Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-11
6 of Montana's 56 counties — 11% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 36th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Lincoln County (74/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 1516 counties nationwide → Montana: no building codes → Montana: no zoning → Montana: no codes, no zoning → Montana: no minimum home size → Full Montana profile →
6 of 56 Montana counties · sorted by Index score
Because Montana law exempts single-family residences from state building permit requirements and Lincoln County has no local building code program, an owner may build their own …
Montana DLI Building Permit FAQ ↗With no county residential building code, owners may build their own single-family homes; a homeowner is also exempt from wastewater-installer licensing on their own property.
Beaverhead County Wastewater System Regulations ↗Statewide rule. An owner working on the owner's property under Montana construction-contractor licensing law, including property in Teton County. The exemption applies to an own…
MCA -- December 2025, Chapter 45 Construction Contractors ↗Statewide rule. Montana construction-contractor licensing, including owner work on property in Treasure County; this is not an exemption from applicable building, electrical, pl…
MCA — Construction Contractors, Chapter 45 ↗Montana does not restrict owner-builders from constructing their own single-family residence, and single-family homes outside certified jurisdictions are exempt from the state b…
Montana DLI - Building Permit FAQ ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing construction work on the owner's property in Petroleum County, for purposes of Montana construction-contractor licensing requirements. The ex…
MCA -- December 2025 ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Montana state page for all 56 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
