Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Dillon, Montana

Dillon’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Dillon city limits

  • Zoning permits are reviewed by the Zoning Commission; Board of Adjustment hears variances.

  “the zoning commission reviews all zoning permit applications for new construction and remodels to make sure they adhere to dillon ordinances.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Dillon city zoning districts (Title 17, chapter 17.08 and district chapters)

  • Residential districts R-1, R-2, R-3 and RMH are in chapter 17.60; the Title 17 index also lists commercial, industrial, public lands and agricultural district chapters.

  “chapter 17.08 - zoning district and map chapter 17.12 - general land use standards chapter 17.16 - standards for specific uses”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in all residential districts inside Dillon city

  • No numeric size in Title 17; refers to the building code's floor area requirement.

  minimum floor area: as required by the city's international building code

  “minimum floor area requirements for each dwelling in all districts shall be that area required by the city's international building code.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-household dwelling in R-1, R-2, R-3 and RMH districts inside Dillon city

  • Agricultural district (chapter 17.76) not researched.

  minimum lot area single-household dwelling: >= 5000 square feet

  “single-household dwelling minimum lot area in square feet r-1 r-2 r-3 rmh 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1, R-2, R-3 and RMH districts inside Dillon city

  • Subject to exceptions in section 17.12.100.
  • Corner lots: side setback per chapter 17.12.
  • Revised by Ord 446 (2016) and Ord 448 (2016).

  front setback: >= 25 feet (section 17.12.100) · side setback each side: >= 10 feet (section 17.12.100) · rear setback: >= 10 feet (section 17.12.100)

  “the minimum required front setbacks are twenty-five (25) feet as defined in this title, section 17.108.010, subject to exceptions specified in section 17.12.100.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1, R-2 (35%) and R-3, RMH (50%) districts inside Dillon city

  • Maximum coverage by principal and accessory buildings combined.

  max lot coverage R-1 and R-2: <= 35 percent of lot area · max lot coverage R-3 and RMH: <= 50 percent of lot area

  “not more than 50 percent of the lot area in r-3 and rmh.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 and R-2 districts inside Dillon city

  • Measured from grade to outside edge of roof pitch.
  • R-3 and RMH height limits not stated in this section.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “the maximum building height in r-1 and r-2 districts is 35 feet as measured from grade to outside edge of roof pitch.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Individual lots in R-1, R-2, R-3 and RMH districts inside Dillon city

  • Units defined as recreational are not permitted on individual lots in residential districts; RV park or other district rules not researched.

  “no units defined as recreational shall be permitted on any individual lot.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Individual lots in residential districts inside Dillon city; manufactured home communities are in the RMH district (17.60.140)

  • Mobile homes built before 1976 barred from individual lots; other manufactured home standards in 17.60.140 not reviewed.

  “no mobile home constructed prior to 1976 shall be permitted on any individual lot.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  R-2 and R-3 districts inside Dillon city

  • One paved parking space exclusive to the ADU in addition to the principal residence's parking.
  • Garages shall not be converted to ADUs; ADUs may be placed above garages.
  • Lot must have adequate lot area, utility services, and comply with setbacks and height.

  “an owner of real property may establish and maintain an accessory dwelling unit, either within a detached single-household dwelling or a detached garage which is accessory to the detached single-household dwelling, in the r-2 and r-3 districts.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for new construction and remodels inside Dillon city

  • Only the zoning commission review step was confirmed; building permit process not found.

  “the zoning commission reviews all zoning permit applications for new construction and remodels to make sure they adhere to dillon ordinances.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Dillon or Beaverhead County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Dillon city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Dillon city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Dillon city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Dillon city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Dillon city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.