those of you purchasing sheds in Montana please familiarize yourselves with the permitting regulations in your area to understand what city, county, or state permitting and regulations are required. For best results start with the city permitting and regs then move on to the county and state if needed. We have included links for the counties and cities of the state of Montana.
We customize our sheds to conform to regulations, zoning requirements, and safety standards within our cities, counties, and the State of Montana. The following will help guide you through the permitting process here in Big Sky country concerning permit requirements, the application process, and possible outcomes of not being properly permitted.
STATE OF MONTANA BUILDING PERMITS
State and local governments have established regulations and standards in the construction of buildings, and a permit system has been adopted to promote the use of these practices to safeguard the public’s health and welfare. You will find the cities and counties in the state of Montana follow permitting protocols based on the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC), providing detailed guidelines for a variety of construction projects.
SHED PERMIT REQUIRED IN MONTANA
The definition of a building encompasses the shed as well; therefore for any non-exempt building, a permit must be obtained prior to its construction from either the local government or the state. This applies whether it’s new, being renovated, relocated, or changing its purpose.
Most Montana cities and counties exempt any shed less than 200 square feet. Here are the pertinent details.
EXEMPT VS. NON-EXEMPT SHEDS
Measurements may vary within each city or county in the state of Montana; however, exempt sheds usually have the following criteria in common:
Sheds with a maximum size up to 200 square feet, with a maximum height up to 12 feet, and with a footprint respecting all setbacks are usually exempt.
Sheds that do not fall under this category may require permitting.
For those sheds requiring permitting or engineered specifications, we will construct them as per mandated regulations and prevailing building codes. Prices may be adjusted to accommodate for extra requirements.
If you have questions or are uncertain about whether your project requires a building permit, you can reach out to the Building Codes Bureau at (406) 841-2056.
For cost of permit you can figure between 1-2% of the building value including all finish work, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire systems, and permanent equipment. However, exempt sheds may have other fees assessed.
Use the attached link to figure out the cost of the State of Montana shed permit cost.
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR SHED PERMITS
First and foremost in this application process contact your city or county first. Please refer to Montana Towns Building Permits for contact information.
Obtain appropriate permit applications, complete them as required, provide site plans with detailed information, and location footprint on the property. The entity where you obtained the permit application will advise you as to the permit submission process, and some cities and counties offer online services to accommodate this process. The application will be reviewed by the planning board which will verify compliance with all zoning requirements, property setbacks, and building codes. To allow for quicker approval, ensure your plans and application align with all regs.
Considerations: If your shed does not conform to all regulations, you have some options to explore. Remember building codes and regulations ensure safety, zoning compliance, overall well-being of the community, and neighborly love. A variance is one of the important options to explore in bringing your shed into compliance with regs. The planning board may offer it, and it will need to pass a process outlined by the city or county.
Other options consist of modifying the structure or relocating it. Depending on the code regulation in violation, you may be able to modify the shed bringing it into compliance, such as resizing, repositioning, or altering the structure in other ways. If the shed has already been built you may need to relocate it.
Here at Summit Structures, we can meet most if not all of the requirements through our shed design process.
Other Considerations: Often you are required to have a building permit prior to construction or moving in a shed. However, arrangements can be made to begin without a permit due to Montana’s limited construction-friendly weather, for example, in pouring footings or foundations before a permit is granted.
By not following the permitting process, several things could occur but are not limited to substantial fines, grievances from neighbors, liens being placed on your property, penalties enforced by the Homeowner’s Association, structural issues, or you might face the necessity to relocate or rebuild your shed.
