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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Opheim

Town of Opheim 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

  State-jurisdiction construction inside Opheim town limits.

  • Required before construction for covered new buildings, alterations, additions, and repairs.
  • Does not apply to projects within a certified local-government program's jurisdiction.
  • State 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 containing fewer than five dwelling units except those serving transient guests; and owner-use private garages and storage buildings not part of a commercial enterprise or business.

  “In Montana a state building permit is required prior to the start of construction for certain types of new buildings, and/or for alterations, additions, and repairs.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  State building-code jurisdiction, including applicable construction inside Opheim town limits.

  • The source states that the listed codes are amended and adopted through ARM Title 24, Chapter 301.
  • Local certified building-code programs may administer adopted codes within their certified jurisdiction.

  International Residential Code edition: 2024 · effective date: 2026-09-26 (International Residential Code)

  “International Residential Code, 2024 Edition - Effective: September 26, 2026”

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects inside Opheim town limits that are subject to a state building permit.

  • The permit holder must notify the inspector when work is ready and provide access.
  • Applies to required inspections for projects in the state permitting program.

  “It is the responsibility of the permit hold to notify the inspector when work is ready for inspection and to provide access for required inspections.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater and subdivision sanitation matters inside Opheim town limits.

  • DEQ issues subdivision sanitation approvals (COSA).
  • A local health department issues drainfield permits.

  “A Certificate of Subdivision Approval otherwise known as a COSA is sanitation approval from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of a drainfield serving land inside Opheim town limits.

  • A drainfield permit remains required even when the parcel has a Certificate of Subdivision Approval.
  • The permitting body identified by the source is the local health department.

  “Yes, even thought you have a COSA, a drainfield permit is still required by the local health department.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  State building permits for applicable projects inside Opheim town limits.

  • A plan-review fee is paid in addition to the permit fee.
  • Both the permit fee and plan-review fee must be paid before permit issuance.
  • The plan-review fee is 35 percent of the building-permit fee under the cited state fee table.

  plan review fee: 35 percent of building permit fee

  “A plan review fee must be paid in addition to the building permit fee. The plan review fee is 35 percent of the building permit fee as established in Table 109.2. Both the building permit fee and the plan review fee must be paid before a building permit will be issued.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  State building permits for applicable projects inside Opheim town limits.

  • Applicant submits construction plans and a Building Permit/Plan Review Application for review and approval.
  • The permit is issued after plan-review comments are satisfactorily answered in writing and fees are paid.
  • The source reports an average plan-review duration of three weeks.

  average plan review duration: 3 weeks (Reported average; individual reviews may differ.)

  “On average it takes three weeks for a plan to be reviewed. Plan review comment letters and the Building Permit/Plan Review fees are mailed or emailed to applicants. When all plan review comments have been satisfactorily answered in writing and the fees paid, the building permit is issued.”

Still unanswered

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

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