Bolthole Index

Ravalli County, Montana

Building permits, zoning and septic in Town of Stevensville, Montana

Town of Stevensville, Montana has a municipal building-permit process and has adopted the residential building code.12 Stevensville sets zoning inside town limits; Ravalli County Environmental Health handles countywide onsite wastewater permitting, while town sewer-connection and private-disposal requirements also apply.3456

At a glance

Building permits
Town Building Division accepts building-permit applications and plans1
Zoning
Town zoning governs residential uses and manufactured-home siting3
Sewer or septic
Check mandatory sewer connection first; coordinate private wastewater with the town and county Environmental Health564
RV living
RV parks allow temporary use only; private-lot occupancy needs a separate answer from Town Planning & Zoning78
Manufactured homes
Allowed on conforming, legally created lots with a permanent foundation and compliant anchoring9
Minimum dwelling size
Residential-chart footnotes specify 1,000 or 800 square feet, with a 600-square-foot exception for one-bedroom units; confirm which footnote applies10

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Stevensville Building Division

Building-plan review, building-permit applications and inspection scheduling

(406) 552-3238

[email protected]

206 Buck Street

Zoning

Town of Stevensville Planning & Zoning

Town zoning, land-use documents and planning applications

(406) 777-5271

[email protected]

206 Buck Street Stevensville MT 59870

Septic permits

Ravalli County Environmental Health

Onsite wastewater permits and site evaluations

406-375-6565

215 South 4th Suite D Hamilton, MT 59840

Also useful

Town of Stevensville Public Works

Town water and wastewater service questions

(406) 880-5989

[email protected]

206 Buck Street Stevensville MT 59870

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Town of Stevensville, MT?

For a home inside Stevensville town limits, start with the Town Building Division’s building-permit application process.1 Stevensville has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code, as mandated and amended by Montana rules, for detached single-family and two-family dwellings and qualifying townhouses.2 The town’s code adoption provides for issuing building permits and collecting fees.2 Ask the Building Division to identify the building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical approvals needed for your specific project before construction; the town building page supplies those application forms.1

Who handles building permits and inspections in Town of Stevensville?

The Town of Stevensville Building Division accepts applications, plans and supporting documents at Town Hall.1 Submit a complete signed building-permit application with the property’s legal description and owner and contractor information, plus the infrastructure-fee application and signed site-plan checklist.1 Residential applications require complete building plans and site plans, an energy-compliance certification with checklist, and a signed fair-housing acknowledgment and certification.1 Missing or incomplete information stops application processing.1 Building inspections must be scheduled by appointment; use the Building Division’s inspection-scheduling contact listed above and ask for the inspection sequence and occupancy requirements for your home.1

Does Town of Stevensville have zoning and minimum home sizes?

Stevensville zoning applies inside town limits, and the underlying land-use district controls building setbacks, lot coverage, height and parking requirements.311 A manufactured home may go on a legally created lot whose size conforms to the underlying zoning, but requires a permanent foundation and anchoring system meeting current residential-code specifications and state requirements.9 Residential-chart footnote requirements include 1,000 square feet of habitable space or 800 square feet per dwelling unit, with a 600-square-foot exception for one-bedroom units under the latter footnote.10 These are conditional chart provisions, so ask Town Planning & Zoning which district and footnotes govern your proposed home before choosing a floor plan.108

How do sewer connections and septic permits work in Town of Stevensville?

Stevensville requires qualifying occupied or otherwise used properties abutting a public-sewer street, alley or right-of-way to connect at the owner’s expense within 30 days of official notice when the sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.5 Check sewer service with Town Public Works before budgeting for septic.125 Ravalli County Environmental Health handles onsite wastewater permits and site evaluations countywide; Stevensville also regulates private wastewater disposal inside town limits.46 A town private-disposal permit becomes effective only after installation satisfies the superintendent, and underground work must remain uncovered until the required inspection notice is given.6 Building-sewer permit and inspection fees are set by town-council resolution and paid to the town clerk when filing the application.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Town of Stevensville?

Stevensville’s RV-park rule allows recreational vehicles, tents and other short-term recreational shelters on a temporary basis only within RV parks.7 That provision does not establish permission to live in an RV on an ordinary private lot; ask Town Planning & Zoning for the parcel-specific answer before using an RV as construction housing.78 Stevensville prohibits camping or overnight sleeping in the listed public parks, trails, parking lots and rights-of-way, except events with a special-event permit.14 We could not confirm tiny-home or accessory-dwelling eligibility; ask Town Planning & Zoning to identify the permitted dwelling use and applicable residential-chart size requirements.810

What steps should you take before building in Town of Stevensville?

