Building our Future Together - Development Code Update

The City Commission provisionally adopted Ordinance 2151 on Dec. 2nd. Ordinance 2151 is the adopting ordinance for the UDC update text and map. After receiving and considering the text and zoning map, public comment, recommendations from Staff, and recommendations from the Community Development Board, the Commission directed 24 amendments to the text and map. A revised draft text and map will be prepared and provided on this website and the City Commission agenda for the December 16th meeting. Final adoption is scheduled for December 16th with an effective date of February 1, 2026.

The City Commission packet and agenda for the December 2nd public hearing on the UDC update are now available. The Community Development Board (CDB) made their recommendation of approval with amendments on November 17.

The documents the City Commission will consider are listed in the Code Documents section, Fall 2025 UDC Draft Release folder of this page and include:

• Nov 24, 2024 Base Draft - This is the Sept 19th draft updated for editorial corrections, clarifications, and minor revisions. CDB recommended approval of these changes on November 17th. A listing of all the changes is included in the Code Document, Fall 2025 UDC Draft Release folder.
• Community Development Board recommended revisions and Staff recommended revisions to the Nov 24th draft. These are substantive changes and are organized by topic. Supporting revised text is available and linked in each recommending document. The City Commission may decide to include some, all, or none of these recommendations in their final decision. Recommendations include additions, revisions, and deletions in the text and amendments in the zoning map.
• An updated draft zoning map is provided.

Public comment on the proposed update continues to be accepted in writing at comments@bozeman.net, via US Mail at PO Box 1230 Bozeman MT 59715 - Attn UDC Update, and in person at the public hearing on Dec. 2nd.

The City Commission held a work session on November 18th to review elements of the UDC Update. The focus was on understanding the major changes included in the draft code and to receive a report on the recommendations of the Community Development Board. No decisions were made or direction given.

The work session is available for viewing through the City's website. The discussion on the UDC Update begins 34 minutes into the recording. You may click on the time bar at the bottom of the recording image to move through the recording.

The Community Development Board held a public hearing beginning on November 3rd and continuing to November 17th. At both dates the Board considered the draft text and map, public comments received, and discussed possible recommendations. After deliberation, the Board completed its work on November 17th with 14 recommendations for substantive changes as well as editorial corrections and clarifications. The Board recommended adoption of the draft text and map.

The recordings of the hearing on November 3rd and 17th are available through the City's website. Presentation materials are available through the Presentation Materials section of this website.

The City Commission held a work session on November 10th to review elements of the UDC Update. The focus was on understanding the process of public review and adoption for the UDC Update, and the review processes that state law and the UDC create for review of individual applications. No decisions were made or direction given. A report on the status of the Community Development Board review was also provided.

The work session is available for viewing through the City's website. The discussion on the UDC Update begins 37 minutes into the recording. You may click on the time bar at the bottom of the recording image to move through the recording.

Another work session will be held on November 18th to review standards in the code and recommendations from the Community Development Board.

We have some new materials for your review from recent presentations to the public and city boards.

• UDC Information session slides and video
• UDC presentation to the Inter-Neighborhood Council
• UDC work session to the Community Development Board

If you have any questions about the material, please reach out!

The public hearings notice has been published. It is available on this webpage under the Code Documents, Fall 2025 UDC Draft Release, section. The notice includes:

• The dates, times, and locations of hearings;
• A description of the proposed materials for which the hearing is being held;
• A description of how you can participate in the public hearing process.

The City Commission is the final decision maker for this code update.

The updated Unified Development Code draft is now available for your review in the Code Documents section of this page. Thank you for your incredible efforts in providing feedback and staying engaged. The draft includes several changes in response to public comments and recent state law changes, including revisions to mass and scale standards, revised parking requirements, updated public notice provisions, and many others. For your convenience, a Top Edits handout is available, along with a Summary Table that lists significant changes made to the draft.

In addition to the draft, the proposed Zoning Map, proposed Zoning Changes Key Map, and a Summary of Zoning Map Changes are also now available for your review. Find them all in the Code Documents section on this page.

Please mark your calendars for a UDC Information and Q&A session. Both session presentations will include the same content.

• October 1 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. online registration at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W9BbsTmlRK69lknXCrhTXg
• October 1 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Bozeman Public Safety Center in the Community Room

Be sure to review the Key Dates section on this page for important public hearings and commission meetings. Public Hearings will kick off at the Community Development Board Meeting on November 3.

After completion of the supplemental engagement over winter 2024 and spring 2025, the City analyzed input, considered alternatives, and identified potential revisions. The City Commission held five worksessions to review input and options, and to hear from the public on more detailed alternatives to resolve concerns of the public. Direction was given for further refinement of the draft regulations.

A new draft of the Unified Development Code, including an updated map, implementing that additional direction is being prepared and is expected to be available on Sept 20th through this website.

We have a full agenda for Tuesday’s City Commission Meeting, so we are starting EARLY! Join us on August 26 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall. The scheduled budget discussion (originally set for 6 p.m. but now starting at 4 p.m.) will be first up on the agenda, followed by the UDC mass and scale discussion that was originally scheduled for August 19, and finally ending with the Community Plan Technical Compliance Special Presentation.

As always, you’re welcome to attend in-person or online and provide public comment at comments@bozeman.net. See you Tuesday at 4 p.m.!