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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Westby

Town of Westby does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitLimited

  Construction inside Westby town limits within the State Building Codes Program jurisdiction.

  • State permits are required before construction for state-owned agencies and non-exempt buildings.
  • State-law exemptions include farm and ranch buildings, mining buildings on mining property, petroleum refineries and pulp and paper mills except office and shop buildings, residential buildings with fewer than five dwelling units except transient-guest uses, and certain private garages and storage buildings.
  • A town may impose an ordinance-based local requirement; no Westby ordinance was located.

  “In the State's jurisdiction, state law exempts the following from the need to obtain state building permits: 1. farm and ranch buildings 2. mining buildings on mining property 3. petroleum refineries and pulp and paper mills (except office and shop buildings) 4. residential buildings containing less than five dwelling units (except when serving transient guests) 5. private garages and private storage buildings used for the owner's own use (not part of a commercial enterprise or business)”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Inside Westby town limits where the Montana Building Codes Program has jurisdiction; Westby is not listed among the certified local jurisdictions on the state list.

  • Local governments may enforce codes only through a certified local program.
  • The state program states that remaining cities, counties, and towns that choose not to enforce codes fall under its jurisdiction.

  “The remaining cities, counties and towns that have chosen not to enforce building codes, fall under the jurisdiction of the BC Program. [...] In addition, the program is responsible for adopting a uniform state building code, which is enforced statewide for residential and commercial buildings across Montana.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Projects inside Westby town limits that require a State Building Codes Program permit.

  • The source describes state inspection and regulation of projects requiring a permit.
  • The state building-permit exemptions limit which projects require permitting and inspection.

  “Field inspection staff for the programs are positioned around the state to ensure adequate coverage for inspection and regulation of projects requiring a permit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside the incorporated Town of Westby, Montana.

  • The regulations also require town review and comment for qualifying subdivisions near a town.
  • When a proposed subdivision lies partly within an incorporated town, both town and county governing bodies must approve the preliminary plat.
  • Construction work must not occur until the governing body conditionally approves the preliminary plat.

  “These regulations govern the subdivision of land within the jurisdictional area of the governing body (County Commissioners) of Sheridan County as well as within the jurisdictional area of the incorporated Towns of Medicine Lake, Outlook and Westby and the City of Plentywood.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Westby town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Westby town limits.
• Local zoning — Land inside Westby town limits, Montana.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Westby town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Westby 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.