Building Energy Code (Montana)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	Montana
Name	Building Energy Code
Incentive Type	Building Energy Code
Applicable Sector	Commercial, Residential
Eligible Technologies	Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
Code Change Cycle	Three-year code review/change cycle. The most recent update became effective on March 26, 2010 (the state's 46 local certified jurisdictions had an additional 90 days to adopt the same code and edition for their jurisdictions. All other areas are under the jurisdiction of the State Building Codes Bureau).
Commercial Code	ARM Title 24, Chapter 301.160 incorporates the 2009 IECC with state amendments and is mandatory statewide. COMcheck may be to show compliance.
Residential Code	ARM Title 24, Chapter 301.160 incorporates the 2009 IECC with state amendments and is mandatory statewide. REScheck may be used to show compliance.
Website	http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/montana
Date added to DSIRE	2006-07-28
Last DSIRE Review	2012-10-08
References	DSIRE

Summary

Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

The energy codes are reviewed on a three-year cycle corresponding to the adoption of new versions of the International Code Conference (ICC) Uniform Codes. Proposed changes are submitted to the Building Codes Bureau. In early November 2008, the Montana Building Codes Bureau began the process to adopt the 2006 ICC. During the introductory meeting, stakeholders and the Bureau agreed instead to wait until the ICC publishes its new codes in March 2009. The adoption process in Montana usually takes about six months.

In spring 2010, Montana adopted the 2009 IECC with state amendments. Following a public hearing in November 2009, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) filed the final adoption notice to amend ARM 24.301.161 with the Secretary of State on March 15 with an effective date of March 26, 2010. The state's 46 local certified jurisdictions had an additional 90 days to adopt the same code and edition for their jurisdictions. All other areas are under the jurisdiction of the State Building Codes Bureau.

Local government code enforcement jurisdictions had 90 days to adopt the state building code once they receive notification from the state of change to the code. If an approved local government code enforcement program does not exist, the State Building Codes Bureau enforces the applicable codes on commercial buildings and residential buildings with five or more dwellings. Three counties and 38 incorporated cities have adopted the state energy code.

H.B. 420, passed in April 2009, allows local city and county jurisdictions with a building code enforcement program to adopt energy conservation standards that are more stringent than the state code. These energy conservation standards must be voluntary and linked to an incentive program for energy conservation, where only buildings receiving an incentive will be required to meet the more stringent standard.

When required by the building official, plans and specifications must be submitted. The building official may also require that plans and specifications be prepared by a licensed architect or engineer. A registered architect or engineer may prepare all energy compliance submissions or COMcheck and REScheck will also be acceptable means of showing compliance.

Incentive Contact

Contact Name	David Cook
Department	Building Codes Bureau
Division	Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Address	PO Box 2000517, Room 430
Address 2	301 S Park
Place	Helena, Montana
Zip/Postal Code	59620-0517
Phone	(406) 841-2053
Website	http://buildingcodes.mt.gov

Contact Name	Paul Tschida
Department	Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Division	Energy and Environmental Assistance
Address	1100 North Last Chance Gulch
Address 2	PO Box 200902
Place	Helena, MT
Zip/Postal Code	59620
Phone	(406) 841-5232
Fax	(406) 841-5091
Email	ptschida@mt.gov
Website	http://deq.mt.gov/energy/default.mcpx

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.