Building Safety in Billings, MT

If you live in Billings or are thinking about moving there, building safety are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Billings has 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of building safety, and some of them might surprise you.

Childcare Center Rules

Billings' Fire Prevention Code amendments classify day care facilities serving more than five children as a Group E occupancy, with lighter treatment for small in-home programs and care during religious services.

Key details: Group E threshold: >5 children, over 2.5 years old. Small program exception: 15 or fewer = primary occupancy. Home daycare exception: 15 or fewer in dwelling = R-3/IRC. Worship-based care: Counts as primary occupancy. Code base: 2021 International Fire Code, locally amended.

Same section's amended Sec. 112.4 makes fire code violations a misdemeanor: up to a $500 fine or 6 months imprisonment, with each continuing day a separate offense.

Building Permits

Billings requires a building permit for most new construction, additions, and alterations under the adopted state building code, with a narrow exemption for small farm and ranch accessory structures.

Key details: Permit required: Yes, under adopted state building code. Completion deadline: 18 months, extendable 12 more. First violation penalty: Up to $300 civil fine. Repeat violation penalty: Up to $500, per day. Farm/ranch exemption: Accessory structures under 1,000 sq ft.

Building without a required permit, or missing the 18-month completion deadline, is a municipal infraction: up to $300 for a first offense, $500 per repeat, each day a separate violation (Sec. 18-1304).

Green Building Code

New construction and major renovations inside Billings' East Billings Urban Revitalization District must rack up at least 5 points from a menu of green building, energy, water, and site measures before the building permit is approved.

Key details: Minimum points required: 5 points, no partial credit. Green certification value: 3 points (third-party rating body). Energy target, new construction: 10% better than current energy code. Applies to: New builds & major renovations in EBURD. Adopted: Ord. No. 21-5748, Jan. 25, 2021.

Building permits inside EBURD are not approved until the applicant's documentation shows a full 5 points achieved -- partial points are not accepted under Sec. 27-901(C)(1)(a).

Building Inspections

Billings requires a city inspection within 48 hours of notice before any new or altered building wiring is energized, plus a separate concealment inspection.

Key details: Inspection window after notice: 48 hours. Concealment inspection notice: 24 hours ahead. Temporary connection allowed: up to 30 days. Enforcing office: City of Billings building official.

Connecting service without a certificate of inspection is unlawful; the city can also order defective wiring disconnected and withhold reconnection until it's made safe.

Plumbing Permits

Billings adopts Montana's state plumbing code by reference and requires a permit for any plumbing installation, alteration, or repair, whether done by a licensed contractor or a homeowner working in their own home.

Key details: Permit required: Before any plumbing work begins. Contractor license: State plumbing or contractor license required. Surety bond: $10,000 required for contractors. Homeowner DIY: Permitted without license, permit still required. Violation penalty: Municipal infraction, civil penalty per day.

Doing plumbing work without a permit, or contracting without a state license and city business tax receipt, is a municipal infraction with civil penalties under Sec. 18-1304; each day of continued violation is a separate offense.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Billings requires every short-term rental, guest homes and tourist homes, to have working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors before the city will issue or renew a rental permit.

Key details: Applies to: Short-term rental units only. Required gear: Smoke, CO, fire extinguisher. Enforced by: Zoning coordinator at permit review. Citation: Sec. 27-1005.O.10.a. Cure period: 30 days before revocation.

Missing detectors count as a fire/safety code violation under Sec. 27-1621.C.2, letting the zoning coordinator deny, or after 30 days uncured, revoke the short-term rental permit.

Fire Sprinkler Requirements

Billings requires automatic fire sprinklers in Group R residential buildings with 5 or more dwelling units, more than 2 stories, or 9 or more transient guests, under its locally amended 2021 International Fire Code.

Key details: Trigger: 5+ dwelling units or 3+ stories. Code basis: 2021 IFC § 903.2.8, locally amended. Alt. compliance: Direct exterior exits, buildings ≤3 stories. Enforcing agency: Billings Fire Department / Fire Marshal.

Building without a required sprinkler system blocks certificate of occupancy under the adopted fire code and can draw a misdemeanor citation under Sec. 14-311, punishable per Sec. 1-110, with each 10-day period of noncompliance a separate offense.

Electrical Permits

Billings adopts the state electrical code by reference and requires an electrical permit before wiring work; only licensed electrical contractors may do the work, though homeowners can wire their own house without a license if they get the permit.

Key details: Permit required: before any electrical work begins. Contractors: state master electrician license required. Homeowner exemption: may wire own home without license. Sequencing: no electrical permit before building permit. Penalty: municipal infraction, daily civil fine.

Violating the adopted electrical code is a municipal infraction with civil penalties under Sec. 18-1304; each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Billings's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Billings is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Billings's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.