{
  "batch": "411-montana-adult-business-licensing-and-zoning",
  "articles": [
    {
      "id": "learn_r411_montana_adult_business_licensing_and_zoning_411_mt_mca_index",
      "category": "Business",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Statutory code index",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Montana's statutes are published on the official Legislature site at mca.legmt.gov under a codes index page listing titles including Title 7 (Local Government), Title 45 (Crimes), Title 76 (Land Resources and Use), and Title 48 (Reserved).",
      "body": "Montana's statutes are published on the official Legislature site at mca.legmt.gov under a codes index page listing titles including Title 7 (Local Government), Title 45 (Crimes), Title 76 (Land Resources and Use), and Title 48 (Reserved).\n\nWhat Montana State Legislature actually says:\n\n“Montana Code Annotated 2025\n\nUpdated August 2026\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTHE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MONTANA\nTITLE 1. GENERAL LAWS AND DEFINITIONS\nTITLE 2. GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION\nTITLE 3. JUDICIARY, COURTS\nTITLE 4. Reserved\nTITLE 5. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH\nTITLE 6. Reserved\nTITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT\nTITLES 8 AND 9. Reserved\nTITLE 10. MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES\nTITLES 11 AND 12. Reserved\nTITLE 13. ELECTIONS\nTITLE 14. Reserved\nTITLE 15. TAXATION\nTITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA\nTITLE 17. STATE FINANCE\nTITLE 18. PUBLIC CONTRACTS\nTITLE 19. PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS\nTITLE 20. EDUCATION\nTITLE 21. Reserved\nTITLE 22. LIBRARIES, ARTS, AND ANTIQUITIES\nTITLE 23. PARKS, RECREATION, SPORTS, AND GAMBLING\nTITLE 24. Reserved\nTITLE 25. CIVIL PROCEDURE\nTITLE 26. EVIDENCE\nTITLE 27. CIVIL LIABILITY, REMEDIES, AND LIMITATIONS\nTITLE 28. CONTRACTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS\nTITLE 29. Reserved\nTITLE 30. TRADE AND COMMERCE\nTITLE 31. CREDIT TRANSACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS\nTITLE 32. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS\nTITLE 33. INSURANCE AND INSURANCE COMPANIES\nTITLE 34. Reserved\nTITLE 35. CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ASSOCIATIONS\nTITLE 36. Reserved\nTITLE 37. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS\nTITLE 38. Reserved\nTITLE 39. LABOR\nTITLE 40. FAMILY LAW\nTITLE 41. MINORS\nTITLE 42. ADOPTION\nTITLE 43. Reserved\nTITLE 44. LAW ENFORCEMENT\nTITLE 45. CRIMES\nTITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE\nTITLE 47. ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES\nTITLE 48. Reserved\nTITLE 49. HUMAN RIGHTS\nTITLE 50. HEALTH AND SAFETY\nTITLE 51. Reserved\nTITLE 52. FAMILY SERVICES\nTITLE 53. SOCIAL SERVICES AND INSTITUTIONS\nTITLES 54 - 59. Reserved\nTITLE 60. HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION\nTITLE 61. MOTOR VEHICLES\nTITLES 62 - 66. Reserved\nTITLE 67. AERONAUTICS\nTITLE 68. Reserved\nTITLE 69. PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS\nTITLE 70. PROPERTY\nTITLE 71. MORTGAGES, PLEDGES, AND LIENS\nTITLE 72. ESTATES, TRUSTS, AND FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS\nTITLES 73 AND 74. Reserved\nTITLE 75. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION\nTITLE 76. LAND RESOURCES AND USE\nTITLE 77. STATE LANDS\nTITLES 78 AND 79. Reserved\nTITLE 80. AGRICULTURE\nTITLE 81. LIVESTOCK\nTITLE 82. MINERALS, OIL, AND GAS\nTITLES 83 AND 84. Reserved\nTITLE 85. WATER USE\nTITLE 86. Reserved\nTITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE\nTITLES 88 AND 89. Reserved\nTITLE 90. PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT\nTITLES 91 - 99. Reserved”\n\nNote: Anchor record. Opened the official Montana Code Annotated index at mca.legmt.gov. Title 48 is Reserved — no state adult-business code title exists under that number. No state-level adult entertainment establishment or sexually oriented business definition chapter appeared in the index scan.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/index.html",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Montana State Legislature",
