Bolthole Index

Montana · Off-grid & homestead potential

McCone County

43Index Score / 100
#53 of 56 in Montana

McCone County scores 43/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths are deep seclusion — about 19 people within a 30-minute drive and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. The trade-offs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 13.6″ of rain a year and elevated current hazard exposure.

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County locator

McCone County in Montana

43
County map
McCone County highlighted among the Montana counties · colored by Index score

How McCone County scores

Seclusion84100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency1394% ev.
Admin Boringness8090% ev.
Durability38100% ev.
Property Autonomy83100% ev.
Carry Cost8396% ev.

Evidence strength: 97%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$265kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$1,055Land / acre
13.6"Annual rain
17.2% of yrsSevere drought
11.3 / yr (+8.8)Mid-century 100°F days
23.3 daysMid-century dry spell
1.14" (+6.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.25×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,104Home insurance / yr
1.8% / yrInsurance growth
1.18%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
19People within 30 min
20,545People within 2 hr
532Radius comparison (15 mi)
0.6People / sq mi
17.4%Federal land
79.9%Land at 15% slope or less
19.3%Septic soil without severe limits
300,742 acWorkable land screen
0.3%Wooded land
43.1°FAvg temp

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Property hunt

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Building & land-use rules in McCone County

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

  • Building permitNot required

    Montana enforces no statewide residential building code in rural unincorporated areas unless locally adopted; McCone County's site lists a Land Planning department but no building department or county building-permit program (only the Town of Circle is incorporated).

    McCone County (official site) ↗
  • County zoningNone county-wide

    The county's official site states McCone County is still 'developing Zoning Regulations,' indicating no countywide zoning has yet been adopted.

    McCone County (official site) ↗
  • Septic permittingMcCone County Sanitarian / McCone County Health Department

    The county's own On-Site Wastewater Treatment Regulations require systems to be permitted under the McCone County Sanitarian (MCS); it is unlawful to construct/alter an individual sewage system without a county-issued permit and MCS-licensed contractor.

    McCone County On-Site Wastewater Treatment Regulations ↗
  • 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 McCone County Land Planning / Sanitarian before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in McCone County, Montana

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

McCone County scores 43/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 19 people within a 30-minute drive and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 13.6″ of rain a year and elevated current hazard exposure.

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

McCone County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by McCone County Sanitarian / McCone County Health Department. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in McCone County, Montana?

Land in McCone County runs about $1,055 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in McCone County?

McCone County gets about 13.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 17.2% of years.

How remote is McCone County?

A representative private-land location has about 19 people within a 30-minute drive and 20,545 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 McCone 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 McCone compares in Montana

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