County Building Permits
Hill County, MT - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, Montana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Building code enforcement by state only. No local permit authority.
- Department
- Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry
- Address
- 301 S. Park Avenue, 4th Floor, Helena, MT
- Phone
- 406-841-2056
- BUILDINGCODES@MT.GOV
Online Permit Portal
Platform: State Accela system • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Contact Hill County Planning for zoning: 406-265-5481
- If state building permit required, submit through EBIZ.MT.GOV
- State review (2-3 weeks typical)
- Address comments
- Pay fees
- Permit issued
Typical processing time: 2-3 weeks
Source: Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry
General Requirements
Per state thresholds
- Building code
- Montana 2021 IBC with amendments (adopted June 2022)
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- 1-2% of construction valuation
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ()
- Scheduling deadline
- 24 hours minimum
Typical inspection sequence: Inspector response: 72 hours maximum
Additional Resources
- Building code: Montana 2021 IBC with amendments (adopted June 2022)
- Montana Building Codes
- EBIZ.MT.GOV
- 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 Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hill County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT?
- Per state thresholds
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Hill County, MT?
- Fees are calculated as: 1-2% of construction valuation.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT?
- 1. Contact Hill County Planning for zoning: 406-265-5481 2. If state building permit required, submit through EBIZ.MT.GOV 3. State review (2-3 weeks typical) 4. Address comments 5. Pay fees 6. Permit issued
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT?
- Typical processing time is 2-3 weeks.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Hill County, MT?
- The following work is generally exempt: Farm/ranch; Residential under 5 units; Mining buildings; Private owner-use structures.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Hill County, MT?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: . 24 hours minimum.
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