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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Stillwater County
State permit required for new buildings, alterations, additions, repairs; county development permit may be required for subdivisions, multi-family, commercial/industrial, conditional use permits
Farm and ranch buildings
Mining buildings on mining property
Petroleum refineries and pulp/paper mills (except office and shop buildings)
Residential buildings containing less than five dwelling units (except transient-use buildings)
Private garages and private storage buildings for owner's own use (not commercial enterprise)
- Exempt Farm and ranch buildings
- Exempt Mining buildings on mining property
- Exempt Petroleum refineries and pulp/paper mills (except office and shop buildings)
- Exempt Residential buildings containing less than five dwelling units (except transient-use buildings)
- Exempt Private garages and private storage buildings for owner's own use (not commercial enterprise)
Note: Work may still require local county permits for zoning/development review even if exempt from state building code
Required documents
- Building plans
- Building Permit/Plan Review Application
- Proof of property ownership or authorization
- Building code
- Montana 2021 (based on International Building Code 2021), effective September 2024. Montana plans to adopt 2024 ICC codes in mid-2026.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Average 3 weeks for state plan review
- 01 Contact Stillwater County Planning Department or review development regulations document
- 02 Determine if Coordinated Development Permit is needed (required for multi-family, planned unit developments, commercial/industrial)
- 03 For state building code matters (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, structural), submit Building Permit/Plan Review Application to Montana Department of Labor & Industry via EBIZ.MT.GOV
- 04 County Planning may route development applications internally to County Sanitarian, Floodplain Administrator, GIS/Rural Addressing, and Road and Bridge Department for comment
- 05 Obtain County Coordinated Development Permit (no additional fee for coordination process)
- 06 Obtain State Building Code Permit if required
Typical processing time: Average 3 weeks for state plan review
§ 04
Fee schedule
Stillwater County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Permit fee formula
State fees typically range $5-$15 per $1,000 of project valuation; exact county/state coordination fees require direct contact
Fee schedule not publicly available online; contact county planning or state program
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Contact County Planning Department (phone)
- Contact State Building Codes Program (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- 24 hours notice minimum recommended
Typical sequence: County may require stop-work inspections during development/construction phases; state inspections follow building code phases (underground rough-in, above-ground rough-in, final, etc.)
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Stillwater County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT? ▸
State permit required for new buildings, alterations, additions, repairs; county development permit may be required for subdivisions, multi-family, commercial/industrial, conditional use permits
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: State fees typically range $5-$15 per $1,000 of project valuation; exact county/state coordination fees require direct contact.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT, follow these steps: 1. Contact Stillwater County Planning Department or review development regulations document 2. Determine if Coordinated Development Permit is needed (required for multi-family, planned unit developments, commercial/industrial) 3. For state building code matters (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, structural), submit Building Permit/Plan Review Application to Montana Department of Labor & Industry via EBIZ.MT.GOV 4. County Planning may route development applications internally to County Sanitarian, Floodplain Administrator, GIS/Rural Addressing, and Road and Bridge Department for comment 5. Obtain County Coordinated Development Permit (no additional fee for coordination process) 6. Obtain State Building Code Permit if required
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT typically run Average 3 weeks for state plan review. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT. The following work is generally exempt: Farm and ranch buildings; Mining buildings on mining property; Petroleum refineries and pulp/paper mills (except office and shop buildings); Residential buildings containing less than five dwelling units (except transient-use buildings); Private garages and private storage buildings for owner's own use (not commercial enterprise). Note: Work may still require local county permits for zoning/development review even if exempt from state building code When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Stillwater County, MT via: Contact County Planning Department, Contact State Building Codes Program. 24 hours notice minimum recommended.
last verified March 2026
source Stillwater County Planning Department ↗
entry id permits/montana/stillwater/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Stillwater County Planning Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.