Building permits, zoning and land rules in Daniels County, Montana

An ordinary single-family home in unincorporated Daniels County does not require a county building permit because the county does not operate a local building-permit program for that work¹. Montana's state program requires permits for certain non-exempt construction, but residential buildings with fewer than five dwelling units and farm and ranch buildings are among the state exemptions².

A permit-exempt home is not exempt from land-use or sanitation review: Daniels County has zoning and reviews development applications, while the local health authority still requires a drainfield permit even when Montana DEQ has approved subdivision sanitation^1,3. Ask Daniels County Planning to confirm the parcel's zoning before fixing the house location¹.

If you build the house yourself, Montana's contractor-licensing exemption covers an owner working on the owner's property, but it does not itself exempt a project from applicable building, electrical, plumbing or inspection requirements⁵.

Daniels County does not list a local building department for ordinary single-family construction; Daniels County Planning is the practical first stop because the office handles county zoning, subdivision plats and development applications¹. Reach Daniels County Planning at 288 Sandhills Road, Dagmar, MT 59219, by phone at 406-483-5431 or by email at sandhills@nemont.net¹.

For a project subject to Montana's state building-permit program, submit construction plans and the Building Permit/Plan Review Application to the state Building Codes Program; average plan review is three weeks, but timing varies². State plan review adds 35% of the building permit fee, and both charges must be paid before issuance⁷. The permit holder must notify the inspector when work is ready².

Yes. Daniels County has an adopted zoning resolution, and the Planning Board reviews subdivision plats and development applications¹. Montana law gives county commissioners zoning authority after adoption of a growth policy, but the county resolution—not the general state authority—determines most parcel-level standards^1,8.

The county's published zoning material says a use within a zoning district is permitted only when the additional conditions for that use are met, with approval by the Planning/Zoning Committee on an application that includes a plot plan and a $50 permit fee⁹. We could not confirm the zoning status of the county's incorporated towns, so confirm with Daniels County Planning whether a town address falls under county zoning⁹. The available county information does not establish countywide answers for minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height or minimum dwelling size¹. Ask Daniels County Planning to identify the zoning designation and applicable standards for the exact parcel before designing a home or accessory structure¹. Because Daniels County has zoning, its regulations must allow at least one accessory dwelling unit by right on a parcel containing a single-family dwelling, although building, fire, sanitation and other health-and-safety rules still apply^1,4.

Daniels County septic authority is split: Montana DEQ administers state water-quality and covered subdivision sanitation review, while the local health authority requires a drainfield permit even when a property already has a Montana Certificate of Subdivision Approval³. The official state directory lists Daniels County Environmental Health/Sanitarian at PO Box 836, Scobey, MT 59263, phone (406) 487-5560 and email cshipp@sheridancountymt.gov¹⁰. Ask that office about site evaluation, system design, the application and inspections before disturbing the drainfield area¹⁰.

Montana DEQ reviews sanitation for covered land divisions, condominiums, recreational camping vehicle parks and mobile-home parks; that review covers water supply, sewage disposal, solid waste and storm drainage³. For lots created after 1961 and under 20 acres, the property will generally have a Certificate of Subdivision Approval or sanitary restrictions, and that certificate must be issued before facilities that need sewer or water are developed³. Only 7.5% of Daniels County soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so a site-specific evaluation should precede the house layout⁶.

We could not confirm a Daniels County rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV on private land¹. We also could not confirm a tiny-home-specific occupancy rule, minimum dwelling size or county manufactured-home occupancy rule¹. Ask Daniels County Planning how the county zoning resolution treats the proposed unit and use on the exact parcel¹.

An accessory dwelling unit has a clearer answer: because Daniels County has zoning, its regulations must allow at least one accessory dwelling unit by right on a parcel containing a single-family dwelling^1,4. Sanitation remains a separate gate: a local drainfield permit is required for an onsite system, and Montana DEQ reviews recreational camping vehicle parks and mobile-home parks regardless of parcel size³. Ask the County Environmental Health/Sanitarian what wastewater approval is needed before occupying any RV or tiny home¹⁰.

1. Ask Daniels County Planning to confirm the parcel's zoning designation and whether a development application or subdivision review is needed¹.

1. Contact the County Environmental Health/Sanitarian for the local drainfield-permit process and determine whether Montana DEQ subdivision sanitation review also applies^3,10.

1. Confirm whether the structure is exempt from Montana's building permit; for covered work, submit plans and the state application for review before construction².

1. If the site lies in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area, contact the local floodplain administrator because new development there requires local floodplain review¹¹.

1. Ask the Daniels County Road Department about access from a county road, or apply through the appropriate Montana Department of Transportation district office for a new or modified approach onto a state highway^12,13.

Start with zoning and wastewater feasibility: Daniels County has zoning, and only 7.5% of county soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field^1,6. Ask Planning for the parcel's zoning designation and the County Environmental Health/Sanitarian about a site evaluation before treating a listing as buildable^1,10.

Check water reliability as well: Daniels County averages 14.5 inches of precipitation a year, and severe drought occurs in about 20.6% of years⁶. Water is a separate approval: a private well using 35 gallons per minute or less and no more than 10 acre-feet per year may qualify for a permit exception, and since January 1, 2026 the user must file a Notice of Intent with the Montana DNRC before using the water¹⁴. Confirm legal and physical access with the Road Department for a county road; a driveway connecting to a state highway needs an MDT approach permit or right-of-way agreement^12,13. Determine whether the building site is in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area before closing¹¹. For carrying costs, the county's effective property-tax rate is about 0.9%, with a median annual bill near $1,533⁶.