Congratulations on owning property in Glastonbury! Improving your land and building a home can bring lasting satisfaction. This guide explains the Project Review process so you can plan confidently and avoid unnecessary delays.

Although the property belongs to you, many improvements must comply with community requirements established by the Covenants and Land Use Master Plan. Covenant 6.01 requires site and building plans to be submitted for formal review and GLA Board approval. The Master Plan defines project categories and establishes development requirements.

Some improvements do not require a Project Review application. The list below identifies examples presented on this page. An exemption from application review does not, by itself, exempt a project from applicable governing-document requirements or governmental permits.

• Moving soil by hand with a rake or shovel
• Dormers
• Driveway entrance arches
• Fences
• Fire pits
• Flagpoles
• Footbridges
• Front door or garage door upgrades
• Gates
• House painting
• Irrigation systems
• Landscaping
• Outdoor lighting, including lampposts and walkway lights
• Patios
• Pergolas
• Ponds, depending on size and depth
• Roof replacement
• Siding replacement
• Stone veneers
• Stupas
• Subsequent skylight installations
• Trellises
• Uncovered decks
• Walkways
• Window replacement

If your project includes additional work or you are unsure whether review is required, ask the GLA before proceeding.

For projects requiring review, obtain Board approval before beginning construction or bringing construction materials onto the parcel. Approval is also required before proceeding with a subdivision, family conveyance, or boundary adjustment.

Beginning work without the required application and approval can result in a Board vote removing the landowner from good standing and a $250 late project application fee.

Montana's building season is short, and advance planning is essential. Contractors may be booked a year ahead, and governmental permits can take weeks or months to obtain. The GLA review process cannot begin until the necessary forms and supporting documents have been submitted.

Submit complete application materials at least two weeks before the next regularly scheduled Project Review Committee meeting. Submitting three to four weeks ahead allows more time to identify missing information and correct errors.

Study the Covenants, Master Plan, and applicable standards before preparing your application. Understanding the requirements early can save time and help you make the most of your investment.

Standards and Planning References

Road and Driveway Standards

Landscaping and Reclamation Standards

Subdivision Policies and Standards

Community-Approved Land Use Master Plan

House design standards appear in Sections 1 and 2 of the Master Plan.

View All GLA Standards

Shipping and Storage Containers

The Master Plan states: "Per Section 5.05 of the Covenants all storage containers, unused vehicles, abandoned travel trailers and inactive excavations in open view of the platted roads or other parcels shall be considered a nuisance and an eyesore".

Shipping or storage containers were also prohibited by a majority vote of the Association's Board.

Identify and Flag Property Corners

Green T-posts are commonly used to mark property corners. Recorded maps from the Park County Clerk and Recorder's office can help you identify their locations. A surveyor can assist when corners are difficult to locate or boundaries need verification.

Flag your property corners before submitting the application. The Project Review Committee will need to locate them during the initial site inspection.

The Master Plan defines development terms and explains the improvements allowed in Glastonbury. Read it before selecting your forms.

Under Covenant 6.01, landowners planning to build a structure must first submit their plans for Project Review. Use the project categories and form directory in the right-hand column to identify the materials needed for your application.

Part 1: Your Responsibilities

1. Study the Covenants, Master Plan, and standards that apply to your project.
2. If your property is part of a subdivision, obtain and review the subdivision covenants and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) certification. Submit PDF copies with your preliminary application.
3. Prepare a site plan drawn to scale showing the entire parcel, proposed construction and dimensions, setbacks, existing structures, well, septic system, and drain fields.
4. Include elevation drawings and floor plans for proposed structures, as applicable.
5. Complete the Preliminary Project Review Application, applicable supplemental forms, fee worksheet, and checklist.
6. Submit the completed documents and pay the required fees and bonds.

Plat maps, DEQ certifications, subdivision covenants, and other recorded property documents may be available from the Park County Clerk and Recorder's office. Copying fees may apply.

Site Plan Example

Elevation and Building Plan Example

Preliminary Project Review Application Packet

Email PDF copies to ProjectReview@glamontana.org, or mail them to:

Glastonbury Landowners Association
PO Box 312
Emigrant, MT 59027

Send a check to the same address, or pay by credit card, debit card, or e-check through the payment portal.

GLA Payment Portal

Part 2: GLA Review and Approval

1. The Office of the Treasury records your payment and prepares an invoice showing any balance due or overpayment. Application review begins once the invoice is paid in full.
2. The Project Review Committee examines your documents, requests clarification or additional information if needed, and arranges a site visit.
3. Once the application is complete, it is placed on a committee meeting agenda. The committee may recommend Board approval, request additional information, or reject the application.
4. The Board reviews the project and may approve, table, or reject it.

