Cabinet Permits in Bozeman and Gallatin County | Who issues what, town by town

Cabinets and countertops are exempt

Montana has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code, effective June 11, 2022. Section R105.2 of the IRC lists work exempt from building permits, and cabinets and countertops are among the exemptions. The City of Bozeman publishes this exemption as well. Replacing cabinets without changing plumbing, wiring or structure does not need a building permit.

What usually does need a permit

• Moving or adding plumbing, such as a new sink location, bar sink or pot filler.
• New circuits, outlets or lighting, including island outlets and under-cabinet lighting circuits.
• Removing or altering walls, especially structural ones, and cutting new openings.
• Gas line work for ranges and cooktops.
• Range hoods over 400 cfm, which need makeup air under IRC M1503.6.

Who issues permits, town by town

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry keeps a list of local governments certified to run their own permit programs. The list updated on August 14, 2025 shows the following for our service area.

Unincorporated Gallatin County includes Four Corners, Big Sky (Gallatin side), Gallatin Gateway, Churchill, Amsterdam, Bridger Canyon, Bear Canyon, Springhill, Menard, Central Park, Sedan, Anceney and Willow Creek. Gallatin County does not issue building permits itself. The Madison County side of Big Sky also falls to the state.

The residential exemption outside certified cities

Under MCA 50-60-102, residential buildings of fewer than five units, farm and ranch buildings and private garages are exempt from the state building code outside certified jurisdictions. The state energy code still applies to new homes, met through builder self-certification. State plumbing and electrical permits still apply to trade work.

Lodging and nightly rentals

ARM 24.301.146 excludes buildings that provide sleeping accommodations for a fee to transient guests from the residential exemption. That matters in Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Ennis and other areas with nightly rentals and lodges. If a property is rented to guests, check with the Department of Labor and Industry before remodelling.

Older homes and lead paint

In homes built before 1978, the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule requires certified firms and lead-safe work practices when renovation disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface inside the home. It is not a permit, but it applies to cabinet removal, refinishing and wall work in older houses.

Commercial work

Commercial cabinetry is part of the building permit for the project. Montana adopts ICC A117.1-2017 for accessibility, which sets accessible work surface heights of 28 to 34 inches with knee clearance where required.

Where to go from here

Once you know which office handles the trade work, the cabinets themselves are the easy part. See what we build and how a project runs on the Custom Cabinets Bozeman MT home page, where you can also book a free site measure.