Montana Rental Fee Rules
Montana rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute caps or regulates rental application or screening fees. Note that any fee or charge for cleaning and damages, however labeled, is presumed to be a security deposit (and refundable under the deposit law). Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-101(4); Title 70, Ch. 24 and 25 (no application-fee section)
The rules in Montana
| Application / screening fees | No statute caps or regulates rental application or screening fees. Note that any fee or charge for cleaning and damages, however labeled, is presumed to be a security deposit (and refundable under the deposit law). Based on the full section lists of Title 70, Ch. 24 Parts 1-4 (https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0700/chapter_0240/parts_index.html) and Ch. 25. |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | No general statute on move-in, convenience or online-payment fees or all-in rent disclosure. Related rules: a cleaning or damage fee of any name is presumed to be a refundable security deposit, and a landlord may not require a tenant to provide an email address as a condition of the lease. Absence finding based on the Ch. 24 and Ch. 25 section lists. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Montana vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | No statute caps or regulates rental application or screening fees. Note that any fee or charge for cleaning and damages, however labeled, is presumed to be a security deposit (and refundable under the deposit law). Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-101(4); Title 70, Ch. 24 and 25 (no application-fee section) | No general statute on move-in, convenience or online-payment fees or all-in rent disclosure. Related rules: a cleaning or damage fee of any name is presumed to be a refundable security deposit, and a landlord may not require a tenant to provide an email address as a condition of the lease. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-101(4), 70-24-202(4) |
| Idaho | Not verified yet | Any fee charged to a residential tenant, including late fees, must be reasonable. The owner may not charge any fee, fine, assessment, interest or other cost above the amount in the rental agreement, or one not in the agreement, unless the agreement is oral or the owner gives 30 days' written notice of the change. Applies to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2023; does not limit rent. Local governments may not regulate rent, fees or deposits. Idaho Code §§ 55-305, 55-306 |
| North Dakota | No statute. N.D.C.C. chapter 47-16 has no cap or refund rule for application or screening fees. N.D.C.C. ch. 47-16 (no application-fee section) | A landlord may not charge a fee to accept cash, a check, or a money order for rent or any other payment due under the lease. No broader statute limits other fees or requires fee disclosure. N.D.C.C. § 47-16-20.1 |
| South Dakota | No statute - SDCL ch. 43-32 does not cap or regulate application or screening fees. SDCL Chapter 43-32 | No statute limiting move-in, convenience or other rental fees in SDCL ch. 43-32. SDCL Chapter 43-32 |
| Wyoming | No statute — no cap, refund rule or portable-screening provision in the Residential Rental Property Act; lease and general contract law govern. Wyo. Stat. 1-21-1201 to 1-21-1211 | No general junk-fee statute. The only fee-related rule: the rental agreement must state whether any part of a deposit is nonrefundable, and the renter must get written notice of that when the deposit is taken. Wyo. Stat. 1-21-1207 |
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Montana Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Montana?
No statute caps or regulates rental application or screening fees. Note that any fee or charge for cleaning and damages, however labeled, is presumed to be a security deposit (and refundable under the deposit law). (Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-101(4); Title 70, Ch. 24 and 25 (no application-fee section))
What rental fees are banned or limited in Montana?
No general statute on move-in, convenience or online-payment fees or all-in rent disclosure. Related rules: a cleaning or damage fee of any name is presumed to be a refundable security deposit, and a landlord may not require a tenant to provide an email address as a condition of the lease. (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-101(4), 70-24-202(4))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.