Building Setbacks & Zoning in Yellowstone County, MT (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Yellowstone County, Montana.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In the zoned Billings/Yellowstone County jurisdiction, setbacks are set by district. The N1 residential district requires a front build-to zone of 8–25 feet, a 5-foot minimum side setback, and a 5-foot minimum rear setback. Rural unzoned county land has no county setback rule.
Building Setbacks in Yellowstone County, MT
Some RestrictionsBillings/Yellowstone County Zoning Code Sec. 27-304, Table 27-300.3 (N1 district)
Side Setback (feet): 5 minimum. Rear Setback (feet): 5 minimum. Accessory Building: Min. Rear Setback (feet): 3, except 0 at alley. Front Build-to Zone (feet): 8–25; block face average allowed.
Structure Height Limits
In the N4 large-lot suburban district of unincorporated Yellowstone County, a principal house is capped at 3 stories and 34 feet under Zoning Code Table 27-300-3. An accessory building can rise no higher than 1.5 stories and can never exceed the principal building's height. Spires, chimneys, and antennas are exempt from the cap.
Residential Structure Height Limits in Yellowstone County
Some RestrictionsYellowstone County Zoning Code, §§ 27-304, Table 27-300-3 (N4 district) and 27-303(H)
B. HEIGHT Principal Building: Maximum Height (stories) 3 ... Maximum Height (feet) 34 Accessory Building: Maximum Height (stories) 1.5 stories, no taller than the ... principal building ... H. MAXIMUM HEIGHT EXCEPTIONS 1. The maximum height limit shall not apply to spires, belfries, cupolas, antennas, water towers or tanks, chimneys or smokestacks, power transmission lines, cooling or elevator ...
Lot Coverage Limits
Unincorporated Yellowstone County caps how much of a lot a building can cover, and the limit changes by zoning district: 30% in the N4 large-lot residential district, 15% in the Agricultural district, and up to 75% in the I1 and I2 industrial districts. The Yellowstone County Zoning Code sets each cap in its own district's site and structure table.
Lot Coverage Limits in Yellowstone County
Some RestrictionsYellowstone County Zoning Code, § 27-304, Table 27-300-3 (N4 District)
The following site and structure regulations apply to any lot in the N4 district. Refer to 27-303 for general regulations applicable to all districts and Table 27-300-3, below, for regulations specific to this district, keyed to illustrations in Figure 27-300(2). See Article 27-1800 for definitions and information on how to measure the following regulations. TABLE 27-300-3. SITE AND STRUCTURE R...
Building Setbacks & Zoning by City in Yellowstone County
1 cities in Yellowstone County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Yellowstone County ordinances
See every category we cover for Yellowstone County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Yellowstone County Ordinance Hub →