Montana Towns Building Permits
Montana Department of Labor and Industry Business Standards Division
https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/permit-applications/building-permits/
| City | County | Pop. | |
| Alberton | Mineral | 420 | (406) 722-3404 |
| Anaconda | Deer Lodge | 9,298 | https://www.adlc.us/187/Planning |
| Bainville | Roosevelt | 208 | (406) 769-2621 |
| Baker | Fallon | 1,741 | https://www.bakermontana.us/city-forms |
| Bearcreek | Carbon | 79 | (406) 446-1221 |
| Belgrade | Gallatin | 7,389 | http://ci.belgrade.mt.us/building/ |
| Belt | Cascade | 597 | 406-277-3621 |
| Big Sandy | Chouteau | 598 | (406) 378-2350 |
| Big Timber | Sweet Grass | 1,641 | https://sweetgrasscountygov.com/government-departments/other-departments/planning/zoning/ |
| Billings | Yellowstone | 106,954 | https://ci.billings.mt.us/Faq.aspx?QID=63 |
| Boulder | Jefferson | 1,183 | https://www.cityofbouldermt.com/zoning-permit-application |
| Bozeman | Gallatin | 37,280 | https://www.bozeman.net/departments/community-development/building |
| Bridger | Carbon | 708 | 406-662-3677 |
| Broadus | Powder River | 468 | (406) 436-2409 |
| Broadview | Yellowstone | 192 | (406) 667-2173 |
| Browning | Glacier | 1,016 | (406) 338-2344 |
| Butte | Silver Bow | 34,525 | https://www.co.silverbow.mt.us/131/Building-Code-Enforcement |
| Cascade | Cascade | 685 | 406-468-2808 |
| Chester | Liberty | 847 | (406) 759-5635 |
| Chinook | Blaine | 1,203 | (406) 357-3160 |
| Choteau | Teton | 1,684 | (406) 466-2510 |
| Circle | McCone | 615 | 406-485-2524 |
| Clyde Park | Park | 288 | (406) 686-4719 |
| Colstrip | Rosebud | 2,214 | https://rosebudcountymt.gov/departments/county-planner/ |
| Columbia Falls | Flathead | 4,688 | https://www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org/building/page/permits-applications |
| Columbus | Stillwater | 1,893 | https://www.townofcolumbus.com/public-works-zoning/ |
| Conrad | Pondera | 2,570 | 406.788.3398 |
| Culbertson | Roosevelt | 714 | (406) 787-5271 |
| Cut Bank | Glacier | 2,869 | https://www.cityofcutbank.org/permits/ |
| Darby | Ravalli | 720 | http://www.darbymt.net/a/a-hrefhttpwww-darbymt-netagovernment1office-staffdarby-forms-target_blankforms-and-documents/ |
| Deer Lodge | Powell | 3,111 | https://deerlodgecity.com/fee-schedules |
| Dillon | Beaverhead | 4,134 | 406-683-4245 |
| Dodson | Phillips | 124 | (406) 301-0256 |
| Drummond | Granite | 309 | 406-288-3231 |
| Dutton | Teton | 316 | https://townofdutton.com/forms406-476-3311 |
| East Helena | Lewis and Clark | 1,984 | https://easthelenamt.us/coeh/planning-zoning-building/ |
| Ekalaka | Carter | 332 | (406) 775-8731 |
| Ennis | Madison | 838 | (406) 682-4287 |
| Eureka | Lincoln | 1,037 | https://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/depts/pw/building/default.asp |
| Fairfield | Teton | 708 | (406) 467-2510 |
| Fairview | Richland | 840 | (406) 742-5616 |
| Forsyth | Rosebud | 1,777 | http://cityofforsythmo.com/page11.html |
| Fort Benton | Chouteau | 1,464 | https://www.cityoffortbenton.com/online-documents |
| Fort Peck | Valley | 233 | (406) 526-3220 |
| Froid | Roosevelt | 185 | (406)766-2202 |
| Fromberg | Carbon | 438 | (406) 668-7383 |
| Geraldine | Chouteau | 261 | (406) 737-4361 |
| Glasgow | Valley | 3,250 | https://www.cityofglasgowmt.com/services1 |
| Glendive | Dawson | 4,935 | https://www.dawsoncountymontana.com/departments/planning/zoning.php |
| Grass Range | Fergus | 110 | (406) 428-2174 |
| Great Falls | Cascade | 58,505 | https://greatfallsmt.net/planning/residential-building-permits |
| Hamilton | Ravalli | 4,348 | http://www.cityofhamilton.net/business/permits_and_applications/index.html |
| Hardin | Big Horn | 3,505 | http://www.hardinmt.com/Building.html |
| Harlem | Blaine | 808 | (406) 353-2361 |
| Harlowton | Wheatland | 997 | (406) 632-5523 |
| Havre | Hill | 9,310 | https://www.ci.havre.mt.us/public-works 406 265 4941 |
| Helena | Lewis and Clark | 28,190 | https://www.helenamt.gov/community-development/building |
| Hingham | Hill | 118 | (406) 397-3146 |
