Montana Telemarketing and Cold Calling Laws
In Montana, sales calls are allowed 8 a.m.–9 p.m., the state enforces a do-not-call list, and recording a call needs every party’s consent.
Montana rules next to federal law
| Rule | Montana | Federal baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Calling hours | Telemarketing to a person's residence is allowed only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., local time at the called person's location (same window as federal law). No Sunday or holiday rule.Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-1412(1)(d) | Telephone solicitations only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(1) |
| Call frequency | No numeric cap, but it is an abusive practice to engage any person repeatedly or continuously in a way a reasonable person would find annoying, abusive or harassing, or to call someone who has asked that seller or telemarketer not to call.Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-1412(1)(b)-(c) | No general federal equivalent |
| State do-not-call list | The Department of Justice operates a state no-call database of residential subscribers, which by statute includes Montana numbers from the national Do Not Call Registry. Telephone solicitations (live or autodialed) to listed residential subscribers are banned unless the subscriber gave prior express permission or had a business contact with the caller in the past 180 days or a current relationship.Mont. Code Ann. §§ 30-14-1601, 30-14-1602, 30-14-1603 | No telephone solicitations to residential or wireless numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, subject to the rule’s exemptions such as an established business relationship.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(2) |
| Autodialer and consent | Using an automated system to dial numbers and play recorded messages to offer or promote goods or services is prohibited unless a live operator first gets the called party's permission before the recorded message plays, or the call gives status information about a purchase, responds to the person's inquiry, or gives pertinent information under a preexisting business relationship. Fine up to $2,500 per violation.Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-216 | Autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers need the called person’s prior express written consent.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(a)(2) |
| Caller ID | Telemarketers may not intentionally block a person's caller ID or *69 from reaching their number (a substitute name and working number that accurately identify the calling entity is allowed). Callers soliciting residential subscribers must identify themselves at the start of the call and may not knowingly block or circumvent caller ID.Mont. Code Ann. §§ 30-14-1412(1)(f), 30-14-1604 | Telemarketers must transmit caller ID with a number that can be called back during business hours.47 C.F.R. § 64.1601(e) |
| Telemarketer registration | Sellers and telemarketers must register with the Montana Department of Justice before telemarketing (application approved before any offers), renew annually, and post a $50,000 surety bond (or cash, CD or government bond). Exemptions include business-to-business sales, existing-customer solicitations and several licensed industries.Mont. Code Ann. §§ 30-14-1404, 30-14-1405 | No general federal equivalent |
| Call recording consent | Recording a conversation with a hidden device without the knowledge of all parties is a crime. Recording is allowed once the parties are warned; if one person gives the warning, either party may record.Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213(1)(c), (2)(a)(iii) | Federal law allows recording when one party to the call consents.18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d) |
| Business-to-business calls | Partial. Business-to-business sales are exempt from registration and bonding, the no-call list covers only residential subscribers, and the calling-hours rule applies to calls to a person's residence. The recorded-message (autodialer) restriction in § 45-8-216 has no B2B exemption.Mont. Code Ann. §§ 30-14-1405(3), 30-14-1601(3), 30-14-1412(1)(d), 45-8-216 | No general federal equivalent |
Calling Montana from a sales team
- Schedule call blocks in the prospect’s local time, not the rep’s.
- Check numbers against the National Do Not Call Registry and the Montana list before each campaign, and honor opt-outs right away.
- Tell everyone on the call that it is recorded before recording starts.
Trellus dials from the CRM list your reps already work, with each call logged back to the record. See the power and parallel dialer.
Montana calling questions
What are the legal calling hours in Montana?
Telemarketing to a person's residence is allowed only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., local time at the called person's location (same window as federal law). No Sunday or holiday rule. (Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-1412(1)(d)). Federal law also limits telephone solicitations to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.
Does Montana have its own do-not-call list?
The Department of Justice operates a state no-call database of residential subscribers, which by statute includes Montana numbers from the national Do Not Call Registry. Telephone solicitations (live or autodialed) to listed residential subscribers are banned unless the subscriber gave prior express permission or had a business contact with the caller in the past 180 days or a current relationship. (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 30-14-1601, 30-14-1602, 30-14-1603)
Is Montana a one-party or all-party consent state for recording calls?
Recording a conversation with a hidden device without the knowledge of all parties is a crime. Recording is allowed once the parties are warned; if one person gives the warning, either party may record. (Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213(1)(c), (2)(a)(iii))
Do Montana telemarketing rules apply to business-to-business calls?
Partial. Business-to-business sales are exempt from registration and bonding, the no-call list covers only residential subscribers, and the calling-hours rule applies to calls to a person's residence. The recorded-message (autodialer) restriction in § 45-8-216 has no B2B exemption. (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 30-14-1405(3), 30-14-1601(3), 30-14-1412(1)(d), 45-8-216)
Do telemarketers need to register in Montana?
Sellers and telemarketers must register with the Montana Department of Justice before telemarketing (application approved before any offers), renew annually, and post a $50,000 surety bond (or cash, CD or government bond). Exemptions include business-to-business sales, existing-customer solicitations and several licensed industries. (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 30-14-1404, 30-14-1405)
This page summarizes Montana and federal rules for general information. It is not legal advice, rules change, and exemptions depend on the facts of your calls. Read the cited sources or ask counsel before relying on it.