Missoula County Septic Replacement Program
The feedback period closed on Nov. 20. The county commissioners approved to sign the CBDG Certificate of Application and authorized the submission of the CBDG Application to support the septic replacement program at their Nov. 20 meeting. https://www.youtube.com/c/missoulacounty
Project Background:
Missoula County is applying for a State of Montana Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund a new county program that would help low to moderate income homeowners replace their failing septic systems. The program will provide grants to eligible homeowners located outside city limits in the unincorporated areas of Missoula County. These areas include East Missoula, Bonner, West Riverside, Milltown, Greenough, Potomac, Seeley Lake, Condon, Lolo, Frenchtown, Grass Valley, Evaro, Ninemile, Target Range, the Wye and the urban areas outside Missoula city limits.
If the grant is awarded, the County will be able to offer funding to income-eligible residents to replace failing septic systems. If a homeowner is awarded a grant, a five-year deed restriction will be placed on their home. If the homeowner no longer uses the home as their primary residence or sells the property within a five-year period, they will be required to pay back the grant.
The Community Development Block Program is a federal program established by Congress as part of the Housing and Development Act of 1974. Under the state CDBG program, cities, towns and counties can apply for this grant funding if their application meets eligibility requirements. CDBG funding is used to develop and preserve affordable housing, provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and create and retain jobs.
Project Timeline:
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m.: County Commissioners public meeting – comment period opens
- In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse, Sophie Moiese Room
- Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s civic clerk portal
Thursday, Nov. 20, 5 p.m.: Deadline to submit public comments.
Summer 2026: If Missoula County is awarded the CDBG grant, the septic replacement program would launch.
Public Comment:
Missoula County is seeking feedback on the county’s application for the Community Development Block Grant towards the creation of a Septic Replacement Program. Feedback that is most useful for the County’s application includes comment on the need for the program and how the program should be administered.
Project Lead:
Kayla Talbert, (406) 258-4947, ktalbert@missoulacounty.us
Sindie Kennedy, (406) 258-3688, skennedy@missoulacounty.us
Important Links & Documents:
State of Montana Community Development Block Grant
Submit public comment
The feedback period closed on Nov. 20. The county commissioners approved to sign the CBDG Certificate of Application and authorized the submission of the CBDG Application to support the septic replacement program at their Nov. 20 meeting. https://www.youtube.com/c/missoulacounty
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
Who's Listening
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Phone 406-258-4947 Email ktalbert@missoulacounty.us -
Phone 406-258-3688 Email skennedy@missoulacounty.us
Protecting the groundwater of Missoula County is essential and I strongly support this application. Also attaching a lien or document to each property for repayment upon the sale of that property is appropriate given the owner will receive consideration if he sells with the upgraded system. For the parties who do not sell, are interest payments required while they occupy the property or is it a grant without interest and only repayment at the time of sale. As the grant is repaid, are the funds then put into an account or mechanism for other home owners to be able to use funds in the future?
It is important to not fund or subsidize new developments where there are groundwater and septic issues before approvals of that site/development. Also what is the review process of any proposed development for appropriate septic/sewer concerns?
I strongly believe that the county needs to promote commuting and development further out of the urban area. The affordable housing issue is important and needed but, quite simply, everyone cannot live in the urban area. We commitments from planning and government to not destroy the quality of life we have been able to enjoy. That quality is rapidly disappearing.
There is a need for this program. I live in Clinton and just learned that my septic system does not follow current standards and as a result is beginning to fail. I’m sure I’m not alone in this experience. Unfortunately there were not a lot of codes/permitting likely being enforced outside of the city 30 years ago… I hope the moderate income bracket will be relatively inclusive. With the cost of housing in this area, even those of us with good income don’t have a penny to spare for unexpected things like this!
This would greatly help us homeowners who DEQ are requiring to upgrade to expensive septic systems. We always want to keep clean water but it is unaffordable to most homeowners for these expensive systems. If the governing entities insist we must have them, then they should step up and help us find ways to afford it.
We are personally at risk of losing our home, because of the expense of replacing our septic tank, according to Missoula County/DEQ requirements. This could solve that problem!
This definitely sounds beneficial and kudos to the County for trying to develop this program. I would assume this would not apply to homes on a community septic system, but look forward to more information on it in the future.
I am in favor of providing grants to eligible homeowners to replace failing septic systems in Missoula County.
I think this is a great idea, and effort, on behalf of the rural residents of Missoula County. I live in the Swan, and I know that my septic system was installed in 1986. I'm terrified to learn of its condition. Here in the Swan, we have incredibly high ground water and the ground water and surface water are interconnected and pristine. We need to protect our rare and precious resources in this, the wettest and wildest watershed in the state. I know that I would be interested in a grant as a single woman with a questionable employment status with seasonal surface water, a half mile from the Swan River. I know many other elders and disadvantaged members of the community that could use the help too! I think an application process would be the way to distribute the funds, based on system age and possibly household income.
This sounds like a beneficial program for the community. With the cost of homeownership increases it would be great for low-moderate income families to be able to use grant money for septic system replacements. It is not often that homeowners are able to apply for grant money to make property improvements, and I believe that this would take a large burden off of many homeowners in our county.
Now missoula will force homeowners to get on the missoula sewer and water system, then charge them exorbitant money for there sewer and water. Then only offer the program to low income homeowners. Make sure in your meeting to let the public know the cost to hook up to the sewer and water system would cost all home owners to install. Even if your not low income, mid class cant afford it.
Sounds like a great program. Repairing or replacing would be expensive for older folks.
This program would be really beneficial to my family, however we likely won’t qualify as low-moderate income, yet we also cannot afford to replace our outdated system. Rather than only apply to lower income residents perhaps this could be offered at a sliding scale? This may result in a larger number of antiquated septic systems being replaced before they fail, which ultimately would to be a great community benefit.