Great Falls Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Great Falls Building Safety Division within Planning and Community Development reviews plans, issues municipal building permits, and performs construction inspections inside Great Falls city limits. The City’s FAQ states that the State of Montana governs building permits outside the city limits; Cascade County or another local authority may still control planning, access, floodplain, or other land-use matters.

Great Falls building permits and plan review

An owner or authorized agent must apply to the building official before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of a regulated building or building system. Submit the project at the Building Safety Division counter in Civic Center Room 112 and confirm the current forms, plan sets, valuation, contractor licensing, and any site or zoning approvals.

The City’s published review guidance estimates five to ten working days for complete single-family or duplex plans and about 30 business days for complete commercial plans, subject to project complexity and special reviews. Commercial plans may need a Montana-licensed architect or engineer, while electrical and plumbing permits can have separate licensing requirements.

Great Falls inspections and occupancy changes

Call (406) 455-8430 to schedule an inspection, normally on the day before the requested inspection. The City advises that the owner remains responsible for ensuring the contractor obtains all required permits and inspection approvals. Keep approved plans and the permit record available at the site, and do not cover work before the required inspection.

Changing a building’s occupancy can trigger additional plan review, fire review, accessibility, life-safety, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements. Ask the Building Safety Division which final approvals apply to the specific use before opening or moving into a newly constructed or altered space.

Great Falls zoning and code compliance

Setbacks are unique to the applicable zoning district. Planning staff administer the City’s land-development standards, including site improvements and design-review requirements under the official code. For a property outside Great Falls, use the State Building Codes Bureau and the applicable county or municipal planning office rather than this city process.

Official Great Falls contact information

The Building and Planning Divisions list Civic Center, 2 Park Drive South, Room 112, Great Falls, Montana 59401, with (406) 455-8430 and office hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City does not publish an Accela or EnerGov portal for this division; call the office for current submission and permit-status instructions.