County Building Permits
Glacier County, MT - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Glacier County, Montana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
St. Mary and Babb are unincorporated communities in Glacier County administered by state building code program. No local municipal building authority.
- Department
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Program
- Address
- Building and Commercial Measurements Bureau, P.O. Box 200517, Helena, MT 59602
- Phone
- (406) 841-2056
- BUILDINGCODES@MT.GOV
Online Permit Portal
Platform: State online public portal • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Obtain Building Permit/Plan Review Application from state portal
- Complete application with construction plans
- Submit to Montana Building Codes Program
- Plan review conducted (2-3 weeks average)
- Applicant receives comments and fees
- Submit responses and payment
- Permit issued
- Schedule inspections (24 hours notice)
- All inspections must pass for certificate of occupancy
Typical processing time: Average 2-3 weeks
Source: Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Program
General Requirements
New buildings, alterations, additions, repairs
Required Documents
- Building Permit/Plan Review Application
- Construction plans
- Legal property description
- Building code
- Montana 2021 International Building Codes
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Based on project valuation; contact program
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Program to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ()
- Scheduling deadline
- 24 hours notice required
- Time windows
- 72-hour response time
Typical inspection sequence: Foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, final
Additional Resources
- Building code: Montana 2021 International Building Codes
- Owner-builder rules: View rules
- Montana Building Codes Program
- Glacier County Clerk
- License lookup guide: Montana Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Montana Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Montana hub: Montana Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Program before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Glacier County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- New buildings, alterations, additions, repairs
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- Fees are calculated as: Based on project valuation; contact program.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- 1. Obtain Building Permit/Plan Review Application from state portal 2. Complete application with construction plans 3. Submit to Montana Building Codes Program 4. Plan review conducted (2-3 weeks average) 5. Applicant receives comments and fees 6. Submit responses and payment 7. Permit issued 8. Schedule inspections (24 hours notice) 9. All inspections must pass for certificate of occupancy
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- Typical processing time is Average 2-3 weeks.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- The following work is generally exempt: Farm and ranch buildings (except transient-use); Mining buildings on mining property; Petroleum refineries/pulp mills (except office/shop); Residential under 5 units (except transient); Private garages and storage for owner use.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: . 24 hours notice required.
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