How Billings Handles Rental Property Rules: A Practical Guide

Billings maintains 74 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Billings falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Rent Control

Montana state law preempts local rent control under MCA section 70-24-104.1, enacted in 2009. Billings cannot cap residential rent increases or impose rent stabilization on private landlords.

Key details: Preemption statute: MCA section 70-24-104.1. Effective: Enacted 2009. Local authority: None permitted. Rent caps: Prohibited statewide.

Because rent control is preempted, no Billings landlord faces rent-cap violations. Tenants disputing rent increases must rely on lease terms and Montana Landlord-Tenant Act protections under MCA Title 70.

The rules around rent control in Billings lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Just Cause Eviction

Montana does not require just-cause for eviction. Under MCA Chapter 70-24, landlords may terminate month-to-month tenancies with 30 days written notice without stating any reason.

Key details: Just-cause: Not required. Month-to-month notice: 30 days written. Non-payment notice: 3 days. Statute: MCA Chapter 70-24.

Landlords who fail to provide proper written notice or attempt self-help eviction without court order face statutory penalties under MCA 70-24-411 including damages and attorney fees.

Billings is more permissive than most cities when it comes to just cause eviction. That said, there are still limits.

Rental Registration

Billings does not operate a city-wide rental property registration program. Landlords must hold a business license under BMC Chapter 8 if operating multiple units but face no separate rental registry.

Key details: Rental registry: None operated. Business license: BMC Chapter 8 if multi-unit. Habitability: MCA 70-24-303. Health authority: RiverStone Health.

Landlords ignoring habitability complaints can face Montana Landlord-Tenant Act remedies including rent withholding, repair-and-deduct rights for tenants, and damages under MCA 70-24-406.

The rules around rental registration in Billings lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Security Deposit Rules

Montana law under MCA 70-25 governs security deposits with no statutory cap, but requires landlords to provide written itemized statements within 30 days of tenancy end and return undisputed amounts.

Key details: Statutory cap: None imposed. Itemization deadline: 30 days. No-deduction return: 10 days. Authority: MCA Chapter 70-25.

Landlords who fail to provide itemized statements within statutory timeframes or wrongfully withhold deposits face civil liability for the withheld amount plus damages under MCA 70-25-201.

Tenant Anti-Harassment

Montana law under MCA 70-24-431 prohibits landlord retaliation against tenants who exercise statutory rights such as complaining to authorities or organizing tenant associations.

Key details: Statute: MCA 70-24-431. Lookback window: Six months. Damages: Up to three months rent. Defense: Available in eviction.

Retaliatory rent increases, service cuts, or eviction attempts within six months of protected tenant activity expose landlords to damages including up to three months' rent plus attorney fees.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Billings gives residents more room on rental property rules. 3 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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.