Montana Title 76. Land Resources and Use § 76-5-301. Land use regulations

(1) Upon transmittal of the flood plain information to officials of a political subdivision, the political subdivision has 6 months from the date of transmittal to adopt land use regulations that meet or exceed the minimum standards of the department. The regulations may include, for the purposes of flood plain management only, flood plain management regulations within sheetflood areas as determined by the federal emergency management agency.

(2) If within the 6-month period the political subdivision has failed to adopt the land use regulations, the department shall enforce the minimum standards within the designated flood plain or the designated floodway as established by the department under 76-5-202 through 76-5-205, and an artificial obstruction or nonconforming use may not be established by any person within the designated flood plain or the designated floodway unless specifically authorized by the department.

(3) A political subdivision that has failed to adopt land use regulations that meet or exceed the minimum standards of the department within the 6-month period may subsequently adopt regulations, and if approved by the department, the regulations are effective within the designated flood plain or floodway and must be administered and enforced by the political subdivision.

(4) When necessary for compliance with federal flood insurance requirements, the department may shorten the 6-month period upon notification to the political subdivision and publication of a notice of the revised period in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area once a week for 3 consecutive weeks.