Burn bans in Montana
In Montana, counties and land-management agencies declare fire restrictions in stages. The Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) aggregates them and publishes them per jurisdiction — separately for each combination of county, land owner (state, private, federal, tribal) and land class. One county can therefore be under Stage 2 on some ground and unrestricted on other ground at the same time.
All counties in Montana
| county | Status | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Big Horn | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Carter | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Hill | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Madison | Partial Restrictions | Aug 21, 2026 |
| Petroleum | Partial Restrictions | Aug 28, 2026 |
| Phillips | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Richland | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Roosevelt | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Wheatland | Partial Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Blaine | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Broadwater | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Carbon | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Cascade | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Chouteau | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Custer | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Daniels | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Dawson | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Deer Lodge | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Fallon | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Fergus | No Restrictions | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Flathead | No Restrictions | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Gallatin | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Garfield | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Glacier | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Golden Valley | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Granite | No Restrictions | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Jefferson | No Restrictions | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Judith Basin | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Lake | No Restrictions | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Lewis and Clark | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Liberty | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Lincoln | No Restrictions | Sep 2, 2026 |
| McCone | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Meagher | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Mineral | No Restrictions | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Missoula | No Restrictions | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Musselshell | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Park | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Pondera | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Powder River | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Powell | No Restrictions | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Prairie | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Ravalli | No Restrictions | Sep 2, 2026 |
| Rosebud | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Sanders | No Restrictions | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Sheridan | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Silver Bow | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Stillwater | No Restrictions | Sep 11, 2026 |
| Sweet Grass | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Teton | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Toole | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Treasure | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Valley | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Wibaux | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Yellowstone | No Restrictions | Aug 18, 2026 |
How Montana decides
- Montana has 56 counties, but DNRC does not publish one level per county — it publishes them per jurisdiction. Where a county holds several, this site shows the strictest and lists each one underneath.
- Stage 1 restricts campfires to designated sites and limits smoking to enclosed vehicles or cleared areas. Stage 2 adds limits on motorized and mechanised equipment on top of Stage 1.
- DNRC states that its restriction map is for informational purposes and is not suitable for legal purposes — confirm with the agency that manages the land you plan to burn on.
- Restrictions can differ between adjoining counties and between land owners inside one county.
Penalties in Montana
Fire restrictions are enforced by the agency with jurisdiction over the land you are on. Beyond any fine, anyone who starts a wildfire can be held liable for the cost of putting it out and for damage to property.
Classification: — · Maximum fine: —
Common questions about Montana burn bans
Is there a burn ban in Montana right now?
No county-level burn ban is currently reported by Montana DNRC — Fire Restrictions by Jurisdiction for Montana. Municipal rules within a county may still apply.
How does Montana issue a burn ban?
In Montana, counties and land-management agencies declare fire restrictions in stages. The Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) aggregates them and publishes them per jurisdiction — separately for each combination of county, land owner (state, private, federal, tribal) and land class. One county can therefore be under Stage 2 on some ground and unrestricted on other ground at the same time.
How long does a burn ban last in Montana?
Bans are issued by county officials and typically stay in effect until conditions improve or the order expires. Some counties set explicit expiration dates; others leave a ban open-ended until lifted. Check each county's page for the expiration listed on the current order.
What are the penalties for violating a burn ban in Montana?
Fire restrictions are enforced by the agency with jurisdiction over the land you are on. Beyond any fine, anyone who starts a wildfire can be held liable for the cost of putting it out and for damage to property.
burnbanradar reports the counties-level orders as published by Montana DNRC — Fire Restrictions by Jurisdiction. Municipal ordinances may impose stricter rules. When Montana DNRC — Fire Restrictions by Jurisdiction does not list a county, that does not mean no ban exists — verify with the county office. The published order governs.