Construction and Property Improvements
Project Review process and application is required for building a new home or structure, drilling a well, subdividing, conveyances, blasting, and other property improvements. Use the outlined processes below to help guide you in the process and asses what applications and fees may be required.
Construction Improvement Projects
If you are considering making improvements on your property, be aware that although it is your property, many improvements must follow community-approved rules outlined in the Covenants and Master Plan. Covenants 6.01 requires landowners to submit site and building plans for formal review and approval by the GLA Board. The Master Plan sets standards for improvements, provides precise definitions, and is an indispensable source of information.
We designed this page to help provide guidelines and understand the administrative process of achieving your vision.
Many land and building improvements do not require formal review.
Projects Requiring Review
When is a formal review needed?
Project Review is required before preparing for construction of homes or structures, bringing materials onto a parcel for building, subdivisions, family conveyances, boundary adjustment and more. The Board must approve Project Applications, unless noted above. Failure to submit a Project Application before beginning construction is a violation that will result in a landowner being voted out of good standing and incur a $250.00 late project application fee.
The building season is short in Montana. Planning is critical. Contractors are frequently booked a year in advance. Park County septic, plumbing, and electrical permits take weeks and sometimes months to acquire. Our forms are short but require precise information. Our approval process cannot start until all necessary forms and paperwork are submitted and fees and bonds have been paid. Please allow yourself ample time. Please review the Covenants and the Master Plan before beginning any project. Knowing the rules will assist you in maximizing your investment and preventing unneeded fines and violations of Covenants and Bylaws.
All project application documents must be completed and submitted to the GLA administrative offices at least two (2) weeks before the next regularly scheduled Project Review meeting. Three to four weeks is ideal and allows the Project Review Committee time to review the application prior to the meeting and ask for more information and clarify any errors.
When you are ready please click the links below to read about GLA standards and the community-approved Master Plan.
Download Road and Driveway Standards
Download Landscaping and Reclamation Standards
Download Subdivision Policies and Standards
House design standards may be found in sections one and two of the Master Plan
All Glastonbury Standards
Note: Green T posts are widely used to mark property corners. They can usually be located on plat maps from the Park County Clerk and Recorder's office. Or you can hire a surveyor to find them. The corner posts must be flagged before your project application is submitted. We will need to view them during the first on-site inspection visit.The next step is to determine what forms you will need so we can begin the project application process for your property improvements.
Project Application Process
Part 1 - Your Responsibilities
Study the Covenants, Master Plan, and GLA Standards that apply to your project. If your land is part of a subdivided parcel obtain and study your subdivision covenants and DEQ certification. Please create PDF copies and submit them with your Preliminary Application. Include a plat map or site plan drawn to scale showing the entire lot indicating the location and dimensions of the proposed construction, setback distances from the proposed construction to the nearest property boundaries, as well as any existing structures or development on the lot for reference including the well, septic system, and drain fields.
Plat maps, DEQ Certification, subdivision covenants, and most other documents about your land may be acquired from the Park County Clerk and Recorder's office. A small fee is charged for copies. Please include Elevation and Plan views of the proposed structure(s) as appropriate.
Download a Preliminary Project Review Application and the associated Forms A1 - K, listed below, that apply to your improvements. Complete the fees and checklist.
Email PDF copies of your completed forms and required documents to info@montanagla.org or mail them to: GLA, PO Box 312, Emigrant, MT 59027. Remit payment for all fees and bonds by sending a check to the above address. Or remit payment via credit card, debit card or e-check at the GLA Payment Portal
Part 2 - GLA Responsibilities
The Office of the Treasury will receive your payment, and create an invoice listing any balance due, or overpayments. Once the invoice is paid in full your application will be reviewed. The Project Review Committee will study your documents. They may ask for more information or clarifications. They will contact you for an on-site visit. Once the Project Review Committee is satisfied that all information is included and correct, your application will be put on the agenda for their next meeting.
Your application will be discussed at the Project Review Committee meeting. Possible outcomes include: passing to the GLA Board for approval, asking you for more information, or rejecting the application.
The GLA Board will review your project. It may be approved, tabled, or rejected. Please try to attend both the Project Review Committee and GLA Board meetings. Once the Board approves your project, you may begin building subject to Project Review Committee oversight and permission to enter your property to ensure the project conforms to your application. Check our online calendar for meeting dates. If the Board does not grant preliminary approval or approval is pending, building may not begin until your application fulfills the board's requirements.
