Building your home in Butte.
We build in Butte, and Butte-Silver Bow does things its own way: one government for the whole county, its own permits, and a mining history that's still in the ground. We plan for all of it.
- Government
- Butte-Silver Bow, one city-county government.
- Building permits
- Issued by Butte-Silver Bow county-wide. Electrical permits come from the state.
- Soil
- Free yard soil testing through the county's metals abatement program.
- Septic
- Butte-Silver Bow Environmental Health permits every system.
- Elevation
- About 5,500 feet. Heating design temperature: −18°F.
One government, its own permits.
Butte and Silver Bow County have been one government since 1977, and Butte-Silver Bow's Building & Code Enforcement issues building permits across the whole county. That's different from the rest of Southwest Montana, where a house outside town doesn't need one. Plumbing permits go through Butte-Silver Bow too; electrical permits come from the state.
The ground has a history.
Butte's mining history is still in a lot of its soil. Butte-Silver Bow's Residential Metals Abatement Program tests yard soil for free, and the county has rules for handling soil that may contain lead, arsenic or mine waste. In September 2026 the EPA lowered the lead cleanup level for Butte yards, so more properties now qualify for testing.
What applies depends on the parcel, so before we dig on a lot in town, we check with the county about that lot.
Water, wells and septic.
Parts of Butte and Walkerville are in a controlled groundwater area that restricts new wells. Elsewhere, a household well follows the state's exempt-well rules, including a Notice of Intent filed with DNRC before you use the water. Every septic system needs a permit from Butte-Silver Bow Environmental Health.
Built for the cold.
Butte sits around 5,500 feet, and the engineering design temperature for heating is −18°F. We plan the insulation, the windows and the heat for that, not for a Bozeman winter. NorthWestern Energy provides the power and gas, and it needs the state electrical permit before it connects a new service.
What clients say when the trucks leave.
★★★★★Dan Frey built our dream home in 2025 and what a phenomenal job he did. His attention to detail is amazing. We couldn’t be happier with the finished product.
★★★★★From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, their team showed professionalism, transparency and a genuine commitment to quality craftsmanship.
★★★★★Dan is very smart and knows how to put quality work behind his projects. Great work ethic and always willing to work with the customer.
Building in Butte.
Do I need a building permit outside the city?
Yes. Butte-Silver Bow is one government for the whole county, and it issues building permits county-wide. Electrical permits come from the state.
Do I need to test the soil before building?
It depends on the lot, so we ask the county about that parcel. Testing through the Residential Metals Abatement Program is free, and the county has rules for handling soil that may contain lead, arsenic or mine waste.
Did the lead cleanup rules change?
Yes. In September 2026 the EPA lowered the cleanup level for lead in Butte yards from 1,200 to 456 parts per million, which makes thousands more properties eligible for testing.
Can I drill a well?
It depends where. Parts of Butte and Walkerville are in a controlled groundwater area that restricts new wells. Elsewhere, a household well follows the state's exempt-well rules, including a Notice of Intent filed with DNRC before you use the water.
How cold does it get?
The engineering design temperature for heating in Butte is −18°F, at about 5,500 feet. We plan the insulation, the windows and the heat for it.
Tell us about your land.
Own land, or about to buy it? Tell us where it is, what you want to build and roughly what you want to spend. We'll set up an overview call, and if we're not the right fit, we'll say so.