The Great Falls Homeowner's Almanac
Utilities, snow rules, the Montana homestead tax rate, schools, Malmstrom and the calendar. The things every Great Falls household ends up looking up.
One. City services, or your own.
Inside the city limits, one City utility account covers water, sanitary sewer, storm drain and sanitation, and NorthWestern Energy handles electricity and natural gas. Outside the limits, many Cascade County homes run on private wells or cisterns, septic systems and propane.
Two. Trash, recycling and the landfill.
City sanitation is billed through the same City utility account. Rural Cascade County residents need a dump ticket from the County Clerk and Recorder before using the landfill.
Three. The homestead rate, and why it does not come with the house.
Montana's reduced property tax rate for a principal residence is not automatic, does not transfer when you buy and expires at the end of every calendar year.
Four. When it snows.
Residential property has twenty-four hours after snowfall to clear sidewalks. OCCGF 12.11.040 is the snow and ice removal section of the city code.
Five. Schools.
Great Falls school assignment is by address. Confirm the address with GFPS Transportation before relying on a listing's advertised school.
Six. Malmstrom.
The 341st Missile Wing is home to roughly four thousand people, and on base versus off base is a lifestyle decision here more than a commute calculation.
Seven. Your first sixty days.
Montana gives new residents sixty days on both the driver's license and the vehicle title and registration.
Eight. The calendar.
Western Art Week, Ice Breaker Road Race, the farmers' market, Montana State Fair, Fourth of July, holiday parades, the Symphony and Smith River lottery shape the local year.
Nine. What the weather actually does.
NOAA normals for Great Falls International give an annual average high of 57.2, an average low of 32.0, 14.76 inches of precipitation and 66.1 inches of snow.
Ten. Outside.
The River's Edge Trail runs roughly sixty miles along both sides of the Missouri, with Giant Springs State Park and major riverfront parks close by.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides city utilities in Great Falls?
Inside the city limits, one City utility account covers water, sanitary sewer, storm drain and sanitation. NorthWestern Energy handles electricity and natural gas.
Does Montana's homestead tax rate transfer when you buy a house?
No. Every buyer starts over. If the home was enrolled, the reduced rate lasts only through the end of that calendar year, and the new owner must enroll for the next year.
Who has to clear snow from sidewalks in Great Falls?
The sidewalk in front of a home is the owner's responsibility. Residential property has twenty-four hours after snowfall, and commercial property must be clear before 11:00 a.m. each day.
How do I confirm a Great Falls school assignment before buying?
Use the official GFPS boundary and bus eligibility lookup, then call GFPS Transportation to confirm the exact address before relying on a listing's advertised school.
How long do new Montana residents have to change a driver's license and vehicle registration?
New residents generally have sixty days for both the driver's license and vehicle title and registration. Commercial license holders have thirty days.
How soon can I buy a resident fishing or hunting license in Montana?
Montana resident status for hunting and fishing licenses requires a hundred and eighty consecutive days of physical residence before you can buy a resident license.