  1. Ask Town Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s district, permitted dwelling use, lot dimensions and applicable residential-chart footnotes before buying plans.81110
  2. Ask Town Public Works about water and sewer service, and determine whether the town’s sewer-connection requirement applies; if private wastewater disposal is proposed, coordinate with the town superintendent and Ravalli County Environmental Health.12564
  3. Submit the complete building-permit application, site-plan checklist and required supporting documents to the Town Building Division, then arrange inspections by appointment.1
  4. For land outside town limits, use the Ravalli County guide for the county’s district-based zoning context rather than extending Stevensville’s zoning to rural parcels.15

Watch-outs

  • Stevensville’s residential-chart minimum sizes depend on the applicable footnote; confirm the district and dwelling use before ordering a tiny-home design.10
  • A county septic permit does not resolve Stevensville’s mandatory sewer connection or town private-disposal inspection requirements.456
  • An owner working on the owner’s property may qualify for Montana’s contractor-licensing exemption, but that exemption does not waive applicable building or trade permits and inspections.16

Sources

  1. Town of Stevensville Building Division (townofstevensville.com)
  2. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 6-78 Adoption (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 10-231 Residential chart footnotes (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  5. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 26-59 Connection requirements (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 26-60 Private wastewater disposal (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 10-339 Permitted uses (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Stevensville Planning & Zoning (townofstevensville.com)
  9. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 10-231 Residential chart footnotes (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  10. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 10-231 Residential chart footnotes (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  11. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 10-231 Residential chart footnotes (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Stevensville Public Works (townofstevensville.com)
  13. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 26-61 Building sewers and connections (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  14. Stevensville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 16-1 Camping in public places (Town of Stevensville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Zoning | Ravalli County, MT, quoted and re-checked
  16. Montana Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 45, Construction Contractors (Montana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Stevensville

Town of Stevensville’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories in Stevensville town.

    • The adopted IRC is the 2021 edition.
    • The code is mandated and amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana.
    • Applies with additions, deletions, and modifications in the municipal code.

    International Residential Code edition: 2021 (As mandated and amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana)

    “The International Residential Code, 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (as mandated and amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana), be and is hereby adopted for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, location, removal and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwelling and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories in height with separate means of egress in the town; and for providing for the issuance of permits and collections of fees therefor.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Stevensville town limits.

    • Residential uses and manufactured-home siting must conform to the underlying zoning.
    “A manufactured home may be installed on any legally created town lot of a size that conforms to the underlying zoning.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Land-use and residential zoning districts inside Stevensville town limits.

    • The official residential-chart footnotes reference underlying zoning and underlying land-use districts.
    • The supplied excerpt does not include the complete district chart or district names.
    “A manufactured home may be installed on any legally created town lot of a size that conforms to the underlying zoning. [...] All building setbacks, lot coverage, building height and parking requirements of the underlying land use district shall apply.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Residential-chart uses inside Stevensville town limits to which Sec. 10-231 footnotes (9) or (10) apply.

    • Which residential-chart use or district receives each footnote must be confirmed from the residential chart.
    • One-bedroom dwelling units have a separate exception.

    minimum dwelling size: 1000 square feet of habitable space (Where residential-chart footnote (9) applies) · minimum dwelling-unit size: 800 square feet of habitable space (Where residential-chart footnote (10) applies; one-bedroom units may be 600 square feet)

    “Minimum dwelling size is 1,000 square feet of habitable space. (10) Minimum dwelling unit size is 800 square feet of habitable space, except one bedroom units may be a minimum of 600 square feet of habitable space.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles in recreational vehicle parks inside Stevensville town limits.

    • Rule applies to recreational vehicle parks.
    • Use may include tents or other short-term recreational shelters only on a temporary basis.
    “Recreational vehicle parks may be used for recreational vehicles, tents or other short term recreational shelter arrangements on a temporary basis only.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Camping or overnight sleeping in public places inside Stevensville town limits.

    • Does not apply to an event with a special-event permit.
    • This claim concerns listed public places and does not establish rules for private land.
    “It is unlawful to camp or sleep overnight in any public park, trail, conservation land, public parking lot, boulevard or any public rights-of-way, including beneath any public bridges or along any river, stream or creek. However, this provision shall not apply to an event for which a special event permit has been obtained.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes on legally created town lots inside Stevensville town limits.

    • Lot size must conform to underlying zoning.
    • The home requires a permanent foundation and anchoring system meeting current IRC specifications and state laws and regulations.
    • The residential chart also applies underlying-district setbacks, lot coverage, height, and parking requirements.
    “A manufactured home may be installed on any legally created town lot of a size that conforms to the underlying zoning.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private wastewater disposal systems inside Stevensville town limits.

    • The permit does not become effective until installation is completed to the superintendent's satisfaction.
    • The superintendent may inspect at any construction stage.
    • Applicant must notify the superintendent before underground portions are covered.
    • Final inspection must be made within 48 hours after notice.

    final inspection timing after notice: <= 48 hours

    “A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent. The superintendent shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 48 hours of the receipt of notice by the superintendent.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Occupied, employed, recreational, or other properties inside Stevensville town that abut a public-sewer street, alley, or right-of-way.

    • The owner must receive official notice.
    • The public sanitary or combined sewer must be within 100 feet of the property line.
    • Connection and toilet facilities are at the owner's expense.
    • Connection is due within 30 days after official notice.

    public sewer distance from property line: <= 100 feet · connection deadline after official notice: <= 30 days

    “The owners of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the town and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may be located in the future, a public sanitary or combined sewer, is hereby required, at his expense, to install suitable toilet facilities thereon, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article, within 30 days after the date of official notice to do so, provided said public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building-sewer permits and inspections inside Stevensville town limits.

    • Fee amount is established by town-council resolution.
    • The fee is paid to the town clerk when the application is filed.
    “A sewer permit and inspection fee in the amount established by resolution of the town council shall be paid to the town clerk at the time the application is filed.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Stevensville town limits.
  • Inspections — General residential building inspections inside Stevensville town limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Stevensville town limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside Stevensville town limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Stevensville town limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Stevensville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Ravalli County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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