HOW MONTANA STREAM PERMITTING WORKS
Understanding the 310 law, permits and agencies that protect Montana’s waterways.
Work in or near Montana streams, wetlands, floodplains and other waterbodies may require more than one permit and review by more than one agency.
THE 310 LAW - Montana's Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act
In 1975, the Montana Legislature enacted the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act, commonly called the 310 Law.
The law protects natural perennial streams and their banks. Private individuals and nongovernmental entities proposing work that physically alters or modifies the bed or banks of a perennial-flowing stream must obtain a 310 Permit.
Local Conservation Districts administer the 310 Permit process.
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
58 local districts across Montana
Administer and review 310 Permits
Help applicants understand the 310 process
Help identify other permits that may apply
MONTANA’S JOINT APPLICATION FORM
The Joint Application Form is one shared application used for several local, state and federal stream-related permits.
Why “Joint”? Conservation Districts and participating agencies created the form to reduce duplicate paperwork, improve coordination and streamline the permitting process.
A project may need one permit or several. The Joint Application provides the core project information used by the permit programs that apply.
ONE APPLICATION. SEPARATE PERMITS.
Each reviewing agency issues its own permit or authorization. You must receive the required approvals before beginning work.
View Permits That Use the Joint Application Form →
See the participating permits and reviewing agencies.
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
Local Conservation Districts — 310 Permit
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — SPA 124 Permit
City or County Floodplain Administrators — Floodplain Permit
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Section 404 / Section 10 Permits
Montana DEQ — 318 Authorization
Montana DNRC — Navigable River Land Use
Each agency reviews and issues its own permit or authorization
USING GILLY
Gilly helps applicants complete the Joint Application Form with guidance along the way.
Save your progress, keep your project information together and return to your application when you need to.
If additional permits apply, Gilly lets you reuse the information you’ve already entered and add only what those permits require.
Prepare Before You Apply →
See what information and materials to have ready before starting.