Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Malta, Montana

Malta’s own rules

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Mobile homes in the mobile home subdivision district (R-3) inside Malta city limits; no general minimum dwelling size was found for site-built homes in the captured sections

  • Applies only to mobile homes under § 156.104.

  minimum floor space per mobile home: >= 900 square feet

  “(e) each mobile home shall have a minimum of 900 square feet of floor space.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling lots in the residential district regulated by §§ 156.075-156.085 (identified as the R-2 medium density district by its placement in the code outline; the district heading was not captured in the text)

  • Lots of record that cannot be reassembled because of ownership are excepted from the lot-area and width requirement.
  • Two- or three-family dwellings require 4,000 square feet per dwelling unit and 50 feet width (§ 156.081(b)).

  minimum lot area, single-family dwelling: >= 7000 square feet (existing lots of record that cannot be reassembled because of ownership) · minimum lot width, single-family dwelling: >= 50 feet (existing lots of record that cannot be reassembled because of ownership)

  “(a) single-family dwelling. each lot shall contain a minimum of 7,000 square feet, and be at least 50 feet wide.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Every lot in the residential district regulated by §§ 156.075-156.085 (identified as R-2 by code placement; R-1 setbacks not yet captured)

  • Corner lots on streets with 60-foot rights-of-way may have a 20-foot front yard.
  • Front yard exception: a yard that matches the established building line on that block.
  • Rear yard may be reduced to three feet where a garage is located within the rear yard.
  • Eaves are the determining factor for yard measurement; a five-foot open entrance landing is allowed if it remains three feet from the interior property line.
  • Accessory buildings must comply with all setback requirements (§ 156.082(c)(2)).

  front yard: >= 30 feet (corner lots on 60-foot rights-of-way: 20 feet; or established building line on block) · side yard (interior lot line): >= 3 feet · rear yard: >= 15 feet (reduced to 3 feet where garage is located within rear yard)

  “(b) side yard. side yards abutting interior lot lines shall not be less than three feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family dwellings and listed permitted principal uses in the residential district regulated by §§ 156.075-156.085 (identified as R-2 by code placement)

  • Accessory building height may not exceed one and one-half times the primary dwelling height, and may not exceed 24 feet for single-family dwellings or 32 feet for multiple-family dwellings of more than two units.
  • Garage size limits by lot size: 1,000 sq ft (3,900-7,000 sq ft lot), 1,200 sq ft (7,001-10,000 sq ft lot), 1,600 sq ft (over 10,000 sq ft lot); max two garages per lot.
  • Garages on vacant lots: one garage allowed, residential use only, max 24 feet (§ 156.085).

  maximum building height, single-family dwelling: <= 24 feet · maximum building height, multiple-family dwelling of more than two units: <= 32 feet

  “(a) maximum building height shall be 24 feet for single-family dwellings and all listed permitted principal uses and 32 feet for multiple-family dwellings consisting of more than two units.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes in the mobile home subdivision district (R-3) inside Malta city limits

  • Each mobile home lot must have concrete ribbon footings that support the home and at least four anchors or cable tie downs; the building inspector must approve.
  • Each mobile home must be skirted, entirely enclosing the bottom section, within 60 days after placement.
  • Only one mobile home per lot; adequate storage space required.
  • Each mobile home must have a minimum of 900 square feet of floor space and may not be over 20 years of age from time of approval to place within city limits.
  • Siding, skirting and roofing must be of a type customarily used on site-constructed residences.
  • Mobile homes are a permitted principal use only under special provisions, and only one principal use or structure is allowed per lot.

  minimum floor space: >= 900 square feet · maximum age at approval: <= 20 years · skirting completion: <= 60 days after placement

  “(g) each mobile home may not be over 20 years of age from time of approval to place within the city limits.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Mobile homes already in place in Malta city when § 156.079 was adopted (residential section containing §§ 156.075-156.085)

    “(a) mobile homes in place at the passage time of this section will be allowed to remain and to be replaced.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Mobile homes placed in the R-3 mobile home subdivision district inside Malta city limits (not a general rule for all new homes)

  • Each mobile home must have utilities connected in accordance with city and state requirements.
  • General connection rule for site-built homes in other districts was not established (Chapter 52 not reached).

  “(f) each mobile home shall have utilities connected in accordance with the city and state requirements. all mobile homes must be connected to city water and sewer.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways, sidewalks, patios, retaining walls and steps as accessory uses in the residential district regulated by §§ 156.075-156.085

  • Requires a permit; the code states no fee is charged.
  • Driveway access standards (width, curb cut, approach) were not located.

  permit fee: 0 USD (no fee charge)

  “(b) driveways, sidewalks, patios, retaining walls and steps require a permit. no fee charge;”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Malta or Phillips County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Malta city limits
• Building code adopted — New construction inside Malta city limits
• Inspections — Construction inside Malta city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Malta city limits
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Malta city limits

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Malta means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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