Building Permit Exemptions

The building permit exemption survey closed on May 3. Staff compiled results and presented them to the Missoula County commissioners. The commissioners voted in favor of these exemptions at their administrative public meeting on June 18, 2024.

View the resolution with the full list of exemptions under "documents" on the right-hand side, and read the frequently asked questions.

Residents can join the meeting in conference room 206 on the second floor of the County administration building at 199 W. Pine St. You can also join virtually via Microsoft Teams. Find the meeting agenda and link to join at https://missoula.co/bccmeetings. Please note the agenda will be published on Friday, June 14.

Some green house/hoop structure, decks, pergolas, certain additions to existing residential-only buildings, and certain agricultural buildings not meant for human habitation or commercial use are now exempt.

A city, county or town, according to Montana Code Annotated 50-60-102, may adopt codes to ensure buildings within their jurisdiction are built to certain safety standards. These codes are adopted by the Missoula County commissioners, and the commissioners may also adopt exemptions to these codes.

Missoula County has had a building code enforcement program since 2006 through resolution 2006-025, with an agricultural exemption at the time. In 2022, through resolution 2022-070, the County removed the agricultural exemption option because it was being misused.

Current building code exemptions in Missoula County are for:

• structures 200 square feet or less that are used as storage
• decks that are not attached to the building, less than 200 square feet in size, less than 30 inches off grade and are not serving as the primary entrance to a residence

Missoula County has recently heard concerns that building permits also pertain to greenhouses and agricultural buildings, so staff launched a survey to hear what other building permit exemption options, if any, residents would like to see for the County. The survey closed on May 3, and staff are compiling the results of the survey into a report and will present this to the Missoula County commissioners at a public meeting, where the commissioners will make the final decision. Stay tuned for the meeting date!

Please note these exemptions would ONLY apply to building permits issued by the Missoula County Building Division. You will still be required to check with the Planning, Development and Sustainability Department for land use and zoning permits, shoreline and floodplain permits as well as the Environmental Health Department for water and sanitation permits. Also, you would still be required to obtain plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits for the potentially exempt buildings.

Missoula County is one of five other counties in the state that has a building code enforcement program. In areas outside of county or city jurisdictions, the State Building Code Program has jurisdiction. The State follows the Montana Code Annotated for exemption options for residential buildings; however, plumbing and electrical permits are still required for residential buildings in State jurisdiction areas.