This is the permit that you will need to use the public right-of-way but not cutting into concrete or asphalt.

Contractor Encroachment Permit Guidance Document

Residential Encroachment Permit Guidance Document

Downtown Sidewalk Encroachment Program Guidance Document 

Application Fee: $100

The City's Downtown Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Program allows downtown businesses to utilize the sidewalks in front of their businesses for advertising, special events, beautification, and other purposes. This program was created to develop a fair and equitable program that will enhance the overall appearance, ambiance and environment of the downtown business district. It was updated in November 2019 to better ensure that downtown remains accessible to pedestrians. A permit is required prior to placing any encroachments on the sidewalk. 

Several significant changes were made to the program. The City created 3 sidewalk zones: the furnishing zone, the pedestrian zone, and the frontage zone. These zones distinguish the locations on the sidewalk where certain activities/encroachments can take place. The frontage zone, the location closest to the building, is where business encroachments are permitted. The size of this zone will vary based on what encroachments exist in the furnishing zone, the area closest to the curb. See the FAQs below for more information on these zones.

Other changes to the program include the creation of a corner triangle area at intersections. Encroachments are not permitted within this area so as to keep pedestrian ramps in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This update also requires that fenced cafe seating areas be removed from the sidewalks between November 1 and April 1. 

Helpful Links

• Downtown Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Program (MuniCode)
• Sidewalk Zone Diagram

Downtown Sidewalk Encroachment District Map

Exclusive Use Permit Guidance Document 

Fenced cafe seating areas in the downtown area are allowed under an exclusive use permit, not a downtown sidewalk encroachment permit.

Once approved they are valid for 10 years but are reviewed annually and require an annual permit fee. They are transferable if the business is sold but only if a request is made to the Director of Public Works within 30 days of the sale of the business. They are only permitted from April 1 through October 31 and must be removed from the sidewalk beginning November 1. 

Fenced cafe seating areas are required to serve alcohol outside of a downtown business establishment. In addition to an exclusive use permit, the applicant must apply for a site plan modification and a Special Use Permit (SUP) to serve alcohol through the City Planning Department. For more information on this process, please contact their office at 406-582-2260. The exclusive use permit will be submitted to the City Public Works Department at the same time that the modification and SUP applications are submitted to the City Planning Department.

An application for an exclusive use permit must be submitted with the following items:

• Site plan depicting the size and location of all requested encroachments as well as other existing obstructions or improvements (trash cans, street lights, signs, bike racks, etc.). This plan must show the square footage of the fenced area as well as the fence design and ingress and egress points. It must depict the width of the pedestrian zone.
• Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the City of Bozeman as additional insured. The State of Montana must also be included for encroachments on Main Street, Rouse Avenue, or Willson Avenue. Insurance coverage must include $1 million per occurrence with a $2 million general aggregate or $750,000 for each claim and $1.5 million per occurrence. This insurance must include coverage for the fenced café seating area.
• Current City of Bozeman business license corresponding to the use requested. 
• Copy of a food purveyor's license or approval statement issued by the Gallatin City-County Health Department.
• Copy of a state-approved alcohol beverage license. Once the permit is approved but prior to constructing the fenced area, an updated copy of the state-approved alcohol beverage license must be submitted that includes the outdoor seating area. 
• Permit Base Fee of $100. This fee will be required after the permit is approved but prior to construction of the fenced area. Variable Fee: This fee is based on the property value as determined by the Montana Department of Revenue, the square footage of the fenced area as well as the timeframe that the fenced area will be in place. 

Revocable film permits are required for any filming that will occur within the city limits of Bozeman, within the public right-of-way or on City property (parks, trails, facilities, etc.). Permits must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to filming to ensure time for review.

The following items must be submitted with the completed application done through Project Dox.

Project Dox Process:

All permits need to be submitted through the new project dox portal (link at the top of this page). You will need to create an account. Once that is done you will select Engineering/Public Works and choose the Film Permit Application. You will fill out the form and hit submit. The system will email you a notification letter which is the application, that will need to be signed by you. The next step you will get an upload and submit task. You will upload all the required documents.

• Signed notification letter (the application that gets emailed to you from Project Dox) 
• Written narrative describing the filming.
• Commercial General Liability Insurance (certificate of insurance and policy endorsement) in the amount of $1 million per occurrence, $2 million annual aggregate. Coverage must include Contractual Liability, Premises and Operations, and Personal Injury.
• Automobile Liability Insurance, if you are using a motor vehicle in the shoot, with minimum limits of $1 million property damage/bodily injury per accident. (if applicable)
• Workers Compensation meeting Montana statutory limits, and Employer’s Liability with minimum $1 million per occurrence, if any employed personnel will be on-site during the filming. (if applicable)

The Commercial General Liability and Automobile Liability policies must name the City of Bozeman, its officers, agents, and employees (and the State of Montana if filming will occur along a State-owned route) as additional insureds.

Example Insurance Document

• Parade & Public Assembly Guidance Document for ProjectDox Upload
• Open Container Safety Plan Document
• Block Party Notification Signature Page
• Guide to throwing a block party
• Example Insurance Certificate

Parade/Public Assembly & Open Container Permit Fees: 

• The permit for general events and neighborhood block parties is $50.00. For events requesting a road closure that the city must close the street, the fee is $350.00. 
• The Open Container Permit is $50. For events requesting a road closure that the city must close the street, the fee is $140.00.
  