| Hobson | Judith Basin | 215 | (406) 423-5292 |
| Hot Springs | Sanders | 544 | (406) 741-2751 |
| Hysham | Treasure | 312 | 406-342-5544 |
| Joliet | Carbon | 595 | (406) 962-3567 |
| Jordan | Garfield | 343 | (406) 557-2692 |
| Kalispell | Flathead | 19,927 | https://www.kalispell.com/268/Permits |
| Kevin | Toole | 154 | (406) 337-2141 |
| Laurel | Yellowstone | 6,781 | https://cityoflaurelmontana.com/building |
| Lavina | Golden Valley | 187 | (406) 636-2025 |
| Lewistown | Fergus | 5,901 | https://www.cityoflewistown.com/services/building-dept |
| Libby | Lincoln | 2,628 | https://cityoflibby.com/departments-services/building-inspector/ |
| Lima | Beaverhead | 221 | (406) 276-3521 |
| Livingston | Park | 7,044 | https://www.livingstonmontana.org/buildingplanning “Then click on Building Department” |
| Lodge Grass | Big Horn | 428 | (406) 639-2362 |
| Judith Gap | Wheatland | 126 | (406) 473-2249 |
| Malta | Phillips | 1,997 | (406)344-3426 |
| Manhattan | Gallatin | 1,520 | http://www.townofmanhattan.com/building-zoning |
| Medicine Lake | Sheridan | 225 | (406) 789-2422 |
| Melstone | Musselshell | 96 | 406-358-2301 |
| Miles City | Custer | 8,123 | 406-234-6339 |
| Missoula | Missoula | 66,789 | https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/433/Building-Permit-Information-Applications |
| Moore | Fergus | 193 | (406) 374-2480 |
| Nashua | Valley | 290 | (406) 746-3461 |
| Neihart | Cascade | 51 | (406) 236-5301 |
| Opheim | Valley | 85 | (406) 762-3355 |
| Outlook | Sheridan | 47 | (406) 895-2226 |
| Philipsburg | Granite | 820 | https://www.townofphilipsburgmt.com/ |
| Plains | Sanders | 1,048 | (406) 826-3411 |
| Plentywood | Sheridan | 1,734 | (406) 765-3411 |
| Plevna | Fallon | 162 | 406-772-5001 |
| Polson | Lake | 4,598 | https://www.cityofpolson.com/building/page/building-permits-and-applications |
| Poplar | Roosevelt | 810 | 406-768-3483 |
| Red Lodge | Carbon | 2,125 | (406) 446-0196 |
| Rexford | Lincoln | 105 | (406) 297-2439 |
| Richey | Dawson | 177 | (406) 225-3381 |
| Ronan | Lake | 1,871 | https://cityofronan.org/departments/planning-department/ |
| Roundup | Musselshell | 1,788 | (406) 323-2804 |
| Ryegate | Golden Valley | 245 | (406) 568-2320 |
| Saco | Phillips | 197 | (406) 527-3312 |
| Scobey | Daniels | 1,017 | https://cityofscobey.com/2163/Zoning |
| Shelby | Toole | 3,376 | https://www.shelbyal.com/236/Permits-and-Inspections |
| Sheridan | Madison | 642 | (406) 842-5431 |
| Sidney | Richland | 5,191 | https://www.richland.org/609/Building-Permit |
| Stanford | Judith Basin | 401 | (406) 566-2251 |
| Stevensville | Ravalli | 1,809 | https://www.townofstevensville.com/building |
| St. Ignatius | Lake | 842 | (406) 745-3791 |
| Sunburst | Toole | 375 | (406) 937-2141 |
| Superior | Mineral | 812 | 406-822-4672 |
| Terry | Prairie | 605 | (406) 635-5411 |
| Thompson Falls | Sanders | 1,313 | (406) 827-3557 |
| Three Forks | Gallatin | 1,869 | (406) 285-3431 |
| Townsend | Broadwater | 1,878 | 406-266-3911 |
| Troy | Lincoln | 938 | (406) 295-4151 |
| Twin Bridges | Madison | 375 | (406) 684-5243 |
| Valier | Pondera | 509 | (406) 279 3721 |
| Virginia City | Madison | 190 | (406) 843 3007 |
| Walkerville | Silver Bow | 675 | See Butte |
| Westby | Sheridan | 168 | (406) 385-2445 |
| West Yellowstone | Gallatin | 1,271 | https://www.townofwestyellowstone.com/business/forms/ |
| Whitefish | Flathead | 6,357 | https://www.cityofwhitefish.org/191/Building-Permits-Inspections |
| Whitehall | Jefferson | 1,038 | http://townofwhitehall.org/building-permit/ |
| White Sulphur Springs | Meagher | 939 | https://www.whitesulphurspringsmontana.com/building-related-forms |
| Wibaux | Wibaux | 589 | (406) 796-2412 |
| Winifred | Fergus | 208 | (406) 462-5425 |
| Winnett | Petroleum | 182 | (406) 429-5451 |
| Wolf Point | Roosevelt | 2,621 | 406-653-1852 |
City Applications Generic
http://www.cityapplications.com/building-permits/MT-Montana/bldg-Montana.html
Montana Department of Labor and Industry-MONTANA BUILDING CODES PROGRAM
https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/
Montana County Websites
