Mont. Code Ann. § 85-1-813

85-1-813 . Valuation of cabin or home sites and improvements. (1) (a) Prior to the sale of project lands pursuant to 85-1-812 , the department shall separately determine the full market value of the land and the value of the cabin site improvements existing on the land and the value of any necessary access easement across existing state lands from the nearest public road. The appraisal must be based on comparable sales of nearby existing properties with the hypothetical condition that the state parcel to be sold is accessible for all lawful purposes. The appraisal must determine the raw undeveloped value of the parcel and the value of the cabin site improvements.

(b) (i) In determining the values required by subsection (1)(a), the department shall establish a list of at least two third-party independent appraisers available to conduct the appraisal of the land and the cabin site improvements. The department shall provide a copy of the list to the cabin or home site lessee. The lessee shall provide the department with a list of at least 50% of the appraisers from the department's list. The department shall select the appraiser to conduct the appraisal from the list provided by the lessee.

(ii) The department shall assume the proportionate cost of the appraisal of the state land valuation. The lessee shall assume the proportionate cost of the appraisal of the valuation of the cabin site improvements.

(c) The department shall disclose the results of the appraisal to the cabin or home site lessee of the land for sale and shall give that lessee notice and opportunity for an administrative hearing before the department to contest those valuations. The department shall review the arguments and evidence received at the hearing. The department shall make a final determination on the values of the land and cabin site improvements.

(2) (a) If the lessee consents to the terms and conditions of the proposed sale and the valuation of cabin site improvements, the sale must proceed utilizing the department's final determination of the values, and the lessee is obligated to transfer its interest in the cabin site improvements existing on the cabin or home site lease according to the board's final determination of their value.

(b) Nothing in this section prohibits the lessee from accepting a price for the cabin site improvements existing on the cabin or home site that is less than the department's final determination of value.

(3) For purposes of 85-1-812 and 85-1-813 , "cabin site improvements" includes but is not limited to:

(a) a home or residence;

(b) outbuildings and structures;

(c) sleeping cabins;

(d) utilities;

(e) water systems;

(f) septic systems;

(g) docks; and

(h) landscaping.