County Building Permits
Toole County, MT - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Toole County, Montana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Toole County falls under state jurisdiction unless the county has established a certified local building code enforcement program.
- Department
- Montana Building Codes Bureau (State)
- Address
- 301 S. Park Avenue, 4th Floor, Helena, MT 59602
- Phone
- (406) 841-2056
- BUILDINGCODES@MT.GOV
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Accela / EBIZ.MT.GOV • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine if a state building permit is required for your project type
- Complete Building Permit/Plan Review Application with full construction documents
- Submit application through online portal or contact Bureau for guidance
- Bureau reviews plans (average three weeks for review)
- Address any plan review comments and submit written responses
- Pay Building Permit/Plan Review fee
- Building permit is issued upon approval and fee payment
- Conduct work in compliance with approved plans
- Request inspections as required during construction
- Receive Certificate of Occupancy upon final approval
Typical processing time: Three weeks for plan review
General Requirements
State building permits required for most new buildings and significant alterations/additions, with specific exemptions.
Required Documents
- Complete construction documents with architectural seals if required
- Site plans
- Engineering reports (if applicable)
- Building Permit/Plan Review Application form
- Building code
- Montana Building Code 2021 (based on International Building Code 2021), with amendments. Adoption effective September 21, 2024. State also adopted ICC/MBI Standards 1200 and 1205 for off-site construction (September 2024). Transition to 2024 ICC family of codes planned for mid-2026.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- 1-2% of building valuation; fee calculated by the Bureau
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Montana Building Codes Bureau (State) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ()
- Scheduling deadline
- 24 hours advance notice required
Typical inspection sequence: Inspector has 72 hours from notification to perform inspection. Standard inspections required: foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical. Final inspection required before Certificate of Occupancy issued.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Montana Building Code 2021 (based on International Building Code 2021), with amendments. Adoption effective September 21, 2024. State also adopted ICC/MBI Standards 1200 and 1205 for off-site construction (September 2024). Transition to 2024 ICC family of codes planned for mid-2026.
- Owner-builder rules: View rules
- 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 Building Codes Bureau (State) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Toole County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Toole County, MT?
- State building permits required for most new buildings and significant alterations/additions, with specific exemptions.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Toole County, MT?
- Fees are calculated as: 1-2% of building valuation; fee calculated by the Bureau.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Toole County, MT?
- 1. Determine if a state building permit is required for your project type 2. Complete Building Permit/Plan Review Application with full construction documents 3. Submit application through online portal or contact Bureau for guidance 4. Bureau reviews plans (average three weeks for review) 5. Address any plan review comments and submit written responses 6. Pay Building Permit/Plan Review fee 7. Building permit is issued upon approval and fee payment 8. Conduct work in compliance with approved plans 9. Request inspections as required during construction 10. Receive Certificate of Occupancy upon final approval
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Toole County, MT?
- Typical processing time is Three weeks for plan review.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Toole 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/shop buildings); Residential buildings containing less than five dwelling units (except when serving transient guests); Private garages and private storage buildings used for owner's own use (not commercial); Agricultural buildings not intended for human habitation or commercial use (with Agricultural Land Classification approval from Montana Department of Revenue).
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Toole County, MT?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: . 24 hours advance notice required.
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