Off-grid site report

Phillips County, MT

48.0936, -108.1640 · 2,536 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Phillips County, MT, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.

The local rulesPhillips County, MT

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyA DEQ case file confirms Phillips County has exercised zoning authority on at least one property (zoned 'Commercial none restricted'), consistent with counties' general zoning power under Title 76 MCA. A comprehensive current county zoning map or resolution was not found on an official site, so scope for other parcels is not confirmed; ask the County Commissioners or Clerk & Recorder. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Phillips County document on tiny homes, dwelling minimums, or RV occupancy was found. State baseline applies: Montana's IRC Appendix Q covers foundation-built tiny homes statewide, and wheeled units are generally treated as RVs. Confirm any county-specific stance with the Commissioners' office.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo official Phillips County building department page or permit ordinance was located. Under Montana's state baseline, single-family homes are generally exempt from state building-code jurisdiction unless a county opts to adopt and enforce a local code; whether Phillips County has done so is not confirmed.
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedConfirmed via a Montana DEQ Board of Environmental Review case file that a landowner applied for and was granted a septic permit by the Phillips County Sanitarian, so septic systems are permitted and administered locally, consistent with statewide DEQ Circular 4 wastewater standards. Composting toilet rules specific to the county are not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Phillips County-specific greywater rule was found, so the Montana state administrative rule (restricted) is the controlling baseline absent stricter local rules.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Phillips County ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting was found; the Montana state baseline, which generally permits rainwater harvesting, applies.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell development is governed by Montana DNRC's statewide exempt-well framework; no Phillips County-specific well ordinance was found. A DEQ case file references individual wells as a standard part of subdivision water/septic approvals in the county.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official Phillips County statute or regulation requiring grid or utility connection for an off-grid home was found. As at the state level, practical constraints are more likely to arise through septic/well permitting and subdivision review than a direct connection mandate.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Solar data unavailable for this spot.

Weather1991-2020

Weather data unavailable for this spot.

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Phillips County Hospital and Family Health Clinic
23.0 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
Hardware Hank
22.7 mi
Grocery
Red Paint Creek Trading Post
17.6 mi

From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.

Plan this spot

These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP ).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.