Montana Building Codes Program
Our office is located at 301 S. Park Avenue, 4th Floor, Helena MT. You can apply for a permit through our online public portal at: EBIZ.MT.GOV or from the website permit page. For all other services please contact us via phone at (406) 841-2056 or email: BUILDINGCODES@MT.GOV.
Please contact the inspector in your area to discuss your inspection needs. If you are unsure of who your inspector is or how to contact them, please visit our Inspection Areas page to find their contact information. You can also contact the office for assistance.
The Building Codes Program (BC Program) is part of the Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau within the Montana Department of Labor & Industry’s Business Standards Division. The BC Program establishes and enforces statewide codes by issuing permits and performing inspections. The program includes inspection and permitting for Building Codes (building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical), Elevator, and Boiler programs.. In addition, the program administers the Factory-Built Building and Underground Facility Protection Programs. Field inspection staff for the programs are positioned around the state to ensure adequate coverage for inspection and regulation of projects requiring a permit.
In Montana, cities, counties and towns have the option to enforce local building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes, all or in part. These local building code enforcement programs must be certified by the BC Program. The remaining cities, counties and towns that have chosen not to enforce building codes, fall under the jurisdiction of the BC Program.
The Building Codes Program safeguards individuals from potential hazards that are inherent in the construction of new buildings, as well as the enlargement, relocation, repair, alteration, or change in use or occupancy of existing buildings. The program also ensures the safety of boilers and elevators by performing annual inspections. In addition, the program is responsible for adopting a uniform state building code, which is enforced statewide for residential and commercial buildings across Montana.
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Building Codes
The local legislative body of a city, county or town may adopt a building code by ordinance to apply to the city, county or town jurisdictional area. A city, county or town building code may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau...Read More
Code books are available for purchase directly from the publishers....Read More
The purpose of the State Building Code is to provide reasonable uniform standards for construction and construction materials consistent with accepted standards of design, engineering, and fire prevention practices. ARM 24.301.202 requires the codes adopted by certified cities, counties and towns must be same...Read More
Visit this section to view online code books and a list of currently adopted building codes...Read More
This annual conference is presented for Design Professionals, Building Code Officials, Fire Officials, Residential Builders, Commercial Contractors, Inspectors, and other professionals interested in learning about building codes and other related topics.....Read More
Stakeholder Meetings and Building Codes Council Meetings...Read More
HUD 309 Inspections... Read More
Building Codes Bureau rule notice information... Read More
Snow loads shall be determined by the building official. In areas of the state outside of certified city, county and town jurisdictions, the design snow load shall be based on the ground snow loads developed in 'Snow Loads for Structural Design in Montana', Civil Engineering Department, Montana State University, 2004 revised edition... Read More
In July of 2017 House Bill (HB) 365 became law. HB365 requires the State of Montana Department of Labor and Industry to have a program in place that monitors, maintains records, and issues civil penalties for incidences where underground facilities were damaged during excavation.....Read More
There is an underground facility protection advisory council, consisting of 11 members, that exists to advise the department in administration of the program. Council members are appointed by the Governor and serve staggered 3 year terms. For additional contact information and information on council member terms, please visit the Office of the Governor's link for Board Members and Councils at http://boards.mt.gov/.
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Building Permits
Building Codes Associated Permits.....Read More
The purpose of a state building permit is to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards...Read More
The purpose of the electrical permit issuance and electrical inspections is to protect the health and safety of people and property from the danger of electrically caused shocks, fires and explosions; to establish a procedure for determining where and by whom electrical installations are to be made...Read More
Factory-Built Building (FBB) is a factory assembled structure(s) equipped with the necessary service connections and designed to be used with a permanent foundation...Read More
The purpose of the mechanical permit issuance and mechanical inspections is to provide minimum standards to safeguard public, health and welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, locations, operations and maintenance of heating, ventilate...Read More
The purpose of the plumbing permit issuance and plumbing inspection is to protect the public health and welfare by establishing minimum standards for planning, installing, altering, extending, repairing and the maintenance of plumbing systems...Read More