Please attend both the committee and Board meetings when possible. After Board approval, construction may begin subject to the approval conditions, committee oversight, and permission for compliance inspections on your property.

Do not begin construction while approval is pending or if preliminary approval has not been granted.

Meeting Calendar

Part 3: Completion and Construction Bond Refunds

Congratulations on completing your project! Before requesting final approval, check that the work meets the approved plans and applicable driveway and land reclamation standards.

• Confirm the driveway meets the required width and road-mix depth.
• Confirm any required culvert is installed and meets the applicable standard, including the stated minimum diameter of 12 inches.
• Remove construction debris.
• Smooth and reseed disturbed land and address weeds.

Road and Driveway Standards

Landscaping and Reclamation Standards

Application for Final Project Approval

Submit the final approval application by email or U.S. mail. The committee will arrange a final site inspection. After final approval, the Office of the Treasury provides the accounting and applicable refund.

To qualify for a construction bond refund, submit the Final Approval Form within three years of starting the project. If the project is unfinished, you may request an extension.

The following categories help you match your project to the appropriate supplemental form. More than one form may be required.

• Form A-1: Residence.
• Form A-2: Sheds, barns, garages, greenhouses, hoop houses, and shops smaller than 500 square feet.
• Form A-3: Sheds, barns, garages, greenhouses, hoop houses, and shops larger than 500 square feet.
• Form A-4: Additions, including sunrooms and mudrooms.
• Form A-5: Guest house.
• Form B: Well.
• Form C: Septic or sewage disposal system.
• Form D: Subdivision, family conveyance, or boundary adjustment.
• Form E: Road or driveway. Refer to the road standards.
• Form F: Factory-built residence or structure.
• Form G: Factory-built home placement.
• Form H: Variance.
• Form I: Commercial or institutional project.
• Form J: Signage or other project.
• Form K: Blasting.

For a building measuring exactly 500 square feet, confirm with the GLA whether Form A-2 or A-3 applies.

For projects requiring review, submit:

1. A completed Project Review Application for Preliminary Approval.
2. The supplemental forms applicable to your project.
3. A site plan drawn to scale, showing the entire parcel, construction dimensions, setbacks, existing development, well, septic system, and drain fields.
4. Elevation drawings and building plans, as applicable.
5. The required fees, bonds, and supporting documents.

Submit complete materials at least two weeks before a Project Review Committee meeting.

Download Application Forms

Begin with the preliminary application packet, which includes a fee worksheet and final checklist. Then download the supplemental forms needed for your project.

Preliminary Project Review Application Packet

Form A-1: Residence

Form A-2: Outbuilding

Form A-3: Accessory Building

Form A-4: Addition

Form A-5: Guest House

Form B: Well

Form C: Septic or Sewage Disposal System

Form D: Subdivision, Family Conveyance, or Boundary Adjustment

Form E: Road or Driveway

Form F: Factory-Built Residence or Structure

Form G: Factory-Built Home Placement

Form H: Variance

Form I: Commercial or Institutional Project

Form J: Signage or Other Project

Form K: Blasting

Application and form fees help cover administrative and review costs. Impact fees help cover additional road maintenance associated with construction traffic.

Confirm the current fee schedule and total amount due with the GLA before submitting payment. The source information lists $50 and $25 charges but describes their application differently in separate sections.

Pay by check with your application or use the online portal for credit card, debit card, or e-check payments.

GLA Payment Portal

Nonrefundable Fees

Application and form fees are nonrefundable. Impact fees are refundable only if the project is canceled before Board approval.

Refundable Construction Bonds

A construction bond is required for most projects. The applicable refund is issued after the final approval process is completed.

Submit the Final Approval Form within three years of starting the project to qualify for a refund, or request an extension if the project remains unfinished.

The Project Review Committee examines your application for compliance with the Covenants and GLA standards. It may recommend conditions for preliminary approval.

A site inspection checks proposed locations and setbacks for buildings, septic systems, drain fields, wells, and driveways. These must meet applicable county and GLA requirements for separation from property lines, streams, ponds, and other features.

Roads and driveways must provide adequate sight distance where they connect to a platted or subdivision road. The stated maximum grade is 10%. Where an existing roadside ditch crosses a driveway entrance, a culvert must be installed beneath the driveway.

All proposed roads and driveways must meet the applicable GLA Road Standards.