Every guide below is written from statute and agency sources and reviewed against primary documents. Where we couldn't verify something, we say so.
Since January 1, 2026 you must file a Notice of Intent with DNRC before putting a new well to use. $400, and it is an approval — not a formality.
Guide · StatewideFour feet of natural soil above the limiting layer is the rule that can't be waived. Why the same house costs $10,000 or $40,000.
Guide · StatewideAny work in the bed or banks of a perennial stream needs Conservation District approval first. It's free. Skipping it costs $500 a day.
Guide · StatewideMontana ranks second nationally for homes at wildfire risk. Free assessments, cost-share grants, and a new law letting insurers reward mitigation.