Part 3: Project Completion. Refund of Project Application Bond.
Congratulations! Your project is complete. Now is time for review of your finalized project. Matters typically reviewed on a finalized projects inspection can include reclaimed disturbed land, driveway GLA Standards met, a minimum 12-inch diameter culvert where your driveway connects to the road, minimum depth of road mix applied to your driveway, driveway width requirements, construction debris been removed, disturbed land smoothed, reseeded and free of weeds, and any other matters that arise from construction are remedied.
GLA driveway and land reclamation standards may be downloaded below
Download Road and Driveway Standards
Download Landscaping and Reclamation Standards
Download an Application for Final Project Approval
Once your final inspection is complete, please submit an Application for Final Approval via email or USPS. The Project Review Committee will contact you to schedule a final on-site inspection. When your project is granted final approval the Office of the Treasury will remit an invoice and appropriate refund.
To qualify for a construction bond refund, you must submit a Final Approval Form within three years of starting the project. If your project is not completed, you may request an extension.
Projects Requiring Review Application
To begin your project application you will need to complete the proper forms, pay refundable Construction Bond, and non-refundable project fees outlined below.
The Master Plan is a definitive guide to land improvements allowed in Glastonbury. Specific terms are defined and rules are explained. It will bring clarity to your project and assist in selecting the correct forms.
As required by Section 6.01 of the Glastonbury Covenants, when Glastonbury landowners plan to build a structure, they must first submit their plans to the Project Review Committee of the Glastonbury Landowners Association. Below is a list of common property improvements that require Project Review applications and GLA approval. Links are provided so the corresponding form can be easily downloaded via a new tab.
All project application documents must be completed and submitted to the GLA administrative offices at least two (2) weeks before the next regularly scheduled Project Review meeting. Three to four weeks is ideal and allows the Project Review Committee time to review the application prior to the meeting and ask for more information and clarify any errors.
See Forms Below in Alphabetical Order by Project
NOTE: Contact information on this form is incorrect. Please send application to info@montanagla.org. Updated forms coming shortly.
All projects require that you complete:
The "Project Review Application for Preliminary Approval" and,
One or more of Forms A through K that are appropriate for your project. (Note the non-refundable fee of $50 for the first form and $25.00 for additional forms submitted at the same time.)
A plat map or site drawing drawn to scale showing the entire lot indicating the location and dimensions of the proposed construction, setback distances shown from the proposed construction to the nearest property boundaries, as well as any existing structures or development on the lot for reference including the well, septic system and drain fields
Elevation and Plan views of the proposed structure(s) as appropriate.
All forms must be submitted at least 2 weeks before a GLA Project Review Meeting.
Project Fees
Project fees help cover the cost of processing and reviewing your application. Impact fees help to cover the expense of maintaining our roads affected by construction. You may remit a check with your Preliminary Project Review Application or pay online via the GLA Payment Portal. We accept credit cards, debit cards and e-checks.
Refundable Fees:
A refundable Construction Bond is required in most cases. The bond is refunded when the final approval process is completed.
Non-Refundable Fees:
Application and form fees are non-refundable. Impact Fees are only refundable if a project is canceled before the GLA board approves it.
A fee of $50.00 is charged for each Preliminary Project Review Application. Each additional form submitted with the Preliminary Project Review Applications costs $25.00. Form fees help to offset GLA administrative expenses. Impact fees help cover the extra road maintenance costs incurred by heavy equipment using our roads during construction projects.
Project Review - Process Summary
The Project Review Committee will review project materials to ensure that the guidelines established by the Covenants and Standards of Glastonbury are being met. The committee will also give recommendations and conditions for preliminary approval as needed. Part of this process is an in-person site review to determine if setback requirements have been met: any building, septic system, drain field, well, or driveway must have adequate distance from property lines, streams, ponds, etc. to meet county and GLA standards. In the case of driveways and roads, there must be adequate sight distance at the point where the driveway or road enters into a Glastonbury platted road or subdivision road. The road or driveway grade should be no greater than 10%. When there is an existing ditch along the side of the platted road a culvert must be installed under the driveway. All proposed roads and driveways must meet GLA Road Standards.