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
State jurisdiction for unincorporated areas in Glacier County unless county has adopted certified local building code enforcement.
- 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 form from EBIZ.MT.GOV or state website
- Complete application with construction plans (required for review)
- Submit application and plans to Montana Building Codes Program via portal or mail
- State building codes staff conducts plan review (average 2-3 weeks if plans are complete)
- Applicant receives plan review comment letter and fee estimate via mail or email
- Applicant responds in writing to all plan review comments
- Upon approval of comments and payment of fees, building permit is issued
- Permittee schedules inspections with state (24 hours notice required; inspector has 72 hours to comply)
- All required inspections must pass before certificate of occupancy
Typical processing time: 2-3 weeks for plan review
Source: Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Building Codes Program
General Requirements
Building permit required for new buildings, alterations, additions, and repairs (unless specifically exempt)
Required Documents
- Building Permit/Plan Review Application
- Construction plans/drawings
- Legal property description
- Building code
- Montana adopted 2021 International Building Codes effective June 9, 2022; 2024 ICC codes planned for adoption mid-2026
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Fees determined on sliding scale based on project valuation and scope; contact program for estimates
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
- Inspector has 72 hours to comply
Typical inspection sequence: Foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, and final inspections required (specific sequence depends on project type)
Additional Resources
- Building code: Montana adopted 2021 International Building Codes effective June 9, 2022; 2024 ICC codes planned for adoption mid-2026
- Owner-builder rules: View rules
- State Building Permit Requirements
- Glacier County Clerk (property records)
- 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?
- Building permit required for new buildings, alterations, additions, and repairs (unless specifically exempt)
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- Fees are calculated as: Fees determined on sliding scale based on project valuation and scope; contact program for estimates.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- 1. Obtain Building Permit/Plan Review Application form from EBIZ.MT.GOV or state website 2. Complete application with construction plans (required for review) 3. Submit application and plans to Montana Building Codes Program via portal or mail 4. State building codes staff conducts plan review (average 2-3 weeks if plans are complete) 5. Applicant receives plan review comment letter and fee estimate via mail or email 6. Applicant responds in writing to all plan review comments 7. Upon approval of comments and payment of fees, building permit is issued 8. Permittee schedules inspections with state (24 hours notice required; inspector has 72 hours to comply) 9. All required inspections must pass before certificate of occupancy
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Glacier County, MT?
- Typical processing time is 2-3 weeks for plan review.
- 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 facilities like dude ranches, hotels, camps); Mining buildings on mining property; Petroleum refineries and pulp/paper mills (except office/shop buildings); Residential buildings containing less than five dwelling units (except transient-use); Private garages and private storage buildings for owner's own use (not commercial enterprise); Buildings classified as Group F or Group M occupancies do not qualify for farm/ranch exemption.
- 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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