The City of Bozeman Public Works Department issues two types of permits for events. Permits are required when 75 or more people are expected to be in attendance or when events will utilize and/or impact the public right-of-way. Parade permits are required for parades, runs, walks, marches, or generally any event that will NOT remain in one location. Public Assembly permits are required for gatherings of people at one location. 

Open Container Waivers are a separate permit. They are required for events that are open to the public or occur in a location generally open to the public where alcohol will be served or sold. More information on alcohol and catering events can be found at the Montana Department of Revenues, Fact Sheet Page.

Bozeman Municipal code Sec. 34.08.080 requires that application's must be filed with the City of Bozeman not more than one hundred eighty (180) days or less than fifteen (15) working days prior to the event so the city has time to consider the date, time, place, and nature of the parade or public assembly, the anticipated number of participants, and the city services required in connection with the event. Permits submitted less than 15 working days prior to the event will be denied.

If you have questions regarding hosting an event in Bozeman, please contact the City Public Works Department at 406-582-2273 or myeykal@bozeman.net. 

PERMITS REQUESTING CLOSURE OF MAIN STREET:
Main Street is a State highway and will not be closed for first time or private events. If an applicant wishes to hold a recurring event on Main Street that has previously been held in another location, written permission from the Montana Department of Transportation must be submitted with the application.

CERTIFIED FLAGGERS/VOLUNTEERS: A minimum of two certified flaggers are required at each street crossing where traffic will be stopped to allow runners to cross. Depending on the crossing, more flaggers may be required. Certified flaggers must attend training approved by the State of Montana. Online training is not accepted.

Volunteers will be required at intersections controlled by stop signs and at street crossings where participants will obey pedestrian laws. In most cases, one volunteer will be required per crossing. Volunteers are not authorized to stop traffic. Their job is to notify drivers at stop signs of oncoming runners/walkers.

Events in City Parks

If you are hosting an event in a city park, you may be required to submit two permits, one to the Public Works Department and one to the Recreation Department. If the event will remain in the park for the duration of the event, you only need to submit a permit through Recreation. If the event involves a run or walk that will leave the park and take place on public streets or sidewalks, you will need to submit an application to Recreation and another to Public Works. The Recreation Department reviews items related to the park while Public Works is concerned with the safety of your participants on the public streets and sidewalks. This is the reason for the separate reviews. If you have questions about using a City park or renting a recreational facility, please contact the Recreation Department at 406-582-2290 or visit their website.

This is the permit you need if you are installing facilities into the right-of-way. If you are cutting concrete or asphalt (potholing) you may need a Street Cut permit also. 

Public ROW Utility Occupancy Guidance Document

Utility Occupancy of Right of Way Guidelines

This permit is needed if you are installing or replacing a new driveway access or sidewalk.

• Sidewalk, Driveway, Curb Cut Guidance Document 
• Residential Driveway Approach and Sidewalk Details
• Sidewalk and Driveway Specifications

This is the permit that you will need if you are cutting into a public right-of-way (street or alley, for example). 

• Street Cut Guidance Document
• Street Cut Permit Fee Calculator
• Insurance Requirements
• Bond Form
• Potential Asbestos Along Wallace Avenue Notice
• Memo Re Updated GIS Map Showing Potential Asbestos Ore

Fire Flow Request

Guidance Document

Description of a Fire Flow:

Some development applications require water flow and pressure information. The most common reasons applicants need to submit for fire flow information are:

• Fire service or sprinkler design, which require static pressure, residual pressure, and approximate flowrate.
• Requests for modeled fire flow in gallons per minute (gpm) at nearest hydrant (at 20 psi residual pressure)
• Confirming there is water service to a site and requesting the static pressure of that service.

If you only need to confirm a water service and request the static pressure at the site, please contact the City’s Water and Sewer Division. For fire flow information, follow the steps outlined within the guidance document.

General Information:
The City of Bozeman (City) maintains a hydraulic model of the municipal water distribution system. The model is considered an “all pipes” model, which includes all active City fire hydrants.

The model can produce a fire hydrant rating curve for a specific hydrant of interest. The fire hydrant rating curve shows the relationship between residual pressure and the available flow for the particular hydrant being analyzed. In general, the output produced from the model includes available fire flow demand and residual pressure.

The applicant is advised that the fire flows produced using the City’s hydraulic model are produced using a specific fire flow hydraulic model scenario. Details surrounding the fire flow scenario utilized within the hydraulic model can be found in the City’s 2017 Water Facility Plan (Section 6.7 Fire Flow Analysis).

In certain situations, the City may not have hydraulic modeled fire flow data. Typically, these areas include parts of the City that have been recently developed but have not been added to the City’s hydraulic model yet.  If the hydrant identified in the flow request is not within the model footprint or the applicant desires a physical flow test, the applicant’s request will be directed to the City’s Water and Sewer Division to schedule a physical test. 

• Trench/Excavation Ventilation Permit for the Bozeman Solvent Site Area
• Sign Installation Form

Starting July 1st, our new City Engineering Permit Fees will go into effect.

Resolution 5588 - Lane Mitigation Fees

Resolution 5589 - Engineering Permit Fees

Exhibit A - Resolution 5588 Lane Mitigation Fee Calculator