Outside a zoning district, unincorporated Yellowstone County sets no chicken or hen limit and permits livestock under Montana's right-to-farm tradition. Within the county's zoning jurisdiction (about 4.5 miles of Billings), the agricultural-open space zone caps livestock at two units per acre.
Yellowstone County zones only part of the unincorporated county, generally within about 4.5 miles of the Billings city limits, under MCA 76-2-201 et seq. In the agricultural-open space zone, livestock is limited to two livestock units per acre, with additional units allowed per additional half-acre. Rural land outside any adopted zoning district has no county chicken or livestock cap, so backyard hens and roosters are broadly allowed. Incorporated towns (Billings, Laurel) set their own coop and rooster rules. Always confirm your parcel's zoning with County Planning (406-652-2050).
Zoning violations within a district are enforced by county code enforcement; nuisance or cruelty complaints can be pursued regardless of zoning.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Yellowstone County, MT
Yellowstone County has no ordinance banning backyard composting. Residents may compost yard and food waste; keep piles from becoming a rodent, odor, or vecto...
Yellowstone County, MT
Yellowstone County has no ordinance banning or requiring a permit for artificial turf on residential lawns. Homeowners may install synthetic grass; HOA coven...
Yellowstone County, MT
Yellowstone County does not require or prohibit native-plant landscaping. Residents may plant Montana natives and drought-tolerant xeriscape freely, provided...
Yellowstone County, MT
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Montana and encouraged. Yellowstone County has no ordinance restricting rain barrels. Rooftop collection for outdoor landsca...
Yellowstone County, MT
Unincorporated Yellowstone County imposes no standing lawn-watering rule. The City of Billings enacts temporary Stage 1 restrictions during peak demand, typi...
Yellowstone County, MT
Montana law makes noxious-weed control MANDATORY for every landowner. State statute makes it unlawful to let a noxious weed go to seed on your land, and the ...
See how Yellowstone County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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