Montana Commercial Lease Agreement
A Montana commercial lease agreement is a legal document that governs the relationship between a commercial landlord and a business tenant. This agreement includes essential elements such as the lease term, security deposit, rent amount, subleasing permissions, and real estate tax payments.

Montana Commercial Lease Agreement
Tenant and Landlord Due Diligence
Before finalizing a lease agreement, it is advisable for landlords to utilize a rental application to assess the tenant’s financial status and background. This process helps landlords determine whether the tenant can conduct business legally and adhere to the lease’s terms. Similarly, tenants should perform due diligence to ensure that the property meets their business needs.
Montana Business Entity Search
Both landlords and tenants can use the Montana Business Entity Search database to verify a business’s right to operate within the state.
Legal Requirements
Rental Laws
The governing rental laws for commercial leases in Montana are outlined in the Montana Code Annotated Title 30, Chapter 2A.
Consumer Protection Laws
Consumer protection laws relevant to commercial leases are specified in MT Code Annotated § 30-2A-104.
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction for a lease agreement is valid only under the conditions set forth in MT Code Annotated § 30-2A-106. Jurisdiction is valid if:
- The tenant resides in the jurisdiction when the lease takes effect, or
- The property is located within the jurisdiction.
Any other jurisdiction is not valid, even if both parties agree to a different jurisdiction.
Statutes
- Mont. Code § 70-25-101(4) – Definitions
- Mont. Code § 70-25-201(1) – Security deposit – deductions authorized therefrom
- Mont. Code § 70-25-202 – List of damages and refund – delivery to departing tenant
- Mont. Code § 70-25-202(1) – List of damages and refund – delivery to departing tenant
- Mont. Code § 70-25-203 – Failure to provide list – forfeiture of deduction rights
- Mont. Code § 70-24-201(2) – Rental agreement – terms and conditions
- Mont. Code § 70-24-301 – Duty to disclose name of person responsible
- Mont. Code § 70-24-303 – Landlord to maintain premises – agreement that tenant perform duties – limitation of landlord’s liability for failure of smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector
- Mont. Code § 70-24-311 – Landlord authorized to adopt rules
- Mont. Code § 70-24-312 – Access to premises by landlord
- Mont. Code § 70-24-321 – Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
- Mont. Code § 70-24-406 – Failure of landlord to maintain premises – tenant’s remedies
- Mont. Code § 70-24-408 – Purposeful or negligent failure to provide essential services – tenant’s remedies
- Mont. Code § 70-24-422 – Noncompliance of tenant generally – landlord’s right of termination – damages – injunction
- Mont. Code § 70-24-422(2) – Noncompliance of tenant generally – landlord’s right of termination – damages – injunction
- Mont. Code § 70-24-426(3) – Remedies for absence or abandonment
- Mont. Code § 70-24-427 – Landlord’s remedies after termination – action for possession
- Mont. Code § 70-24-428 – Landlord’s recovery of possession limited
- Mont. Code § 70-24-431 – Retaliatory conduct by landlord prohibited
- Mont. Code § 70-24-441 – Termination by landlord or tenant
- Mont. Code § 25-35-502 – Jurisdiction
- Mont. Code § 27-1-717(2) – Issuing a bad check, draft, converted check, electronic funds transfer, or order or stopping payment – civil liability – statute of limitations
- Mont. Code § 27-1-717(3) – Issuing a bad check, draft, converted check, electronic funds transfer, or order or stopping payment – civil liability – statute of limitations
- Mont. Code § 27-2-202(2) – Actions based on contract or other obligation
- Mont. Code § 27-2-202(3) – Actions based on contract or other obligation
FAQs
A Montana commercial lease agreement is a legal document that outlines the relationship between a commercial landlord and a business tenant. It includes important clauses regarding the lease term, security deposit, rent amount, subleasing permissions, and real estate tax payments.
Before signing a commercial lease agreement, landlords should use a rental application to check the tenant’s financial status and background. This helps ensure that the tenant can conduct business legally and will adhere to the terms of the lease.
Tenants can verify a business’s right to operate in Montana by using the Montana Business Entity Search database. This resource allows them to confirm that the business is legally registered and authorized to conduct operations in the state.
According to Montana Code Annotated § 30-2A-106, jurisdiction for a lease is valid only if either the tenant resides in the jurisdiction when the lease takes effect or the property is located there. Any other jurisdiction is not valid, even if agreed upon by the parties.
Rental agreements in Montana are governed by the Montana Code Annotated Title 30, Chapter 2A, which outlines the legal framework for commercial leases and tenant rights.
Consumer protection laws relevant to commercial leases in Montana are outlined in MT Code Annotated § 30-2A-104. These laws help ensure fair treatment of tenants and protect their rights within the leasing process.
A commercial lease application typically includes information about the tenant’s financial status, business background, and any relevant documentation that supports their ability to fulfill the lease terms. This process helps landlords assess potential tenants.