State Guides

Montana Lease Agreement: What to Include

April 13, 2025

A Montana residential lease should reflect the state's specific rules on security deposits, entry notice, late fees, and disclosures — a generic template often misses the details below.

Security deposit

Security deposit limit: No statewide statutory limit. Interest requirement: No. Deposits are generally expected back within 30; 10 if no deductions of move-out, with an itemized list of any deductions.

Entry notice and late fees

Entry notice: 24 hours. Late fees: No statewide fixed cap; should be reasonable and stated in lease. Rent increase notice for month-to-month tenancies: 30 days.

Required disclosures

A Montana lease should include or accompany:

  • Federal lead-based paint
  • move-in condition statement recommended/required for deposit claims

Eviction notice

For nonpayment of rent, Montana generally requires: 3 days. Confirm the current specific requirement before relying on it for an actual notice.

The bottom line

See LeasePilot HQ's full Montana landlord-tenant law summary for the complete breakdown with sources, or generate a lease with Montana-specific clauses built in automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I charge as a security deposit in Montana?

No statewide statutory limit. Confirm current specifics before setting a deposit amount.

How much notice do I need to evict a tenant for nonpayment in Montana?

3 days. Notice requirements can change, so confirm the current statute before filing.

What disclosures does Montana require in a lease?

At minimum: Federal lead-based paint, move-in condition statement recommended/required for deposit claims. Requirements can be added by local ordinance on top of state law, so check your specific city or county as well.

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