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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESMONTANAYELLOWSTONE COUNTY
FILE 30111 · COUNTY OF YELLOWSTONESEAT · BILLINGSPOPULATION · 165KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Yellowstone.

Yellowstone County in Montana. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Billings
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Yellowstone County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatBillings
Population (est.)165K
FIPS30111
Building departmentYellowstone County Planning and Building Department
Permit portalYellowstone County Online Permit Portal
Fire marshalYellowstone County Fire Marshal
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Yellowstone
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 30111
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

Yellowstone County enforces the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code with local amendments.

The City of Billings operates its own independent building and permitting department for properties within city limits. Yellowstone County handles permitting and zoning for all unincorporated areas of the county. Development in flood-prone areas along the Yellowstone River requires additional floodplain development permits.

The county enforces specific subdivision regulations and septic system permitting requirements for all properties located outside of municipal sewer service areas.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Montana Department of Labor and Industry. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · Yellowstone County Planning and Building DepartmentLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must be registered with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, but no additional local registration is required for Yellowstone County.

Building

Yellowstone County Planning and Building Department

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

Yellowstone County Online Permit Portal

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Yellowstone County Planning Department

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Yellowstone County Fire Marshal

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Yellowstone County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Required with employees; independent contractor status matters
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
Yellowstone County Planning and Building Department
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Local/project bonds vary
State or county
County overlayContractors must provide proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage as required by Montana state law.
Verify
Varies
Yellowstone County Planning and Building Department
Source · Yellowstone County Planning and Building DepartmentVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Yellowstone County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

BillingsYellowstone County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Yellowstone County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Montana Department of Labor and Industry

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/montana
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

Yellowstone County Planning and Building Department

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

Yellowstone County Online Permit Portal
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Yellowstone County Planning Department

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Yellowstone County Fire Marshal

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Yellowstone County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Yellowstone County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (Yellowstone County Planning and Building Department). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · Yellowstone County Planning and Building Department
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Yellowstone County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←