      "evidence_quote": "Montana Code Annotated 2025\n\nUpdated August 2026\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTHE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MONTANA\nTITLE 1. GENERAL LAWS AND DEFINITIONS\nTITLE 2. GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION\nTITLE 3. JUDICIARY, COURTS\nTITLE 4. Reserved\nTITLE 5. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH\nTITLE 6. Reserved\nTITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT\nTITLES 8 AND 9. Reserved\nTITLE 10. MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES\nTITLES 11 AND 12. Reserved\nTITLE 13. ELECTIONS\nTITLE 14. Reserved\nTITLE 15. TAXATION\nTITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA\nTITLE 17. STATE FINANCE\nTITLE 18. PUBLIC CONTRACTS\nTITLE 19. PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS\nTITLE 20. EDUCATION\nTITLE 21. Reserved\nTITLE 22. LIBRARIES, ARTS, AND ANTIQUITIES\nTITLE 23. PARKS, RECREATION, SPORTS, AND GAMBLING\nTITLE 24. Reserved\nTITLE 25. CIVIL PROCEDURE\nTITLE 26. EVIDENCE\nTITLE 27. CIVIL LIABILITY, REMEDIES, AND LIMITATIONS\nTITLE 28. CONTRACTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS\nTITLE 29. Reserved\nTITLE 30. TRADE AND COMMERCE\nTITLE 31. CREDIT TRANSACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS\nTITLE 32. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS\nTITLE 33. INSURANCE AND INSURANCE COMPANIES\nTITLE 34. Reserved\nTITLE 35. CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ASSOCIATIONS\nTITLE 36. Reserved\nTITLE 37. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS\nTITLE 38. Reserved\nTITLE 39. LABOR\nTITLE 40. FAMILY LAW\nTITLE 41. MINORS\nTITLE 42. ADOPTION\nTITLE 43. Reserved\nTITLE 44. LAW ENFORCEMENT\nTITLE 45. CRIMES\nTITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE\nTITLE 47. ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES\nTITLE 48. Reserved\nTITLE 49. HUMAN RIGHTS\nTITLE 50. HEALTH AND SAFETY\nTITLE 51. Reserved\nTITLE 52. FAMILY SERVICES\nTITLE 53. SOCIAL SERVICES AND INSTITUTIONS\nTITLES 54 - 59. Reserved\nTITLE 60. HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION\nTITLE 61. MOTOR VEHICLES\nTITLES 62 - 66. Reserved\nTITLE 67. AERONAUTICS\nTITLE 68. Reserved\nTITLE 69. PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS\nTITLE 70. PROPERTY\nTITLE 71. MORTGAGES, PLEDGES, AND LIENS\nTITLE 72. ESTATES, TRUSTS, AND FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS\nTITLES 73 AND 74. Reserved\nTITLE 75. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION\nTITLE 76. LAND RESOURCES AND USE\nTITLE 77. STATE LANDS\nTITLES 78 AND 79. Reserved\nTITLE 80. AGRICULTURE\nTITLE 81. LIVESTOCK\nTITLE 82. MINERALS, OIL, AND GAS\nTITLES 83 AND 84. Reserved\nTITLE 85. WATER USE\nTITLE 86. Reserved\nTITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE\nTITLES 88 AND 89. Reserved\nTITLE 90. PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT\nTITLES 91 - 99. Reserved",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "411-montana-adult-business-licensing-and-zoning",
      "subject": "Montana Code Annotated",
      "topic": "statutory code index",
      "applies_to_country": "us-mt",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-mt"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r411_montana_adult_business_licensing_and_zoning_411_mt_obscenity_statute",
      "category": "Business",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Montana Code Annotated Title 45 Chapter 8 Part 2: statutory obscenity definition",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Montana's obscenity statute, MCA 45-8-201, criminalizes selling, presenting, publishing, exhibiting, performing, creating, possessing, or advertising obscene material to anyone under 18, and defines obscene material as a representation of perverted ultimate sexual acts, a patently offensive representation of normal ultimate sexual acts, or a patently offensive representation of masturbation, excretory functions, or lewd exhibition of the genitals that appeals to the prurient interest under contemporary community standards and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.",
      "body": "Montana's obscenity statute, MCA 45-8-201, criminalizes selling, presenting, publishing, exhibiting, performing, creating, possessing, or advertising obscene material to anyone under 18, and defines obscene material as a representation of perverted ultimate sexual acts, a patently offensive representation of normal ultimate sexual acts, or a patently offensive representation of masturbation, excretory functions, or lewd exhibition of the genitals that appeals to the prurient interest under contemporary community standards and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.\n\nWhat Montana State Legislature actually says:\n\n“45-8-201. Obscenity. (1) A person commits the offense of obscenity when, with knowledge of the obscene nature of the material, the person purposely or knowingly:\n(a) sells, delivers, or provides or offers or agrees to sell, deliver, or provide any obscene writing, picture, record, or other representation or embodiment of the obscene to anyone under 18 years of age or a person, including a law enforcement officer using an undercover or fictitious identity, whom the offender believes to be under 18 years of age;\n(b) presents or directs an obscene play, dance, or other performance, or participates in that portion of the performance that makes it obscene, to anyone under 18 years of age;\n(c) publishes, exhibits, or otherwise makes available anything obscene to anyone under 18 years of age;\n(d) performs an obscene act or otherwise presents an obscene exhibition of the person's body to anyone under 18 years of age;\n(e) creates, buys, procures, or possesses obscene matter or material with the purpose to disseminate it to anyone under 18 years of age or a person, including a law enforcement officer using an undercover or fictitious identity, whom the offender believes to be under 18 years of age; or\n(f) advertises or otherwise promotes the sale of obscene material or materials represented or held out by the person to be obscene.