County seat: Bozeman
Building in Gallatin County
How zoning works here
This county zones only parts of the unincorporated county — typically specific districts, planning areas, or a buffer around a city. Whether a particular parcel is zoned has to be confirmed with the planning office.
Gallatin County has zoning regulations that apply in certain zoning districts; not all unincorporated land is zoned — citizen-initiated zoning districts cover portions of the county, and some areas remain unzoned outside city growth boundaries.
Building permits
This county issues building permits for unincorporated areas
Gallatin County is a certified local government for building code enforcement. For structures in unincorporated Gallatin County, building permits are issued by the county Planning & Community Development department. Within Bozeman city limits, permits are issued by the City of Bozeman Building Division. Within Belgrade city limits, permits are issued by the City of Belgrade. State law exempts single-family residential buildings with fewer than 5 dwelling units from state permit requirements, but the county's local code may still apply.
Who to call
Building permits
Gallatin County Planning & Community Development (certified local building authority for unincorporated county)
Sanitation / septic
Gallatin City-County Health Department, Environmental Health Services
Floodplain administrator
Gallatin County Planning & Community Development (Floodplain Administration)
Cities with their own jurisdiction
Inside these limits the municipality, not the county, is generally the planning and permitting authority: Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, West Yellowstone.
Check a specific parcel in Gallatin County
County rules are only part of the picture. Terrain, soils, septic feasibility, flood, wetlands and access are parcel-specific.
County authority details researched from primary county sources and verified 2026-08-14. County rules change and this page is a starting point, not a determination. Confirm anything you intend to rely on directly with the office that administers it. Sources: www.gallatinmt.gov, www.gallatinmt.gov, www.gallatinmt.gov, www.healthygallatin.org