Montana Landlord Compliance
Everything you're responsible for as a landlord in Montana
Rent control, just-cause eviction, deposits, entry, repairs and recordkeeping, written for people who own or manage a few units, checked against the official sources, and kept current when the rules move.
Jurisdiction
key details
Rent cap · Detail
No state limit on rent increases; local governments are denied 'any power to control the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property' (except property the local government has an interest in).
Deposit cap · Detail
The Residential Tenants' Security Deposits chapter regulates deductions and return only; no maximum amount is set.
Rent increase notice · Detail
No rent-increase notice provision in the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; the 30-day month-to-month termination notice (7 days week-to-week) is the practical floor. Fixed-term rent is set by the lease.
City rules · Detail
Local government units are expressly denied any power to control rent on private residential or commercial property. No local rent-control or just-cause ordinances known.
Just cause · Detail
Either party may end a month-to-month tenancy with at least 30 days' written notice (7 days week-to-week) without stating a ground; anti-retaliation rules apply.
Return deadline · Detail
Written itemized list and balance within 30 days after termination of tenancy or surrender and acceptance, whichever first; if no damage, cleaning, unpaid rent or unpaid utilities after inspection, full deposit within 10 days (as amended Ch. 656, L. 2025).
Nonpayment notice · Detail
If rent is unpaid and the tenant fails to pay within 3 days after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement.
What are you trying to do?
Start from the task. Each route gathers the guides, checklists and forms that apply to it in Montana.
Essential local guides
If you're new to owning here, these five cover most of what will come up in your first year.
View All GuidesMontana Squatting Law 2025: What the Stop Squatters Act Defines as Unlawful Squatting
A Montana property owner who's dealt with a vacant unit being occupied by someone with no lease and no right to be there now has a criminal statute and immediate police removal on their side. Since October 1, 2025, unlawfully squatting on another's property is a misdemeanor, but the law's carve-out for a tenant's guest is narrower than "anyone who claims they belong there," and a genuine due-process concern raised during the bill's passage is worth a landlord's attention too.
Guide
Montana Rent Payment Fee Law 2025: Landlords Can't Charge Extra Fees Based on How Tenants Pay
A Montana landlord who's charged a flat "convenience fee" whenever a tenant pays online instead of by check has a lease clause that no longer holds up. Since June 12, 2025, a fee tied specifically to how a tenant pays rent is off-limits, with one narrow exception that doesn't leave room for a markup.
Guide
Montana Security Deposit Refund Law 2025: Refunds Allowed by Electronic Transfer, Cash, or Check
A Montana landlord who's mailed every security deposit refund check to a forwarding address, or watched one bounce back undelivered because a departing tenant never left one, has a faster option now. Since May 12, 2025, a deposit refund can go out by electronic transfer instead of a paper check, but the 10-day and 30-day deadlines that have always governed when that money has to move haven't changed at all.
Guide
Montana Squatter's Rights & Adverse Possession Laws
Learn Montana's strict squatter laws! Discover how the 5-year tax payment rule and new 2025 expedited removal laws protect your property.
Guide
7 min
Montana Eviction Laws: The Process & Timeline In 2026
According to the Montana eviction laws, landlords cannot legally remove a tenant without a valid reason recognized by state law...
Guide
8 min
Recent changes
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| Resource | Type | Task | Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|
Montana Rent Payment Fee Law 2025: Landlords Can't Charge Extra Fees Based on How Tenants Pay A Montana landlord who's charged a flat "convenience fee" whenever a tenant pays online instead of by check has a lease clause that no longer holds up. Since June 12, 2025, a fee tied specifically to how a tenant pays rent is off-limits, with one narrow exception that doesn't leave room for a markup. | Guides | Keep the right records | Sep 30, 2026 |
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Rent increase dates and notice
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Obligation tracking with reminders
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Move-in and move-out photos
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Records kept per unit, per tenancy
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Repair requests and responses
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Maintenance log with timestamps
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Everything a hearing could ask for
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