Montana permit review deadlines
How long does it take to get a building permit in Montana?
Montana does not set a number of days to approve a permit. Its 2025 law does something narrower: when a permit runs late, the applicant can make the building department show its work.
The department has 7 business days to cite the code sections behind the delay. After that it owes the applicant $50 a day.
See the deadlines ↓Current Montana state-level guidelines
The short answer
We found no statewide deadline in Montana for approving a building permit. Under a 2025 law, if the state or a local building department delays a permit beyond its standard review period for a complete application, or stops work on a project, the applicant can ask for the code text or citations that justify it. The department must answer within 7 business days. If it does not, it must pay the applicant $50 for each day it is late, and the applicant can go to district court.
By project type
Montana permit review deadlines.
Montana's rule is a response deadline, not an approval deadline.
| Project type | Deadline | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Request for the code basis of a delay or stop-work order | 7 business days | The department must provide the code text or citations. |
| Permit approval | No state deadline | Each department sets its standard review period. |
Zoning, subdivision, and other required reviews can be finished before an application counts as complete.
When the clock runs out
What happens when a Montana department does not answer.
Paid to the party that made the request, for each day past the 7 business days.
An aggrieved person can file in district court for relief, including damages. The winning side gets court costs and attorney fees.
Faster permit approvals start with more efficient plan review.
See how your team can spend less time chasing comments, waiting on other disciplines, and tracking down the status of a review, without changing your permitting system or CDP.
Recent changes
What changed, and when.
2025
HB 427 becomes law (Chapter 483)Added to Title 50, chapter 60 of the Montana Code. Covers the state building code and local codes adopted by counties, cities, and towns.
Common questions
Montana building permit deadlines, answered.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Montana?
We found no statewide deadline. Each building department has its own standard review period.
What can I do if my Montana permit is late?
Ask the department in writing for the code text or citations behind the delay. It has 7 business days to respond.
Is a late permit approved automatically in Montana?
No. The law does not approve the permit. It requires an answer, backed by a $50 daily payment and a right to sue.
How do Montana building departments keep up with these deadlines?
Three habits show up in the departments that hit the clock. They check applications for missing items in the first few days. They let building, fire, planning, and engineering review the same plans at the same time. And they track the days left on every review, so a manager can step in before a deadline passes.
Read it for yourself
Sources.
Keep exploring
Deadlines in other states.
If you review plans in Montana
Working under Montana's review clock? See how e-PlanSoft can help you hit it consistently.
Meeting a review deadline starts with a good intake process, disciplines that work together, and a clear view of every review in progress.
Book a demoSee how collaborative review works →This page summarizes public laws, rules, and city review practices in Montana as of November 12, 2026. Deadlines vary by location and permit type. These summaries are for reference, not legal advice. Check the linked sources and local requirements for the rules that apply to your project.