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§ MT Hill County
County building permits

Unincorporated Hill County

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, Montana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Code adoption
Montana 2021 IBC with amendments (adopted June 2022)
Avg processing
2-3 weeks
Last verified
March 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry

Street address
301 S. Park Avenue, 4th Floor, Helena, MT
Phone
406-841-2056
Email
BUILDINGCODES@MT.GOV
Coverage
Hingham is an unincorporated town within Hill County; building code enforcement handled by state. No local permit authority.
Online portal
EBIZ.MT.GOV
State Accela portal
Website
Department website
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Hill County

New buildings, alterations, additions, repairs per state thresholds

Farm/ranch buildings
Mining buildings
Residential under 5 units
Private owner-use garages
  • Exempt Farm/ranch buildings
  • Exempt Mining buildings
  • Exempt Residential under 5 units
  • Exempt Private owner-use garages
Required documents
  • Complete construction plans
  • Valuation estimate
Building code
Montana 2021 IBC with amendments (adopted June 2022)

Source: Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: 2-3 weeks

  1. 01
    Contact Hill County Planning for zoning verification: 406-265-5481
  2. 02
    If state building permit required, submit through EBIZ.MT.GOV
  3. 03
    Complete construction plans
  4. 04
    Building Permit/Plan Review Application
  5. 05
    Project valuation
  6. 06
    State reviews (2-3 weeks typical)
  7. 07
    Respond to comments
  8. 08
    Pay fees
  9. 09
    Permit issued

Typical processing time: 2-3 weeks

Source: Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Hill County building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Permit fee formula
1-2% of project valuation

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • Contact state inspector with notification (phone)
Scheduling deadline
24 hours minimum before inspection

Typical sequence: Inspector has 72 hours to respond

Source: Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Hill County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT? ▸
New buildings, alterations, additions, repairs per state thresholds
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Hill County, MT? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Hill County, MT are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: 1-2% of project valuation.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT, follow these steps: 1. Contact Hill County Planning for zoning verification: 406-265-5481 2. If state building permit required, submit through EBIZ.MT.GOV 3. Complete construction plans 4. Building Permit/Plan Review Application 5. Project valuation 6. State reviews (2-3 weeks typical) 7. Respond to comments 8. Pay fees 9. Permit issued
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Hill County, MT typically run 2-3 weeks. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Hill County, MT? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Hill County, MT. The following work is generally exempt: Farm/ranch buildings; Mining buildings; Residential under 5 units; Private owner-use garages. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Hill County, MT? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Hill County, MT via: Contact state inspector with notification. 24 hours minimum before inspection.
last verified March 2026 source Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry ↗ entry id permits/montana/hill/hingham
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building & Commercial Measurements Bureau, Montana Department of Labor & Industry before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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