Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Sheridan, Montana
Town of Sheridan is a town in Madison County, Montana. 6 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 23, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Madison County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Town of Sheridan
Town of Sheridan’s own rules
Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)
Zoning districts for land inside Sheridan town limits
Only the publication of the zoning ordinance and a zoning map is verified here; the district names, boundaries and use tables were not read.
The zoning map is listed as a PDF and was not opened.
New water wells drilled or developed inside Sheridan town limits
Ordinance 118 also states that no existing well may be connected, directly or indirectly, to the town water system.
The text does not state whether the ban covers irrigation or other non-domestic wells.
“no water well shall be drilled or developed within the town limits.”
Mandatory utility hookupConditional
New connections to the Sheridan municipal water and sewer systems inside town limits
Ordinance 118 requires an infrastructure buy-in fee for new connections; it does not, in the section read, state that every new home must connect when service is available.
Non-conforming properties (multi-user or with a domestic well or septic) must connect at their own expense on transfer of ownership (Ord. 118, item 19).
New domestic wells are barred within town limits (see the well-permit claim).
“new connections to the water and sewer system will be required to pay an infrastructure buy-in fee.”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Development, alteration or substantial improvement inside the regulated flood hazard area in Sheridan town
Permit requirement applies only inside the regulated flood hazard area, not to all town land.
Section 5 lists uses allowed without a permit and Section 6 lists prohibited uses; those sections were not read.
Ordinance 125 was adopted by resolution 2024-8 and is effective December 12, 2024.
“a floodplain permit is required for a person to establish, alter or substantially improve an artificial obstruction, nonconforming use or development within the regulated flood hazard area”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Town permit for access to or use of the public right-of-way under Ordinance 121 (not a building or zoning permit)
Fee applies to the right-of-way town permit form only.
Zoning fee schedule (PDF) and building fees were not readable here; the zoning fee schedule returned no extractable text.
right-of-way town permit fee: 25 USD (stated as cost recovery for issuing the permit)
“a fee of $25.00 is required to recover the cost of issuing this permit.”
Permit processPartial
Town right-of-way permit under Ordinance 121 only; building and zoning permit process not located
Permit issues only after required inspections are complete.
The permittee must notify the town official on completion so inspection can occur.
Building and zoning permit application steps were not found in the sources read.
“no town permit shall be issued unless and until all inspections required by the relevant ordinance have been completed satisfactorily by the appropriate town official.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Sheridan or Madison County directly.
Building permit — Building permit for new residential construction inside Sheridan town limits
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential construction inside Sheridan town limits
Building code adopted — Building code (IBC or similar) adoption inside Sheridan town limits
Inspections — Building inspection for residential construction inside Sheridan town limits
Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Sheridan town limits
17 more unanswered
Minimum dwelling size
Minimum lot size
Setbacks
Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Who permits septic
Septic permit
Septic inspection
Off-grid sanitation
Agricultural exemption
Driveway access
Short-term rentals
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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Sheridan publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Madison County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Town of Sheridan means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
