Planning / Zoning / Building
City of East Helena Planning, Zoning, Building, & Subdivisions
East Helena City Limits:
City of East Helena (purple outline) Lewis & Clark County GIS Website
City of East Helena (highlighted)
Zoning & Building Guidelines
Zoning permits and Building permits may be required for any building or construction work, or new business start-ups. This includes new business start-ups in existing buildings, home-based businesses, or minor projects such as fences, on residential or commercial property within the East Helena city limits.
Any required building/construction permits and zoning permits must be approved prior to any work taking place.
The East Helena Zoning Regulations, which includes the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Maps, as well as the various types of zoning applications and fee schedule are available below.
Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Zoning Regulations
Zoning regulations refer to a set of documents that guide land use and development of property within the city limits. The City of East Helena saw a need for zoning regulations as early as 2003 due to the unregulated nature of building development and interest by developers in expanding the city limits. In 2007 interim zoning was passed and in 2009 non-interim zoning was approved and adopted by the East Helena City Council.
The City’s Zoning Regulations are reviewed and on occasion updated by the East Helena Zoning Commission. The Zoning Commission, composed of five residents of the city, also hear Zoning Regulation amendments such as requests for Zoning Ordinance text or Zoning Map amendments by property owners. All changes to the Zoning Regulations by the Zoning Commission must be approved by the City Council prior to final adoption.
Zoning Commission meeting and Public Hearing agendas are posted at City Hall, at the East Helena Post Office, and on the city’s Public Notices page at least 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Zoning Ordinance, Maps, & Fee Schedule
Planning
Planning is a term used to describe the ongoing review, update, and implementation of processes and documents directly concerning the future community development, growth, and land use activities of the city. One of goals of proper planning is to maximize the health and safety of the community.
Documents such as the city’s Growth Policy and Subdivision Regulations are reviewed and updated by the city’s Planning Board, with important public input that assist the councilmembers in tailoring new growth to what the residents and local community members want. The Growth Policy and Subdivision Regulations play a critical role in how the City of East Helena and the surrounding area get developed. All changes and updates to the Growth Policy and Subdivision Regulations by the Planning Board must approved by the City Council prior to final adoption.
The East Helena Planning Board, as specified in Montana law (§§ 76-1-221 to 76-1-224 MCA), is composed of up to seven members total, four residents of the city, one appointed by the County Commission that may live in the city, and two that live outside of the city limits. The current roster of the East Helena Planning Board is available below.
Planning Board meeting and Public Hearing agendas are posted at City Hall, at the East Helena Post Office, and on the city’s Public Notices page at least 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321
Planning Board & Zoning Commission Roster
Growth Policy
Previously known as a “master plan” or “comprehensive plan”, a growth policy is an official document adopted and used by a local government as a general guide regarding development within the community and surrounding area. The growth policy is not a regulatory document, however it is a vital part of establishing growth and future development.
The City of East Helena first adopted a growth policy in 2009 and updated it in 2014. In 2020 and early 2021 the East Helena Planning Board, the public, and important stakeholders, with the financial assistance of a Montana Department of Commerce CDBG grant, went through the public process and updated the 2014 Growth Policy. On May 4, 2021, The East Helena City Council held a public hearing and passed a resolution approving the 2021 Update to the East Helena Growth Policy. Click or tap here, or the icon below, to download a PDF version of the 2021 Growth Policy.
Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions regarding the Growth Policy at (406) 227-5321.
2021 Growth Policy Update
Zoning Applications
Sketch Plan Checklist
• Single Household Dwellings on individual lots.
• Fences.
• Signs that comply with Zoning Ordinance requirements.
• Special temporary uses such as firework stands, etc.
• Accessory structures such as sheds (all home built & store bought), domestic garages, greenhouses, covered parking areas, etc.
Please click or tap on the Sketch Plan Checklist button below to obtain the Checklist and Development Review Application in PDF format.
The completed Development Review Application should be submitted with all associated drawings and documentation to City Hall with the applicable fee. Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Site Plan Checklist
• All developments within the city limits except those that only need a Sketch Plan.
Please click or tap on the Site Plan Checklist button below to obtain the Checklist and Development Review Application in PDF format.
The completed Development Review Application should be submitted with all associated drawings and documentation to City Hall with the applicable fee. Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Conditional Use Permit
• For uses that are permitted as a conditional use in each zoning district as defined in Chapter 3 of the Zoning Ordinance.
Please click or tap on the Conditional Use Permit button below to obtain the Checklist and Development Review Application in PDF format.
Submit with applicable Checklist and Development Review Application with all associated drawings and documentation to City Hall with the applicable fee. Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Zoning Variance Checklist
• Request to change dimensional or numerical requirements specified in the Zoning Ordinance
Please click or tap on the Zoning Variance Checklist button below to obtain the Checklist and Development Review Application in PDF format.
Submit with applicable Checklist and Development Review Application with all associated drawings and documentation to City Hall with the applicable fee. Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.Zoning
Zoning Amendments & Administrative Appeals Checklist
• Zoning Map or Zoning Text Amendments.
• Request to change current zoning designation in the current Zoning or amend or add to the Zoning Ordinance.
Please click or tap on the Zoning Amendment and Administrative Appeal Checklist button below to obtain the Checklist and Development Review Application in PDF format.
Submit with applicable Checklist and Development Review Application with all associated drawings and documentation to City Hall with the applicable fee. Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.Zoning
Development Review Application
• Informal Review.
• Classification of Use
• Public Agency Exemption
• Survey Review
Please click or tap on the Development Review Application button below to obtain the form in PDF format.
Submit material with Development Review Application and Survey, or Site, or Sketch Plan Checklist to City Hall with the applicable fee. Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Building Permits/Codes
Zoning permits and Building permits may be required for any building or construction work. This includes major and building construction projects or minor projects such as fences, on residential or commercial property within the East Helena city limits.
Any required building/construction permits and zoning permits must be approved prior to any work taking place.
Building Permit Applications are submitted after approval of a Zoning Application. The cost of a Building Permit is based on a predetermined formula and depends on the size of the project after submitting the permit application.
The projects listed below require an Information Permit and cost $25.
A. Replacement of external weather side finishes of such structures, e.g., external re-siding.
B. Replacement of the external (i.e., weather side of rafters and trusses) roof covering.
C. Window replacement, in which no change or modification of the header(s) or foundation occur(s).
D. Door replacement, in which no change of the header(s) occur(s).
E. Replacement of interior ceiling covering.
F. Replacement of interior wall covering, e.g., drywall, paneling, finish work.
G. Replacement or installation of cabinets and/or closets only.
Building Permit Applications and Informational Permits, with the appropriate fee, must be submitted to City Hall at 306 E. Main Street in East Helena.
Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Residential 1&2 Family
Electrical Permits
Contact the Montana Department of Labor & Industry at (406) 841-2056 or visit Electrical Permits (mt.gov) for information about electrical permitting. Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with questions at (406) 227-5321.
Subdivision Regulations
August 2020
Administrative Materials
Fee Schedule
Please contact the Administration Department at City Hall with any questions at (406) 227-5321.
Floodplain Information, Maps, & Permit Applications
Zoning Documents & Applications
Click or tap the icon to open the document in PDF format.
Growth Policy
Click or tap the icon to open the document in PDF format.
East Helena Planning Board & Zoning Commission Roster
Click or tap the icon to open the Roster in PDF format.