Off-grid site report

Glacier County, MT

48.9966, -113.6603 · 5,345 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo adopted countywide Glacier County zoning ordinance was found; Montana has no statewide zoning code, and counties get zoning authority only if freeholders petition for a district under state law. Confirm with the county commissioners whether any zoning district covers your parcel. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Glacier County-specific rule on tiny homes or RVs was found; absent local rules, Montana's general state building framework would apply by default.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyNo Glacier County building department or permit program was found. Montana exempts single-family homes from state building-permit jurisdiction unless a county has opted in, and the Montana Building Codes Program is the fallback authority for jurisdiction questions. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted locally, presumptively through the Glacier County Health Department, following statewide DEQ Circular 4 design standards. No county-specific wastewater ordinance document was located, so confirm exact procedure with the health department. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Glacier County-specific greywater rule was found; this inherits Montana DEQ's statewide greywater/subsurface irrigation rules, administered locally by the county sanitarian.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Glacier County ordinance restricts rooftop rainwater collection; Montana's DNRC water-rights framework would only apply to larger appropriations.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate domestic wells fall under Montana DNRC's statewide exempt-well provisions; no separate Glacier County water authority restriction was found.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Glacier County rule was found explicitly requiring grid, water, or sewer connection for a single-family home. This should be confirmed directly with the county Health Department and commissioners, as no dedicated planning department page was located.

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: 1,332 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 17 in/yr
Heating degree days: 9,044 (severe)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Cardston Health Centre: 21.4 mi
Fire station Fire Hall / EMS: 12.0 mi
Hardware store Home Hardware Building Centre: 21.4 mi
Grocery St. Mary Supermarket: 20.5 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 59411).

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.