Property Classifications and Class Codes

Montana currently has 16 property classes.

For locally assessed property, that property that does not meet the criteria for central assessment, the table below lists all 16 property classes, the standard used to determine the value, and how often we determine the value.

For more information on centrally assessed property, please visit the Centrally Assessed landing page.

Download the 2026 Property Class Codes Table (PDF, 766 KB)

Property Classes

Class Classification Description Valuation Standard Real Property Valuation Cycle Personal Property Valuation Cycle
1 Net proceeds of mines Net proceeds Every year N/A
2 Gross proceeds of metal mines Gross proceeds Every year N/A
3 Agricultural land Production value Every 2 years N/A
4 Residential, commercial, and industrial land and improvements Market value Every 2 years Every year
5
  • Pollution control equipment
  • Independent and rural electric and telephone cooperatives
  • New and expanding industry
  • Electrolytic reduction facilities
  • Research and development firms
  • Gasohol production property
 Market value Every 2 years Every year
7 Noncentrally assessed utilities Market value Every 2 years Every year
8 Business equipment Market value N/A Every year
9 Pipelines and nonelectric generating property of electric utilities Market value Every 2 years Every year
10 Forest land Production value Every 2 years N/A
12 Airlines and railroads Market value Every 2 years Every year
13 Telecommunication utilities and the electric generation property of electric utilities Market value Every 2 years Every year
14 Renewable energy production and transmission property Market value Every 2 years Every year
15 Carbon dioxide and liquid pipeline property Market value Every 2 years Every year
16 High voltage DC converter property Market value Every 2 years Every year
17 Qualified data centers Market value Every 2 years Every year
18 Green hydrogen facility, pipeline, or storage system Market value Every 2 years Every year

Special Classification Requirements

The following requirements apply to property owners seeking Class 14, 15, 16, or 18 classification, or a tax abatement under 18-2-414, MCA, during construction.

State Prevailing Wages

View the State Prevailing Wage Rates from the Department of Labor and Industry.

Responsibilities of the contracting agent include:

Responsibilities of the contractor and subcontractor include:

  • Posting a prevailing wage rate schedule on the site of the project or work area;
  • Classifying workers in accordance with the craft or trade to be performed and paying the established prevailing wage rate;
  • Keeping a record of hours and wages paid to the workers;
  • Providing payroll records for inspection to the Department of Labor and Industry or the contracting agent upon request; and
  • Ensuring that at least 50% of the workers performing labor on the project are Montana residents, except where prohibited by federal law. (The employer must demonstrate they tried to hire Montana workers and none were available for the positions. This requires proof that an effort was made to recruit Montana workers.)

Responsibilities of the Department of Labor and Industry include:

  • Establishing prevailing wage rates for use on public works contracts;
  • Conducting surveys to determine the prevailing wage rate schedules;
  • Filing and issuing prevailing wage rates;
  • Inspecting and auditing payroll records of contractors; and
  • Investigating complaints of nonpayment of prevailing wage rates

Responsibilities of the Department of Revenue include:

  • Determining the market value of the property;
  • Classifying the property; and
  • Working with the Department of Labor and Industry to verify the standard prevailing rate of wages for heavy construction was paid during construction.

Qualified Data Center (Class 17)

For detailed requirements, valuation information, and applications for Class 17 property, see the Qualified Data Center page.