Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Philipsburg, Montana

Town of Philipsburg’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Permanent structures inside Philipsburg town limits, including buildings, trailer houses, tents, fences, patios, decks, and stairs.

  • A permanent structure is one intended to remain in place more than 60 days.
  • A permit is also required when a permanent structure is substantially moved or extended.
  • A building project may include more than one structure only when structures are on the same or adjoining lots owned by the same owner or owners.

  permanent-structure-duration: > 60 days (Structure is permanent when intended to remain in place over this duration.)

  “the property owner shall first submit a completed application with the town clerk and obtain a utility inspection permit signed by the director of public works.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • The town-code provision applies if the Town does not adopt its own building codes.
  • The incorporated state codes are those amended and adopted in Administrative Rules of Montana title 24, chapter 301, as amended.

  “If the town does not adopt any buildings codes, then all state building codes are hereby fully adopted herein by this reference”

• Local zoningAbsent (with conditions)

  Land inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • The Community Plan states that the Town may examine development and adoption of a zoning code in the future.
  • Other municipal code provisions, including utilities and floodplain regulations, remain applicable.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Zoning districtsNot published (with conditions)

  Municipal zoning districts inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • The finding reflects the Town's express statement that it has no zoning code governing land use.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone (with conditions)

  Zoning minimum dwelling-size controls inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding concerns zoning controls; building and utility requirements may still apply.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone (with conditions)

  Zoning minimum lot-size controls inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding concerns zoning controls; private sewage disposal has a separate 15,000-square-foot threshold for subsurface soil-absorption permits.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• SetbacksNone (with conditions)

  Zoning setback controls inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding concerns zoning controls; it does not address other code requirements.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Lot coverageNone (with conditions)

  Zoning lot-coverage controls inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding concerns zoning controls; it does not address other code requirements.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Building heightNone (with conditions)

  Zoning building-height controls inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding concerns zoning controls; it does not address other code requirements.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  RV occupancy as a land use inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding addresses zoning land-use restrictions only; the Town's utility-inspection-permit rule applies to a structure intended to remain in place more than 60 days.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping as a land use inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding addresses zoning land-use restrictions only.
  • A tent intended to remain in place more than 60 days is within the Town's permanent-structure utility-permit rule.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny-home occupancy as a land use inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding addresses zoning land-use restrictions only.
  • Permanent structures remain subject to Town utility-inspection permits and applicable building codes.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured-home occupancy as a land use inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding addresses zoning land-use restrictions only.
  • Permanent structures remain subject to Town utility-inspection permits and applicable building codes.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings as a land use inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • This finding addresses zoning land-use restrictions only.
  • Permanent structures remain subject to Town utility-inspection permits and applicable building codes.

  “The Town does not currently have a zoning code that governs land use.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Philipsburg town limits where public sewer is not available under Town Code § 10-2-5D.

  • The written permit is signed by the Town engineer.
  • Private sewage systems must comply with Town Code § 10-2-6.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the engineer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private sewage disposal system inside Philipsburg town limits where public sewer is not available under Town Code § 10-2-5D.

  • The application is on a Town-furnished form and must include plans, specifications, and other information the engineer deems necessary.
  • A $5 permit and inspection fee is paid to the engineer when the application is filed.
  • No permit is issued for a subsurface soil-absorption system where the lot is under 15,000 square feet.

  private-sewage-permit-and-inspection-fee: 5 USD (Paid to the engineer when the application is filed.) · minimum-lot-area-for-subsurface-soil-absorption-permit: >= 15000 square feet (No permit is issued below this area.)

  “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the engineer.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Permitted private sewage disposal systems inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • The permit does not become effective until installation is completed to the engineer's satisfaction.
  • The applicant must notify the engineer when ready for final inspection and before underground portions are covered.
  • The engineer may inspect at any stage of construction and must make the inspection within 48 hours after notice.

  inspection-timing-after-notice: <= 48 hours (Final-inspection notice from the applicant.)

  “The inspection shall be made within forty eight (48) hours of the receipt of notice by the engineer.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • A private sewage system is used only where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under Town Code § 10-2-5D.
  • Construction requires a written Town permit and inspection.
  • When public sewer becomes available under § 10-2-5D, direct connection is required and private facilities must be abandoned and filled with suitable material.

  “Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of subsection 10-2-5D of this chapter, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this section.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses, buildings, and properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • The property must abut a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a current or future Town public sanitary or combined sewer.
  • The public sewer must be within 100 feet of the property line.
  • Connection is required within 90 days after official notice and at the owner's expense.

  public-sewer-distance-from-property-line: <= 100 feet (Condition for mandatory direct connection.) · connection-deadline-after-official-notice: <= 90 days (Applies when the statutory availability conditions are met.)

  “within ninety (90) days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within one hundred feet (100') of the property line.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision review for land inside Philipsburg town boundaries.

  • Philipsburg uses the Granite County Subdivision Regulations.
  • The Town, Drummond, and Granite County use a joint Planning Board to review new subdivisions.
  • The County Planning Department provides subdivision-review services to both towns.

  “Philipsburg uses the Granite County Subdivision Regulations to review subdivisions within the Town boundaries.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction, substantial improvement, moving, or demolition in the tentatively designated floodplain area of Philipsburg town.

  • A Town Council building permit is required before the enumerated activity.
  • The applicant may be required to provide documentation that work will be reasonably safe from flooding.
  • For new or substantially improved structures in special flood hazard areas, the applicant must submit specified floor-elevation records.
  • Small outbuildings such as toolhouses and storage sheds are exempt only from the elevation-record requirement in § 9-4-1(B).

  “Within the tentatively designated floodplain area of the town, no new construction, substantial improvement to an existing structure or moving or demolishing of an existing structure shall be allowed unless”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town utility-inspection permits for permanent structures inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • The utility-inspection permit fee must be paid in full before permit issuance.
  • The amount is set by Town Council resolution and may be amended from time to time.

  “The amount of the utility inspection permit fee will be set by resolution of the town council, which may be amended from time to time.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town utility-inspection permits for permanent structures inside Philipsburg town limits.

  • The completed application must be signed by the applicant and submitted to the Town Clerk with the permit fee.
  • The applicant may be the property owner or the owner's agent.
  • Before issuance, the applicant must give the Director of Public Works a detailed written map showing structure locations and water and sewer line connections.

  “A utility inspection permit application may be obtained from the town clerk during regular business hours”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Philipsburg or Granite County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Philipsburg town limits.
• Inspections — General building inspections for construction inside Philipsburg town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Philipsburg town limits.
• Well permit — New or altered wells inside Philipsburg town limits.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural exemptions from residential land-development requirements inside Philipsburg town limits.

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.