Montana Title 76. Land Resources and Use § 76-5-302. Substitution of local control for state permit system

(1) If a political subdivision enacts, in harmony with the purposes of parts 1 through 4 of this chapter, permit issuance ordinances, regulations, or resolutions and land use ordinances, regulations, or resolutions that meet or exceed the minimum standards of the department and if the administrative and enforcement procedures established for those ordinances, regulations, or resolutions are found acceptable by the department, a permit from the department is not required.

(2) However, if the department determines that there is a failure by a political subdivision to comply with the intent, purposes, and provisions of parts 1 through 4 and the minimum standards adopted under parts 1 through 4, the powers of the political subdivision may be suspended after hearing and the minimum standards adopted by the department must be enforced by the department until the department determines that the political subdivision will comply.