Off-grid site report

Valley County, MT

48.8209, -106.0511 · 2,694 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Valley 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 rulesValley County, MT

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyMontana counties can zone via growth-policy resolution or citizen petition, but no official Valley County page confirms whether unincorporated areas are zoned or under what districts. Ask the Valley County Planning Department. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Valley County ordinance on tiny homes or RV occupancy was found; state frameworks (like IRC Appendix Q) exist but local application is not confirmed.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyMontana exempts single-family homes from state code unless a county opts in to run its own program; whether Valley County has opted in is not confirmed. The state Building Codes Program (Dept. of Labor & Industry) covers non-opted-in counties. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedValley County's Sanitarian performs soil evaluations and regulates septic installation, consistent with the statewide rule that local health departments approve septic systems before installation. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Valley County-specific greywater ordinance was found; state rule generally permits indoor reuse but restricts subsurface irrigation without further approval. The county Sanitarian is the local contact. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts basic rooftop rainwater collection for personal, non-potable use; this follows the state baseline, where larger appropriations involve Montana DNRC.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedMontana's exempt-well provisions, administered by DNRC, apply statewide and allow small-volume wells without a pre-drilling permit but require a notice of completion. No Valley County-specific well ordinance was found.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Valley County ordinance requiring grid connection was found; any pressure to connect would likely come indirectly through subdivision or septic/water permitting rather than a direct rule.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,333 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 17 in/yr
Snowfall: 30 in/yr
Heating degree days: 9,276 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 13 to Oct 1
Design low: -22 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center: 28.9 mi
Fire station Peerless Fire Department: 10.4 mi
Hardware store: none within range
Grocery: none within range

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 59240).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.