County Building Permits
Granite County, MT - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Granite County, Montana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Zoning compliance, floodplain permits, Georgetown Lake Zoning District permits. Note: Granite County does not have a building permit program for structures; building permits are not required by the County.
- Department
- Granite County Planning & Zoning Department
- Address
- 220 N Sansome St, Philipsburg, MT 59858
- Phone
- (406) 859-7023
Application Process
- Contact Granite County Planning & Zoning by phone (406-859-7023) or visit in person at 220 N Sansome St, Philipsburg, MT 59858
- Determine if your property is in the Georgetown Lake Zoning District or floodplain
- For zoning permits: Prepare application with sketch plans showing setback and height of structures
- For floodplain permits: Check FEMA flood maps at https://msc.fema.gov/ to determine floodplain status; submit floodplain permit application if applicable
- Submit application and required documents with applicable fee
General Requirements
Zoning compliance permit for properties in Georgetown Lake Zoning District; floodplain permit for properties within floodplain; septic permit from Tri-County Sanitarian; state building permit may be required for commercial or multi-family structures; electrical/plumbing permits from State of Montana
Required Documents
- For zoning permit: Sketch plans showing setback and height of structures
- For floodplain permit: Proof of location and floodplain status, project description
- Building code
- Montana state building codes apply. Granite County does not enforce local building codes.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- 100
- Permit fee formula
- Zoning Compliance Permit: $100; State Building Permit (if required): 1–2% of building valuation
- Payment note
- No central fee schedule URL located. Contact Granite County Planning directly for current septic and floodplain fees. Septic permit varies; contact Tri-County Sanitarian at (406) 563-4035.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Granite County Planning & Zoning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Not specified for County-level permits. For state-level permits: Contact Montana Building Codes Bureau at (406) 841-2056 for inspection scheduling and procedures.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Montana state building codes apply. Granite County does not enforce local building codes.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Owner-builder rules: View rules
- Montana Building Codes Program
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- 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 Granite County Planning & Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Granite County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Granite County, MT?
- Zoning compliance permit for properties in Georgetown Lake Zoning District; floodplain permit for properties within floodplain; septic permit from Tri-County Sanitarian; state building permit may be required for commercial or multi-family structures; electrical/plumbing permits from State of Montana
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Granite County, MT?
- The minimum permit fee is 100. Fees are calculated as: Zoning Compliance Permit: $100; State Building Permit (if required): 1–2% of building valuation.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Granite County, MT?
- 1. Contact Granite County Planning & Zoning by phone (406-859-7023) or visit in person at 220 N Sansome St, Philipsburg, MT 59858 2. Determine if your property is in the Georgetown Lake Zoning District or floodplain 3. For zoning permits: Prepare application with sketch plans showing setback and height of structures 4. For floodplain permits: Check FEMA flood maps at https://msc.fema.gov/ to determine floodplain status; submit floodplain permit application if applicable 5. Submit application and required documents with applicable fee
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Granite County, MT?
- The following work is generally exempt: Farm and ranch buildings (state level); Private storage buildings used for owner's own use (state level); Residential buildings with fewer than five dwelling units not serving transient guests (state level); Sheds: Up to 200 square feet, max 12 feet high, respecting setbacks (state level; not for habitable purposes or vehicle parking); Additions to existing residential buildings: Non-habitable space (covered entries, decks, lean-tos) (state level); Owner-performed plumbing in residential property (sanitary and potable water piping only) (state level).
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