Great Falls, Montana Building Permit Guide

The Building Safety Division of Planning & Community Development, on the main floor of the Civic Center, Room 112, #2 Park Drive South ((406) 455-8430), issues building permits in Great Falls. The city is a certified program for its city limits only, covering building, plumbing including medical gas, electrical, mechanical, pools and the wildland-urban interface code. Outside the city limits the State of Montana governs, and the city refers those callers to (406) 841-2040.

This guide covers the Building Safety Division’s requirements, review times and fees. The fee figures come from the schedule effective 10/5/2023 and may be out of date because of the automatic yearly increase; the city links no newer schedule. The code list on the city’s FAQ is older than the current state code.

What requires a permit in Great Falls?

A geotechnical report is required for new residential construction, new commercial construction and commercial additions, and any foundation replacement; it may be waived where adjacent investigation data show soil conditions. New homes, or dwellings enlarged by at least 50%, need landscape submittals. Sidewalk, curb, gutter and street widening are required at development, though the City Engineer may accept an SID Waiver of Protest where they are not appropriate.

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 Great Falls?

Great Falls has no Design Review Board; design standards in Title 17, Chapter 28 of the Official Code of the City of Great Falls are administered by city planning staff. Contractors need a valid City of Great Falls license as well as State of Montana registration.

Building codes in Great Falls

The city’s FAQ lists its adopted codes as the 2021 IRC, IBC, IMC and IFGC, the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, the 2020 National Electrical Code, the 2021 International Energy Code and the 2012 International Fire Code. The state code has been based on the 2024 International Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code since 26 September 2026, so the FAQ list looks out of date; confirm the editions with the Building Safety Division before drawing plans.

Great Falls permit costs and fees

Permit fees rise automatically by 2.5% each July 1 (authorized July 2011) unless the Building Fund balance exceeds $600 000 on June 30, so these 2023 figures may no longer be current. Valuations deemed too low are replaced by the ICC Building Valuation Data. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits use a base issuance fee plus per-fixture or per-appliance fees.

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 permit in Great Falls

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 Great Falls

Call inspections in to Planning & Community Development at (406) 455-8430 on the day before they are needed. For a same-day slot, leave a voicemail before 7:00 a.m. on the day.

Official Great Falls permitting resources

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

• Great Falls Building Division FAQs
• Great Falls building permit fees
• Great Falls building fee schedule (10/5/2023)
• Montana DLI list of certified building-code jurisdictions

Frequently asked questions

Does a new house in Great Falls need a soils report?

Yes. A geotechnical report is required for new residential construction unless adjacent investigation data show the soil conditions.

Are the Great Falls fee figures current?

They come from the schedule effective 10/5/2023, and fees rise automatically by 2.5% each July 1 unless the Building Fund balance exceeds $600 000, so confirm the current amounts.

How fast is plan review in Great Falls?

Initial review takes 5-10 working days for single-family and duplex homes and 30 business days for commercial work.

Simplify Great Falls permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Assemble the plan sets, geotechnical report and landscape submittals Great Falls asks for
• Confirm the current fee and code editions with the Building Safety Division before filing
• Book inspections and track the permit through to final

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 Great Falls permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.