Bozeman, MT Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Application abandoned
- 180 days after filing unless pursued in good faith
- Permit invalid
- Work not commenced within 180 days after issuance
- Work-without-permit fee
- Not more than twice the permit fee, added to required fees
- Renewal within one year
- New permit at one-half the new permit fee, no plan changes
- Refund
- 80 percent if no inspections made and work abandoned or postponed
- Fee schedule
- Adopted by resolution of the city commission
Summary
In the City of Bozeman, Montana, a building permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days after issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days. Anyone who starts work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits pays an added fee of not more than twice the permit fee.
B.Plan review; permit expiration; work without valid permit. ... 2.Permit expiration. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after issuance, or, if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. ... 4.Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to an additional fee as established by the building division that shall be in addition to the required fees. The fee shall not be more than twice the permit fee amount.
Full Breakdown
Section 10.02.020 of the Bozeman Municipal Code sets the permit timeline and the penalty for starting early in the City of Bozeman. The scope of work that needs a permit comes from the adopted International Building Code, which section 10.02.030 says regulates the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, equipment, use, height, area and maintenance of buildings and structures, and provides for the issuance of permits and collection of fees.
The building division must charge fees for permits, plan checks and other work. Charges can be flat or scaled, and building division fees are adopted by resolution of the city commission. When new construction types or administrative procedures call for a new fee type, the city manager can approve it by administrative order, and the city commission must then adopt the fee schedule by resolution within 90 days.
An application for a permit is deemed abandoned 180 days after filing unless it has been pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued. The building official or designee can grant one or more extensions of not more than 90 days each, requested in writing with justifiable cause shown. An issued permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after it begins. Extensions of not more than 180 days each are available on written request.
Renewal has three tiers. After a plan review expires, the applicant must resubmit plans and pay a new plan review fee. To renew an expired permit, a new permit is obtained at one-half the amount required for a new permit, provided no plan changes are made and the suspension has not exceeded one year. Past one year, the permittee pays a new full permit fee.
Refunds are limited. Plan review fees are not refunded once review has been performed, and 80 percent is refunded if review has not commenced. Permit fees are not refunded once work has commenced and inspections have been made.
Violations & Fines
Starting work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits adds a fee set by the building division, not more than twice the permit fee, on top of the required fees. Violating Chapter 10 or a permit's terms is a misdemeanor under section 10.02.100, with a fine not exceeding $500.00 plus costs, and each day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bozeman
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