Yellowstone County, Montana - Road & Bridge FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions Contact Department

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:	How is a county road created?
A:	A county road can only be created and approved through the petition process.
Q:	What is a Dedicated Road?
A:	A Dedicated Road is a road dedicated for public travel. Maintenance is provided by funds put in a Rural Special Improvement District (RSID).
Q:	Who is responsible for subdivision roads?
A:	New subdivisions created since 1996 have created a Rural Special Improvement District (RSID) to fund maintenance in the subdivision.
Q:	What is an RSID and how are they created?
A:	An RSID is a Rural Special Improvement District created to provide funding for road maintenance. It is a condition for new subdivisions prior to final plat approval to create an RSID. Older subdivisions may create an RSID through the petition process.
Q:	What is the process for subdividing land in the County?
A:	Yellowstone County and the City of Billings have a joint City/County Planning Department. Generally, it is best to speak with someone from the joint City/County Planning Department by calling 406-657-8247, or emailing one of the contacts from their web site.
Q:	What permits are required in Yellowstone County?
A:	Yellowstone County requires permits for all work performed in the public right-of way. Zoning requirements may apply. See the "Zoning Compliance Permit" for further information.
Q:	How many employees are in the Road & Bridge Division and what are their responsibilities?
A:	There are 31 employees, as shown below.

Title	Number of Employees	Job Specification
Road Foreperson and crew	15	Maintain 1,540 miles of asphalt and gravel roads in Yellowstone County. This includes asphalt overlays; chip seals; graveling, grading and sanding roads; and snow & ice removal.
Construction Foreperson and crew	3	Reconstruction of current county roads, which includes engineering, re-alighnment, slope flattening, cross section grade, and sight distance improvements. Maintain and replace bridges and culverts.
Shop Foreperson and crew	5	Repair and maintenance of all county shop equipment and Sheriff's vehicles.
Resident Area Operators	5	Responsible for maintenance and snow removal in various areas (Custer, Laurel, Broadview, Shepherd, Huntley Project).
Assistant Road & Bridge Director and office staff	3	Processes payroll, bills, project tracking and budget tracking for the Public Works Department. Prioritization of workload including construction, maintenance and snow removal.