Environmental Rules in Billings, MT

If you live in Billings or are thinking about moving there, environmental rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Billings has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of environmental rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Flood Elevation Requirements

Billings requires new and substantially improved buildings in the regulated flood hazard area to elevate the lowest floor at least two feet above the base flood elevation, engineer-certified.

Key details: Freeboard: 2 feet above BFE. Applies to: New builds, substantial improvements. Enforcement: Floodplain administrator. Permit required: Yes, before development. Violation: Misdemeanor, per-day offense.

Misdemeanor; violating property is treated as a public nuisance; each day of violation is a separate offense.

Boat Dock Permits

Billings requires a floodplain permit before building a boat dock, marina, or similar accessory structure anywhere in the regulated floodway.

Key details: Permit required: Yes, floodplain permit. Governing article: Ch. 6, Art. 6-1600. Structures covered: Boat docks, marinas, piers. Key condition: Firmly anchored, no habitation. Zone: Regulated floodway only.

Building a dock, marina, or similar structure in the floodway without the required permit is an unpermitted floodway obstruction, subject to the code's general enforcement and abatement provisions for illegal floodway construction.

Flood Zones

Billings requires a floodplain permit before any fill, structure, or artificial obstruction is placed in a mapped flood hazard area, administered under the city's Floodplain Hazard Management Regulations tied to FEMA and DNRC flood maps.

Key details: Permit required: for fill, structures, obstructions. Administered by: city floodplain administrator. Review timeline: 60 days for complete application. Base flood elevation rise allowed: 0.00 ft in floodway. Penalty: misdemeanor, daily separate offense.

Violating the regulations or failing to obtain permit approval before development in the regulated flood hazard area is a misdemeanor and may be treated as a public nuisance; each day the violation continues is a separate offense.

Stormwater Management

Billings bills every premises in the city a monthly storm sewer system service charge to fund stormwater infrastructure, under City Code Article 22-800.

Key details: Charge type: Monthly, billed with utility bill. Legal basis: MCA 7-13-4301, 7-13-4304. Delinquent at: 25 days unpaid. Shutoff at: 40 days unpaid. Fund: Municipal Storm Sewer System Fund.

Bills unpaid 25 days after billing go delinquent; after 40 days unpaid, water service is shut off following written notice, and the city can collect delinquent charges as a tax lien against the property or sue as a debt.

Erosion Control

Construction disturbing 1+ acre, or within 50 feet of a watercourse, must file a Notice of Intent and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan with Billings before breaking ground, under the city's Chapter 28 stormwater rules.

Key details: Trigger: 1 acre or within 50 ft of waterway. Required filings: NOI, SWPPP, and NOT forms. Inspection frequency: Every 14 days, self-documented. Enforcer: Public works department, environmental division. Penalty: Misdemeanor, up to $500/day.

Skipping the NOI/SWPPP, failing to install or maintain erosion control devices, or letting sediment leave the site onto adjoining property or right-of-way are code violations, each a separate misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a $500 fine per day.

The Bottom Line

Billings's environmental rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Billings is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Billings can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.