Bolthole Index

Montana · Off-grid & homestead potential

Garfield County

37Index Score / 100
#56 of 56 in Montana

Garfield County scores 37/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths are deep seclusion — about 0 people within a 30-minute drive and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. The trade-offs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 14.2″ of rain a year and elevated current hazard exposure.

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County locator

Garfield County in Montana

37
County map
Garfield County highlighted among the Montana counties · colored by Index score

How Garfield County scores

Seclusion89100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency10100% ev.
Admin Boringness7168% ev.
Durability36100% ev.
Property Autonomy83100% ev.
Carry Cost8194% ev.

Evidence strength: 94%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$324kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$672Land / acre
14.2"Annual rain
13.1% of yrsSevere drought
14.6 / yr (+11.4)Mid-century 100°F days
22.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.02" (+6.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.21×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
state median fallbackInsurance basis
0People within 30 min
34People within 2 hr
112Radius comparison (15 mi)
0.3People / sq mi
29.1%Federal land
74.4%Land at 15% slope or less
12.7%Septic soil without severe limits
327,986 acWorkable land screen
2.2%Wooded land
5.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
44.4°FAvg temp

Scout Garfield County

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Property hunt

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A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

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Building & land-use rules in Garfield County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Garfield County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitNot required

    Montana's state building code exempts residential buildings with fewer than five dwelling units, and this remote county (pop. ~1,200, seat Jordan) has no certified local building program, so single-family homes are not subject to a building permit.

    Montana DLI - Building Codes and Permits
  • County zoningNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permittingNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Garfield County (Montana) - County Offices, Jordan MT before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Garfield County, Montana

Is Garfield County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Garfield County scores 37/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 0 people within a 30-minute drive and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 14.2″ of rain a year and elevated current hazard exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Garfield County, Montana?

Garfield County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Garfield County, Montana?

Land in Garfield County runs about $672 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Garfield County?

Garfield County gets about 14.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 13.1% of years.

How remote is Garfield County?

A representative private-land location has about 0 people within a 30-minute drive and 34 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Garfield County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

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How Garfield compares in Montana

Compare side-by-side →See all 56 Montana counties ranked →