Contact

Reaching the Billings Metro Authority resource network connects residents, businesses, researchers, and civic professionals with accurate, locally grounded information about the Billings metropolitan area. This page outlines how inquiries are handled, what response timelines look like, and which channels are best suited for different types of requests. Understanding the scope of coverage helps direct questions to the right resource the first time.

Response expectations

Inquiries submitted through the site's standard contact form are reviewed during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. Responses to general information requests are typically issued within 2 business days. Requests involving detailed research, document retrieval, or cross-departmental referrals may require up to 5 business days for a substantive reply.

Response timelines vary by request type. The following breakdown distinguishes the 3 primary inquiry categories and their associated handling paths:

1. General information requests — Questions about the Billings metro area, population data, economic conditions, or civic structure are routed to the editorial and reference team. These carry a 2-business-day response window.
2. Data and research inquiries — Requests for specific figures from census records, budget documents, or infrastructure reports require source verification and may take 3 to 5 business days. Relevant internal pages such as Billings Metro Key Statistics and Billings Metro Census Data address a broad range of these questions directly.
3. Partnership and institutional inquiries — Requests from government agencies, academic institutions, journalists, or civic organizations regarding sourcing, data partnerships, or formal referrals are handled separately and carry a 5-business-day initial response target.

Submitting a complete, specific question reduces processing time. Vague or multi-part inquiries that span more than one subject area are split and addressed sequentially rather than simultaneously.

Additional contact options

For users who prefer to locate answers independently before submitting a request, the site maintains structured reference pages covering the full scope of Billings metro civic and economic life. The Billings Metro Frequently Asked Questions page addresses the 40+ most common questions submitted through the contact channel, organized by topic. The How to Get Help for Billings Metro page provides a step-by-step guide to navigating the resource network.

Subject-specific inquiries are best directed through the corresponding reference section first. For example:

• Zoning and land use questions are addressed on the Billings Metro Zoning and Land Use page.
• Business licensing and permit questions are covered at Billings Metro Business Licensing and Permits.
• Questions about government structure or elected leadership are handled at Billings Metro Government Structure and Billings Metro Elected Officials.
• Budget and public finance questions are addressed on the Billings Metro Budget and Finance page.

Submitting a contact request after reviewing the relevant reference page, and noting what specific information was not found there, significantly improves response accuracy.

How to reach this office

The primary contact method is the on-page inquiry form, which captures the request category, subject, contact email, and a free-text description. All fields are required to ensure requests are routed correctly on the first pass.

Email-based inquiries submitted without using the form are accepted but carry a lower routing priority than form submissions. Phone-based inquiries are not supported for this reference resource; all substantive responses are issued in writing to create a reliable record for follow-up.

For time-sensitive civic matters — such as emergency public safety questions, active utility outages, or immediate government service needs — the appropriate point of contact is the City of Billings directly, not this reference site. The City of Billings operates offices at 220 N. 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101, with department-specific lines listed on the official city website at billingsmt.gov. Yellowstone County government offices are reachable through the Yellowstone County administrative offices at 217 N. 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101.

Service area covered

This resource covers the Billings metropolitan statistical area (MSA) as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Billings MSA encompasses Yellowstone County as its primary county. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Yellowstone County recorded a population of 161,300 residents, making it the most populous county in Montana (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census).

Coverage extends across the full range of civic, governmental, economic, and infrastructure topics relevant to the metro area, including transportation, housing, education, public safety, utilities, environmental policy, and federal program participation. Regional topics that extend beyond the Billings MSA boundary — such as broader eastern Montana economic conditions or statewide policy — are addressed only where they directly affect Billings metro residents, businesses, or government operations.

Inquiries falling entirely outside the Billings metro geography, such as those involving other Montana cities or out-of-state jurisdictions, are outside the scope of this resource and will be noted as such in the response. The Billings Metro Area Overview and Billings Metro Regional Planning pages define the geographic and administrative boundaries in greater detail.

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