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State guides / Montana

Montana property data

Montana is a little different. Montana's Department of Revenue, not the counties, appraises property statewide. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.

  • 56Counties
  • Not publicSale prices
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What you can get in Montana

Montana makes most property records public, but it doesn't require sale prices to be recorded. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.

Public everywhere

Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.

  • Owners and mailing addressesFrom the montana Department of Revenue (statewide)
  • Deeds and mortgagesCounty Clerk and Recorder in each county
  • Assessed valuesThe Department of Revenue reappraises homes every two years, in odd-numbered years.
  • Tax lien salesRun county by county
  • Foreclosure filings and salesNotices of sale are recorded or posted
  • Lot linesCounty parcel maps

Depends on the town

Cities and towns keep building permits and code enforcement records, and Montana's public records law and constitutional right to know cover those records.

  • Code violations and condemnations
  • Building permits
  • Rental registration and inspections
  • Zoning maps and ordinances
  • Water and sewer liens

Not public

What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.

  • Sale pricesMontana is a non-disclosure state. Buyers file a realty transfer certificate with the Department of Revenue, but state law keeps it confidential.
  • Owner phone numbers and emails
  • Rents and leases
  • Active listingsThose live in the MLS
  • Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not

How property changes hands here

Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.

Tax lien certificates

Each County Treasurer attaches a tax lien in August and sells assignments of those liens, often by lottery when there are several buyers. The owner generally has three years to redeem, with a 2% penalty and interest of 5/6 of 1% per month (about 10% a year). If not redeemed, the lienholder can get a tax deed after giving notice, but owner-occupied homes go to a public auction instead and any surplus goes to the former owner.

Foreclosure mostly skips the courts

Most Montana home loans use a trust indenture under the Small Tract Financing Act, which lets a trustee sell the home outside court. The trustee must record and mail notice at least 120 days before the sale, and there is no right to redeem after the sale. Lenders can also foreclose in court.

Land banks

Montana has no state law that lets local governments create land banks for vacant or tax-delinquent property. The state's land banking program is for state trust land, which is different.

Transfer tax

No state transfer tax.

Worth knowing

Montana does not disclose sale prices, so comparable sales are hard to see in public records.

Worth knowing

Owner-occupied homes cannot be taken by a plain tax deed. They go to auction, the opening bid includes half the assessed value, and the surplus is sent to the owner within 30 days.

Every county in Montana

Choose any county to get started.

Questions

Are property sale prices public in Montana?

No. Montana is a non-disclosure state. Buyers file a realty transfer certificate with the price, but state law keeps it confidential.

How do tax sales work in Montana?

County treasurers sell assignments of tax liens. The owner generally has three years to redeem, paying a 2% penalty and about 10% a year in interest. After that the lienholder can get a tax deed, except owner-occupied homes, which go to auction with any surplus paid to the owner.

Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in Montana?

With the County Clerk and Recorder in the county where the property sits.

How often are Montana properties reassessed?

Every two years. The Montana Department of Revenue reappraises property statewide in odd-numbered years.

Is foreclosure judicial in Montana?

Usually not. Most loans use a trust indenture, which lets a trustee sell the home without going to court after at least 120 days of notice. Lenders can also foreclose in court.

Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?

Yes. Montana's Constitution gives a right to know, and the Public Records Act lets anyone request records from state, county and city offices. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.

Sources for this guide

Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.

Every parcel, on one map

Deedplat is in beta. Pick any Montana county to get started.

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