• About
  • Boards
  • Grants + Loans
  • Public Participation
  • Meetings + Events
  • News
  • Contact Us
Department Of Commerce Logo Department Of Commerce
  • DATA + RESEARCH
    • Business + Industry
    • Business Climate
    • Infrastructure
    • Resort Tax Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Workforce
      •  
    Government
      •  
    State Government Finances
      •  
    US Census Bureau Programs
     
      •  
    People and Housing
      •  
    Additional Resources
      •  
    Community Profiles
      •  
    Housing
      •  
    Income and Employment
      •  
    Population
  • HOUSING
    • Homeownership
    • FAQs
    • Reverse Annuity Mortgages
    • Home Loans
    • Down Payment Assistance
    • Borrower Portal
    • Current Rates, Income and Purchase Price Limits
    • Participating Lenders
    • Homebuyer Education
    • Recapture Tax
    • Homeowner Assistance Fund
    • Homeowners
    • Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Program
    • Search Montana Rentals
    • Housing Choice Voucher Program
    • Landlords
    • Utility Allowances
    • Fair Market Rent Reevaluation
    • Emergency Housing Voucher Program
    • Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing
    • Project-Based Section 8
    • Section 811 Supportive Housing
    • Field Agencies
    • HOME-ARP and ESFG
    • HOME Program
    • Housing Trust Fund
    • Uniform Application
    • Community Development Block Grant
    • Community Development Block Grant Cares
    • Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing
     