\n(2) A thing is obscene if:\n(a) (i) it is a representation or description of perverted ultimate sexual acts, actual or simulated;\n(ii) it is a patently offensive representation or description of normal ultimate sexual acts, actual or simulated; or\n(iii) it is a patently offensive representation or description of masturbation, excretory functions, or lewd exhibition of the genitals; and\n(b) taken as a whole the material:\n(i) applying contemporary community standards, appeals to the prurient interest in sex;\n(ii) portrays conduct described in subsection (2)(a)(i), (2)(a)(ii), or (2)(a)(iii) in a patently offensive way; and\n(iii) lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.\n(5) Cities, towns, counties, or school districts may adopt ordinances, resolutions, or policies that are more restrictive as to obscenity than the provisions of this section.”\n\nNote: Read MCA 45-8-201 in full. Subsection (5) expressly lets local governments adopt more restrictive obscenity ordinances — this is the hook for municipal adult-business rules. The statute targets dissemination to minors, not private home production for adults.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0450/chapter_0080/part_0020/section_0010/0450-0080-0020-0010.html",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Montana State Legislature",
      "evidence_quote": "45-8-201. Obscenity. (1) A person commits the offense of obscenity when, with knowledge of the obscene nature of the material, the person purposely or knowingly:\n(a) sells, delivers, or provides or offers or agrees to sell, deliver, or provide any obscene writing, picture, record, or other representation or embodiment of the obscene to anyone under 18 years of age or a person, including a law enforcement officer using an undercover or fictitious identity, whom the offender believes to be under 18 years of age;\n(b) presents or directs an obscene play, dance, or other performance, or participates in that portion of the performance that makes it obscene, to anyone under 18 years of age;\n(c) publishes, exhibits, or otherwise makes available anything obscene to anyone under 18 years of age;\n(d) performs an obscene act or otherwise presents an obscene exhibition of the person's body to anyone under 18 years of age;\n(e) creates, buys, procures, or possesses obscene matter or material with the purpose to disseminate it to anyone under 18 years of age or a person, including a law enforcement officer using an undercover or fictitious identity, whom the offender believes to be under 18 years of age; or\n(f) advertises or otherwise promotes the sale of obscene material or materials represented or held out by the person to be obscene.\n(2) A thing is obscene if:\n(a) (i) it is a representation or description of perverted ultimate sexual acts, actual or simulated;\n(ii) it is a patently offensive representation or description of normal ultimate sexual acts, actual or simulated; or\n(iii) it is a patently offensive representation or description of masturbation, excretory functions, or lewd exhibition of the genitals; and\n(b) taken as a whole the material:\n(i) applying contemporary community standards, appeals to the prurient interest in sex;\n(ii) portrays conduct described in subsection (2)(a)(i), (2)(a)(ii), or (2)(a)(iii) in a patently offensive way; and\n(iii) lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.\n(5) Cities, towns, counties, or school districts may adopt ordinances, resolutions, or policies that are more restrictive as to obscenity than the provisions of this section.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "411-montana-adult-business-licensing-and-zoning",
      "subject": "Montana Code Annotated Title 45 Chapter 8 Part 2",
      "topic": "statutory obscenity definition",
      "applies_to_country": "us-mt",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-mt"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.content",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "explicit_solo"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r411_montana_adult_business_licensing_and_zoning_411_mt_muni_licensing_power",
      "category": "Business",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Montana Code Annotated Title 7 Chapter 21 Part 41: municipal licensing authority",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Montana law, MCA 7-21-4101, gives a city or town council power to license by ordinance all industries, pursuits, professions, and occupations and to impose penalties for failure to comply, and to fix license amounts, terms, and manner of issuance and revocation; the council may refuse licenses when it deems it best for the public interests.",
