Homesteading in Montana
Explore 56 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in Montana.
Montana uses a Prior Appropriation water rights system , allows county-level building code enforcement , and has constitutional carry. The effective property tax rate is 0.74%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Prior Appropriation
Prior appropriation doctrine. New appropriations require a permit from DNRC. Ongoing statewide adjudication of pre-1973 rights.
Statute: Mont. Code Ann. § 85-2-101 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: No (county-level)
No mandatory statewide residential building code for areas outside municipalities. Cities and counties may adopt codes locally.
Statute: Mont. Code Ann. § 50-60-101 et seq.
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: Yes
Permitless concealed carry statewide for persons 18 and older effective 2021. Open carry legal without a permit.
Statute: Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-317; Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-321
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from nuisance claims if in operation for at least three years. Applies when surrounding land use has changed after the farming operation was established.
Statute: Mont. Code Ann. § 27-30-101 et seq.
Counties in Montana
56 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead County | 9,469 | $278,300 | $1,791 | 67 | Relatively Low |
| Big Horn County | 13,090 | $159,700 | $1,506 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Blaine County | 7,030 | $119,400 | $1,872 | 55 | Relatively Low |
| Broadwater County | 6,977 | $335,700 | $2,083 | 63 | Very Low |
| Carbon County | 10,645 | $355,600 | $2,060 | 67 | Relatively Low |
| Carter County | 1,332 | $140,900 | $883 | 60 | Very Low |
| Cascade County | 84,423 | $227,600 | $2,154 | 59 | Relatively Moderate |
| Chouteau County | 5,897 | $172,000 | $1,356 | 57 | Very Low |
| Custer County | 11,957 | $201,000 | $2,127 | 63 | Very Low |
| Daniels County | 1,535 | $162,300 | $1,436 | 54 | Very Low |
| Dawson County | 8,915 | $197,100 | $2,171 | 53 | Relatively Low |
| Deer Lodge County | 9,435 | $175,700 | $1,564 | 64 | Very Low |
| Fallon County | 2,941 | $231,300 | $1,371 | 57 | Very Low |
| Fergus County | 11,496 | $175,800 | $1,527 | 59 | Relatively Low |
| Flathead County | 105,950 | $414,200 | $2,727 | 56 | Relatively Moderate |
| Gallatin County | 119,685 | $526,700 | $3,423 | 66 | Relatively Moderate |
| Garfield County | 976 | $164,900 | $1,342 | 59 | Very Low |
| Glacier County | 13,781 | $139,400 | $1,244 | 54 | Relatively Low |
| Golden Valley County | 841 | $138,900 | $929 | 62 | Very Low |
| Granite County | 3,368 | $283,300 | $1,910 | 62 | Very Low |
| Hill County | 16,238 | $183,300 | $2,019 | 54 | Relatively Low |
| Jefferson County | 12,273 | $354,700 | $2,114 | 64 | Very Low |
| Judith Basin County | 2,039 | $206,000 | $974 | 60 | Very Low |
| Lake County | 31,509 | $337,700 | $2,395 | 58 | Relatively Low |
| Lewis and Clark County | 71,487 | $332,000 | $2,807 | 60 | Relatively Low |
| Liberty County | 1,993 | $118,300 | $1,308 | 55 | Very Low |
| Lincoln County | 20,157 | $233,400 | $1,396 | 55 | Relatively Low |
| McCone County | 1,746 | $186,700 | $1,433 | 58 | Very Low |
| Madison County | 8,742 | $375,200 | $1,692 | 66 | Very Low |
| Meagher County | 1,948 | $205,900 | $1,427 | 62 | Very Low |
| Mineral County | 4,652 | $274,700 | $1,585 | 60 | Very Low |
| Missoula County | 118,541 | $382,400 | $3,576 | 60 | Relatively Low |
| Musselshell County | 4,924 | $222,200 | $1,521 | 62 | Very Low |
| Park County | 17,320 | $399,900 | $2,358 | 66 | Relatively Low |
| Petroleum County | 416 | $152,600 | $1,298 | 60 | Very Low |
| Phillips County | 4,233 | $178,100 | $1,445 | 56 | Very Low |
| Pondera County | 5,987 | $172,000 | $1,680 | 56 | Very Low |
| Powder River County | 1,773 | $167,500 | $1,236 | 66 | Very Low |
| Powell County | 6,998 | $226,600 | $1,720 | 61 | Very Low |
| Prairie County | 1,283 | $140,600 | $1,421 | 61 | Very Low |
| Ravalli County | 44,876 | $378,400 | $2,125 | 64 | Relatively Low |
| Richland County | 11,366 | $245,900 | $1,825 | 52 | Relatively Low |
| Roosevelt County | 10,799 | $112,800 | $1,487 | 50 | Relatively Low |
| Rosebud County | 8,310 | $159,900 | $1,085 | 63 | Relatively Low |
| Sanders County | 12,615 | $285,300 | $1,653 | 58 | Relatively Low |
| Sheridan County | 3,700 | $121,800 | $1,459 | 48 | Very Low |
| Silver Bow County | 35,306 | $195,800 | $2,153 | 64 | Very Low |
| Stillwater County | 8,978 | $316,200 | $2,017 | 65 | Very Low |
| Sweet Grass County | 3,697 | $271,100 | $1,472 | 65 | Very Low |
| Teton County | 6,238 | $217,200 | $1,813 | 57 | Very Low |
| Toole County | 5,018 | $166,200 | $1,642 | 54 | Very Low |
| Treasure County | 680 | $210,700 | $1,263 | 63 | Very Low |
| Valley County | 7,552 | $183,200 | $1,915 | 56 | Very Low |
| Wheatland County | 2,060 | $163,200 | $1,061 | 62 | Very Low |
| Wibaux County | 1,119 | $101,800 | $700 | 54 | Very Low |
| Yellowstone County | 165,524 | $289,300 | $2,556 | 64 | Relatively Moderate |
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