    • Multifamily Development
    • Compliance
    • Housing Credit
    • Housing Preservation Resources
    • Multifamily Funding Sources
    • Lenders + Realtors
    • Down Payment Assistance
    • Set-aside Programs
    • Veterans' Home Loan Program
    • Community Land Trust
    • 80% Combined Program
    • Habitat for Humanity
    • Mortgage Credit Certificate Program
    • Current Rates, Income and Purchase Limits
    • Recapture Tax
    • Become a Participating Lender
    • Homebuyer Education
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Program Updates
    • Montana Board of Housing
    • 50 Years (1975-2025)
    • Investors
    • Landlord Portal
    • Forms
    • Field Agencies
    • Borrower Portal
    • About
    • Fair Housing
    • Housing Coordinating Team
    • Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    • Resources
  • INFRASTRUCTURE + PLANNING
    • Programs + Services
    • Community Technical Assistance
    • Grants + Loans
    • Pilot Communities
    • Montana Main Street Program
    • Montana Ready Communities Initiative
    • Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Program
    • Delivering Local Assistance Program
    • Opportunity Zones
    • Montana Facility Finance Authority
    • Montana Coal Endowment
    • State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Act
    • Community Development Block Grant Program
    • Montana Community Reinvestment
    • Consolidated Plan
    • Boards
    • Grant Information
    • Montana Historic Preservation Grant
  • BUSINESS
    • Start Up
    • Business Planning Tools
    • Business Counseling
    • Small Business Development Center
    • Grants and Loans
    • Expand
    • Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit
    • Grants and Loans
    • Small Business Development Center
    • Business Counseling
    • Export Montana
    • Locate
    • Invest
    • Workforce
    • Infrastructure
    • Business Climate
    • Programs + Services
    • Montana Film Office
    • Programs + Services
    • Montana Film Office
    • Made in Montana
    • Choose Montana
    • Montana Facility Finance Authority
    • Tourism and Marketing
    • C-PACE
    • Small Business Development Center
    • Indian Country
    • Indian Country Financial Assistance
    • State Tribal Economic Development Commission
    • Tribal Tourism
    • Success Stories
    • Export Resources
    • Indian Country Resources
    • Small Business Disaster
    • Resources
    • Government Contracting
    • Veteran Entrepreneurs
    • Business Licensing
    • Women Entrepreneurs
    • Training and Workshops
    • Partners
    • Intellectual Property
  • About
  • Boards
  • Grants + Loans
  • Public Participation
  • Meetings + Events
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Business
    Resources
    • Business
      Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business
    Export Resources Intellectual Property Small Business Disaster Resources Partners Resources Government Contracting The Montana Financial Assistance Center Women Entrepreneurs Veteran Entrepreneurs Business Licensing Training and Workshops Small Business Development Center Indian Country Resources
    Indian Country
    • Business
      Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business
    Indian Country Financial Assistance Indian Country State Tribal Economic Development Commission Tribal Tourism Success Stories Indian Country Programs
    Programs and Services
    • Business
      Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business
    C-PACE Tourism & Marketing Montana Film Office Choose Montana Small Business Development Center Made in Montana Montana Facility Finance Authority Programs and Services
    Locate
    • Business
      Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business
    Locate Workforce Invest Infrastructure Business Climate
    Expand
    • Business
      Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business
    Export-Montana Expand Small Business Development Center Business Counseling Grants and Loans
    Start Up
    • Business
      Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business
    Small Business Development Startup Business Planning Tools Grants and Loans Business Counseling
    Business Assistance
    • Business
      Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business
    Business Assistance The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Microbusiness Finance Program Montana Automation Loan Program Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative Montana Wood Products Revolving Loan Program Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit Certified Regional Development Corporations Opportunities in Rural Economies Small Business Development Center
  • Infrastructure + Planning
    Grants and Loans
    • Infrastructure + Planning
      Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning
    Grants and Loans Montana Historic Preservation Grant
    Resources
    • Infrastructure + Planning
      Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning
    Opportunity Zones Consolidated Plan Resources Past Programs Census and Target Rate Census Geography Map Income and Rent Limits Resources for Flooding Recovery
    Programs and Services
    • Infrastructure + Planning
      Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning
    Community Planning Platform Community Assistance Community Development Block Grant Montana Coal Endowment Program Montana Main Street Program Montana Ready Communities Initiative Programs and Services Delivering Local Assistance Program Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Program Pilot Communities Montana Community Reinvestment State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Act Montana Facility Finance Authority
    Past Programs
    • Infrastructure + Planning
      Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning Infrastructure + Planning
    Past Programs Delivering Local Assistance Program
  • Housing
    Borrower Portal Landlords
    • Housing
      Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Borrower Portal Housing Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    Landlords Field Agencies Forms Landlord Portal
    Montana Board of Housing
    • Housing
      Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Borrower Portal Housing Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    Montana Board of Housing Investors 50 Years
    Lenders and Realtors
    • Housing
      Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Borrower Portal Housing Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    Lenders and Realtors Regular Bond Loan Program Set-aside Programs Veterans Home Loan Program Community Land Trust 80% Combined Program Habitat for Humanity Mortgage Credit Certificate Program Frequently Asked Questions Program Updates Become a Participating Lender Down Payment Assistance Current Rates, Income and Purchase Price Limits Recapture Tax
    Developers
    • Housing
      Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Borrower Portal Housing Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    Compliance Housing Credit Developers Multifamily Funding Sources Multifamily Development Housing Preservation Resources
    Homeownership
    • Housing
      Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Borrower Portal Housing Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    Homeownership Homebuyers Home Loans Down Payment Assistance Current Rates, Income and Purchase Price Limits Participating Lenders Homebuyer Education Recapture Tax Mortgage FAQs Reverse Annuity Mortgages Homeowner Assistance Fund Homeowner Assistance Fund FAQs Homeowners
    Rental Assistance
    • Housing
      Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Borrower Portal Housing Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    Project-Based Section 8 Portability Rental Assistance Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Program Search Montana Rentals Housing Choice Voucher Program Emergency Housing Voucher Program Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Section 811 Supportive Housing Landlords Utility Allowances Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) Referring Agencies Admin Plan Fair Market Rent Reevaluation Field Agencies
    Community Housing
    • Housing
      Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Borrower Portal Housing Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
    Community Housing HOME Investment Partnerships Program HOME-ARP and Emergency Shelter Facility Grant Housing Trust Fund Uniform Application Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing Community Development Block Grant - Housing Community Development Block Grant CARES
    Resources Housing Coordinating Team Fair Housing About Montana Housing Partnership Conference
  • Data + Research
    Tourism Research
    • Data + Research
      Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Resort Tax Analysis Data + Research
    Programs Industry Industry Development Program Business Research and Information Services Research Tourism Research Business Climate Workforce
    Business + Industry
    • Data + Research
      Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Resort Tax Analysis Data + Research
    Tourism Business + Industry Infrastructure Industry Economic Indicators Business Development
    People and Housing
    • Data + Research
      Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Resort Tax Analysis Data + Research
    Population Housing People and Housing Income and Employment Community Profiles Additional Resources
    Resort Tax Analysis Government
    • Data + Research
      Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Data + Research Resort Tax Analysis Data + Research
    US Census Bureau Programs Government State Government Finances Apportionment Montana State Data Center

Port Out

(Moving Out of Montana)
  • Rental Assistance
    • Portability
      • Port In
      • Port Out
      • Port PHA

ELIGIBILITY TO PORT OUT:

In a case where the head of household or spouse does not have domicile or legal residency in Montana, the family must lease a unit in Montana for 12 months before they will be eligible to port out of Montana. There may be exceptions depending on the situation.