      "body": "Montana law, MCA 7-21-4101, gives a city or town council power to license by ordinance all industries, pursuits, professions, and occupations and to impose penalties for failure to comply, and to fix license amounts, terms, and manner of issuance and revocation; the council may refuse licenses when it deems it best for the public interests.\n\nWhat Montana State Legislature actually says:\n\n“7-21-4101. General licensing power of municipalities. (1) The city or town council has power:\n(a) to license by ordinance all industries, pursuits, professions, and occupations and to impose penalties for failure to comply with such license requirements;\n(b) to fix the amount, terms, and manner of issuing and revoking licenses.\n(2) The council may refuse to issue licenses when it may deem it best for the public interests.”\n\nNote: This is the state-level grant of licensing power to municipalities. It does not itself require any specific licence; it authorizes cities to create their own licensing ordinances. Whether any city actually licenses adult content production depends on the city code.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0070/chapter_0210/part_0410/section_0010/0070-0210-0410-0010.html",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Montana State Legislature",
      "evidence_quote": "7-21-4101. General licensing power of municipalities. (1) The city or town council has power:\n(a) to license by ordinance all industries, pursuits, professions, and occupations and to impose penalties for failure to comply with such license requirements;\n(b) to fix the amount, terms, and manner of issuing and revoking licenses.\n(2) The council may refuse to issue licenses when it may deem it best for the public interests.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "411-montana-adult-business-licensing-and-zoning",
      "subject": "Montana Code Annotated Title 7 Chapter 21 Part 41",
      "topic": "municipal licensing authority",
      "applies_to_country": "us-mt",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "setting_up",
        "region": [
          "us-mt"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.signup",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r411_montana_adult_business_licensing_and_zoning_411_mt_zoning_chapter_index",
      "category": "Business",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] State planning and zoning chapter index",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Montana's planning and zoning enabling statute is Title 76, Chapter 2 (Planning and Zoning); its parts cover planning boards, zoning districts, regulations, nonconforming uses, and related procedures, but no part is titled for adult entertainment establishments or sexually oriented businesses.",
      "body": "Montana's planning and zoning enabling statute is Title 76, Chapter 2 (Planning and Zoning); its parts cover planning boards, zoning districts, regulations, nonconforming uses, and related procedures, but no part is titled for adult entertainment establishments or sexually oriented businesses.\n\nWhat Montana State Legislature actually says:\n\n“TITLE 76. LAND RESOURCES AND USE\nCHAPTER 2. PLANNING AND ZONING\nPart 1. Planning Boards\nPart 2. Planning and Zoning\nPart 3. Zoning Districts\nPart 4. Zoning Regulations\nPart 5. Nonconforming Uses\nPart 6. Board of Adjustment\nPart 7. Comprehensive Plan\nPart 8. Subdivision Regulation\nPart 9. Annexation\nPart 10. Development Impact Fees”\n\nNote: Opened the Title 76 Chapter 2 parts index. No part addresses adult entertainment establishments or sexually oriented businesses. State zoning law delegates to local governments; adult-use zoning, if it exists, is municipal.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0760/chapter_0020/parts_index.html",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Montana State Legislature",
      "evidence_quote": "TITLE 76. LAND RESOURCES AND USE\nCHAPTER 2. PLANNING AND ZONING\nPart 1. Planning Boards\nPart 2. Planning and Zoning\nPart 3. Zoning Districts\nPart 4. Zoning Regulations\nPart 5. Nonconforming Uses\nPart 6. Board of Adjustment\nPart 7. Comprehensive Plan\nPart 8. Subdivision Regulation\nPart 9. Annexation\nPart 10. Development Impact Fees",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "411-montana-adult-business-licensing-and-zoning",
      "subject": "Montana Code Annotated Title 76 Chapter 2",
      "topic": "state planning and zoning chapter index",
      "applies_to_country": "us-mt",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "choosing",
        "region": [
          "us-mt"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "access.geo",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    }
  ]
}