5 rules for unincorporated Yellowstone County, Montana.
Verified from official government sources
In Yellowstone County's zoning area around Billings, "accessory living quarters" (guest houses) are allowed within an accessory building but may have no kitchen and may not be rented as a separate dwelling. A full second dwelling depends on the zoning district. Rural unzoned land sets no such rule.
Yellowstone County/Laurel Zoning Ordinance 17.08.030
"Accessory living quarters" means living quarters within an accessory building for the sole use of the family or of persons employed on the premises... Such quarters have no kitchen facilities and are not rented, leased, or otherwise used as a separate dwelling unit.
In the county zoning area around Billings, accessory buildings such as sheds must sit in the rear yard, at least two feet from the rear or side lot line and two feet from any alley. Buildings housing animals need at least five feet. Rural unzoned land sets no rule.
Yellowstone County/Laurel Zoning Ordinance 17.48.060(A)
In any residential district all accessory buildings shall be located in the rear yard and shall be not less than two feet from the rear or side lot line nor less than two feet from the alley line.
In the county zoning area, a "private garage" is defined as an accessory building used only for storing motor vehicles. Converting it to a habitable rental unit creates a separate dwelling not authorized as an accessory use, and needs district, building and septic approval. Rural unzoned land sets no rule.
Yellowstone County/Laurel Zoning Ordinance 17.08 (Private garage)
"Private garage" means an accessory building or part of principal building used only for the storage of motor vehicles as an accessory use, when the storage space does not exceed that for the following number of vehicles: For any single-family dwelling -- three passenger vehicles.
Yellowstone County's zoning ordinance has no separate carport standard; a carport is treated as an accessory building. In the zoning area around Billings that means rear-yard placement with at least a two-foot setback from lot lines and alley. On unzoned rural county land the county sets no rule.
Yellowstone County/Laurel Zoning Ordinance 17.48.060(B)
In a residential district a detached garage on an inside lot may be located with the same setback from the street as required for the principal building; providing, that such detached garage does not violate the side yard requirements for a principal building for the district in which it is located.
Yellowstone County has no tiny-home ordinance. In the zoning area around Billings, a tiny house on a foundation is a dwelling and must meet the district's setback and lot-size rules; a tiny house on wheels is treated like an RV. Rural unzoned land sets no rule.
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