Billings, Montana Building Permit Guide

Inside the city limits, building permits come from the City of Billings Building Division, 316 N 26th St, 5th Floor, Billings, MT 59101 ((406) 657-8270, permits@billingsmt.gov). Billings is a certified local program for its city limits on the state Department of Labor and Industry list, and it requires online submission of every permit through the CityView public portal (cityview.billingsmt.gov/Portal), which also has a fee calculator.

This guide covers the Building Division’s permits, design criteria, fees and time limits inside Billings. The city’s Fences page and Building FAQ give different fence heights; see below.

What requires a building permit in Billings?

Roofing, siding, decks and parking lots need a building permit. Detached sheds not exceeding 200 square feet do not, and site grading on private property needs no permit. Retaining walls four feet or taller, or of any height supporting a surcharge or slope, need a building permit, a design wet-stamped and signed by a Montana licensed engineer, and a site plan reviewed by Planning.

Fences: the city’s Fences page says fences three to six feet high need a permit from the Planning Department ((406) 657-8247), not a building permit, and fences over seven feet need a building permit, designed for a 105 MPH wind load, with a site plan reviewed by Planning. The city’s Building FAQ gives different height thresholds, so confirm the height rule with Planning before building.

Montana adopts one building code, based on the 2024 International Codes from 26 September 2026; a certified local program or the state Building Codes Program enforces it, and the state code does not reach houses of fewer than five units, farm and ranch buildings or private garages unless a local government has made it apply to them. How Montana’s statewide code works

Who handles permitting in Billings?

Billings has not issued building, plumbing, mechanical or electrical permits for work outside its city limits since October 1, 2003. There, certain permits come from the State, and county ordinances may also apply.

Billings design criteria and construction rules

• Residential wind 110 MPH (exposure C), residential seismic zone "A", 42 in. frost depth.
• Minimum design roof snow load 30 psf after reductions, with Pg = 33 for drift or unbalanced loading.
• One- and two-family dwellings are designed per IRC 2021 on the city’s Design Criteria page; the state code is based on the 2024 International Codes from 26 September 2026, so confirm the edition for your filing date.
• Commercial plans must be stamped by a Montana-licensed architect or engineer.
• Sidewalk, curb, gutter and necessary street widening are required on all projects at the time of development.

Phased construction

Billings does not accept phased construction for residential applications, except pouring a monolithic slab for a future garage. Commercial foundation-only permits need foundation plans, load calculations, a site plan with storm drain calculations and a foundation waiver before issuance.

Floodplain

Building in a floodplain inside Billings takes both a City of Billings Floodplain Permit Application and a Joint Application to the State of Montana, under City Municipal Code section 6-1600.

Billings permit costs and fees

Building permit fees are charged on the higher of the total bid price or the most recent valuation table in the Building Safety Journal; the CityView portal’s fee calculator gives an estimate. After-hours inspections, re-inspections and extra plan review cost $45.00 per hour or the City’s total hourly cost, whichever is greater.

Where the state issues the permit, the fee follows a valuation table and plan review is 35 percent of the permit fee; a certified local program sets its own schedule. Montana’s state permit rules

How to get a building permit in Billings

Where the state issues the permit, plan review averages about three weeks, and the building permit must be issued before any trade permit. Montana’s state permit rules

Inspections in Billings

Request building inspections by email or by calling 406.657.8270.

Official Billings permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Billings Building Division
• Billings building FAQs
• Billings design criteria
• Billings fences and retaining walls
• Billings phased construction
• Billings floodplain application instructions
• Montana DLI list of certified building-code jurisdictions

Frequently asked questions

Does a shed need a permit in Billings?

Not a detached shed of 200 square feet or less.

Who permits a fence in Billings?

The Fences page sends fences three to six feet high to the Planning Department and fences over seven feet to the Building Division; the Building FAQ gives different heights, so confirm with Planning at (406) 657-8247.

How long do I have to finish the exterior of a new building in Billings?

Eighteen (18) months from permit issuance, extendable by up to twelve (12) months for unique circumstances.

Simplify Billings permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Prepare and upload the CityView application with the plans the Building Division needs
• Check design loads, retaining walls and fence heights against the city’s rules before filing
• Book inspections and track the 18-month exterior completion deadline

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Montana. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Billings permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.