Off-grid site report

Broadwater County, MT

45.9323, -111.6044 · 4,246 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo comprehensive countywide zoning ordinance was found for unincorporated Broadwater County; subdivision review through the county Community Development & Planning Office is the main land-use control, and Townsend town limits have separate municipal zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo distinct Broadwater County ordinance was found for tiny homes or RVs; it appears to inherit the Montana state baseline (IRC Appendix Q for foundation-built tiny homes, RV rules for those on wheels). Confirm with the county Planning office.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyBroadwater County is listed in Montana's Building Codes Bureau permit-jurisdiction directory, but whether the county has opted into full state building-code jurisdiction versus the state's single-family exemption is not confirmed from county sources. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedBroadwater County Environmental Health requires a permit before septic construction and publishes specific setback requirements for tanks and disposal fields; composting toilets are not separately addressed. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Broadwater County-specific greywater rule was found; it likely inherits Montana's state baseline, which restricts greywater reuse without permitting. Confirm local application with county Environmental Health.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Broadwater County ordinance addressing rooftop rainwater collection was found; the state baseline permits it with no known prohibition.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells follow Montana's DNRC exempt-well framework and state licensing of well drillers through the Board of Water Well Contractors; no county-specific well ordinance was found beyond subdivision plat requirements for water/sanitation information.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo explicit Broadwater County requirement to connect to utilities was found, but subdivision approval requires water and sanitation review, which can function as an indirect check even for off-grid parcels.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,381 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 14 in/yr
Snowfall: 32 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,328 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 17 to Sep 20

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: 33.5 mi
Fire station Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department (Station 14): 3.8 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 14.1 mi
Grocery Three Forks Market: 3.7 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 59752).

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.