HOW TO DECIDE WHERE TO MOVE?

  • Research, research, research! The payment standards and utility allowance may be different from your current housing authority.
  • Decide where to move BEFORE submitting a request to port (consider: transportation, utility costs, weather and quality of schools).
  • Look at the average cost of rentals in the area where you want to move. 

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE I MOVE?

  • Inform your current housing authority as soon as possible of your intention to “port out” as transferring your voucher can take time. You must provide the name of the city that you’re planning to move to.
  • Remember, moving is costly. Movers, gas, and new furniture will not be covered by the housing authority. Consider these costs when deciding where to move.
  • Depending on the housing authority, the length of the lease may differ from 6- 12 months.
  • The new housing authority may have different payment standards,  estimates for utilities that you pay,  rules, policies, and deadlines.
  • The unit you select must not exceed 40% of your income to be approved by the receiving housing authority.
  • Once your move is complete, your new housing authority will be your contact for future questions and information about your rental assistance.

I’M READY TO PORT OUT

Step 1: Inform your current PHA and Commerce as soon as possible of your intention to “port out” as transferring your voucher can take time. You must provide Commerce with the name of the city that you’re planning to move to.

Step 2: Vacate your current unit in “good standing”.

Step 3: Once you have found housing in the area you plan to move to, your new landlord will need to complete the Request for Tenancy Approval form and return it to the PHA for approval. The request will be forwarded to the new housing authority to continue processing your move.

Step 4: The housing authority in the jurisdiction you are moving to will determine the unit bedroom size and the rent calculation that you are eligible for.

Step 5: After your family’s request and eligibility to port has been approved, and once your move is complete, the new housing authority will be your contact for future questions and information about your rental assistance. 

Porting Out FAQs For Program Participants

A: Porting is used when a family wants to move outside of their state or jurisdiction with a rental assistance voucher. You will need to follow the directions on this page to port. A transfer is used when a family with a voucher wants to move to another unit within their state or jurisdiction.
A: Commerce does not advise that you do so.  You must be determined eligible for the unit, the lease must be signed between the PHA and landlord, the unit must pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection, and the rent must be determined to be reasonable prior to you moving in. Assistance will not be paid if you move into your new unit without completing all steps of the port-in process. If the unit does not pass HQS inspection, Commerce will not pay your assistance in that unit.
A: This depends on the amount your new rental costs! After you have found a unit that works for your voucher size and is within the payment standard, you will be notified of your amount to pay. 
A: Commerce will conduct a reexamination of income for a family moving out of their jurisdiction with portability, unless otherwise posted. 
A: The initial term of the voucher is 60 days.
A: For Incoming Portability, Commerce may grant an extension to your voucher for an additional 30 days, not to exceed 90 days total for portability time.
A: No changes may be made to the file once the portability process begins. You may NOT add members to your household during your portability process.  Only the household composition recognized by your initial housing authority will be processed during the housing portability process.
A: You will need to submit a declaration to the new housing authority, in writing, stating that you want to cancel your port request and have your documents sent back to your initial Housing Authority. Then, inform your initial housing authority that you have canceled your request to port to the receiving PHA
A: You will need to fill out a Reasonable Accommodation request form and submit the completed form to the receiving housing authority’s agency, as no changes may be made once the portability process has begun.
A: Commerce will send you a closed file letter which will explain that we are closing your file and your documents are being returned to your initial housing authority for failure to lease-up. The closed file letter will also give you the right to appeal the decision to close your file and cancel your port request.

Department of Commerce Logo - An outline of the state of Montana with the word Commerce displayed laterally to the left.

  • BOARDS
  • CONTACT US
  • EVENTS
  • GRANTS + LOANS
  • LEGAL AFFAIRS
  • NEWS
  • PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
  • Newsletter Sign-Up

Montana Department of Commerce
301 S Park Ave, Helena, MT 59620
Contact Us | 406-841-2700
Montana Relay 711
Equal Housing Logo



  • Social Media Policy