Building our Future Together - Development Code Update

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The City Commission has restarted engagement and work on this project. See the News Feed for updates.

Updated draft text as of Oct 29, 2024

Updated Draft zoning map reflecting updated text draft


This project is all about implementing the vision and goals established in our city’s guiding documents such as the 2020 Community Plan (aka Growth Policy), the Climate Plan, and strategic priorities like affordable housing.

These broad visions, goals, and priorities are implemented through the Unified Development Code or “UDC” or “the code.” The UDC sets forth regulations around what kinds of development can occur in which areas through development standards and zoning districts.

The goal for this engagement effort is to consult the community on how to improve usability of the UDC and how the regulations in the UDC can help us accommodate growth while meeting community goals in our Community Plan, Climate Plan and others.

Throughout the project residents, developers, builders, and the community at large will be consulted on specific topics relevant to how different people interact with the code. Specific focus areas will be:

  • Formatting, organization of the UDC

  • Zoning Districts

  • Sustainability

  • Parking

  • Transportation

This project page will be the place to go for updates on how to engage in person, virtually, or on your own time. You can subscribe to email updates specific to this project by clicking “Follow Project” on the right hand side of this page. We're glad you're here!

The City Commission has restarted engagement and work on this project. See the News Feed for updates.

Updated draft text as of Oct 29, 2024

Updated Draft zoning map reflecting updated text draft


This project is all about implementing the vision and goals established in our city’s guiding documents such as the 2020 Community Plan (aka Growth Policy), the Climate Plan, and strategic priorities like affordable housing.

These broad visions, goals, and priorities are implemented through the Unified Development Code or “UDC” or “the code.” The UDC sets forth regulations around what kinds of development can occur in which areas through development standards and zoning districts.

The goal for this engagement effort is to consult the community on how to improve usability of the UDC and how the regulations in the UDC can help us accommodate growth while meeting community goals in our Community Plan, Climate Plan and others.

Throughout the project residents, developers, builders, and the community at large will be consulted on specific topics relevant to how different people interact with the code. Specific focus areas will be:

  • Formatting, organization of the UDC

  • Zoning Districts

  • Sustainability

  • Parking

  • Transportation

This project page will be the place to go for updates on how to engage in person, virtually, or on your own time. You can subscribe to email updates specific to this project by clicking “Follow Project” on the right hand side of this page. We're glad you're here!

  • New Engagement Materials Available!

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    A new set of pamphlets has been added to our online engagement activity! We are continuing to gather community input on the topics that City Commission has provided broad direction on. Check out the new pamphlets at bozeman-code.net and provide feedback on the topics that matter most to you - including those shown above and more!


    Your input will help inform the draft code that addresses each topic. Code drafts will then be considered again by the Community Development Board and City Commission throughout the spring and summer as we move toward adoption of the UDC at the end of the year.

  • Code Connect #3 Recording Available - Commercial Districts and Transitions

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    As a reminder, the project team hosted a Code Connect meeting on Wednesday, March 8th, where we provided an update on commercial zoning districts and zone edge transitions. You can find the presentation and recording of the meeting here:


    Code Connect meetings will take place roughly every other month throughout the course of the project, to inform the community about the project and gather input on proposed approaches. We will post about these meetings in advance on this page, so be sure to check back often - our next session on Parking and Transportation scheduled for April 20th.

  • Reminder - Code Connect Tomorrow, 3/8

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    Join us at the next Code Connect meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 8th! The project team will recap their February 14th work session with the City Commission, discuss progress on code drafting, and answer questions about the project. Code Connect meetings will take place roughly every other month throughout the course of the project, to inform the community about the project and gather input on proposed approaches.

    Topic: Commercial Districts and Zone Edge Transitions

    Date and Time: Wednesday, March 8 at 6:00 PM

    Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84562733565

    Meeting ID: 845 6273 3565

    Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keiutIMEZt

  • Mid-Project Intercept Activity Report

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    Throughout the course of the UDC revision process, the project team has been conducting outreach activities both online and in-person. Our lead engagement consultant Interboro Partners has put together a summary of their intercept activity findings (so far!) which you can view now here (link).

    Here are some key takeaways from our engagement efforts so far:

    • Hot topics include Height Limits, Housing Diversity, and Solar Power Generation.

    • Some respondents were comfortable with increased building heights as long as they accommodate affordable housing.

    • Others pointed to specific areas of Bozeman that would be appropriate places for taller buildings along major corridors like Huffine, Oak, and 19th. Some residents opposed taller buildings anywhere in Bozeman.

    Share your thoughts on these topics and more at https://bozeman-code.net/ - more topics will be posted soon!

  • City Commission Work Session Debrief – Commercial Zones, Transitions, and Parking

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    In February, the project team held two UDC-focused work sessions with the City Commission. The first, on Feb. 14th, focused on zone edge transitions and commercial and mixed-use zoning districts. The second, on Feb. 28th, focused on parking regulations. Here's what we discussed:


    • Zone edge transition strategies, including angle planes, setbacks, stepbacks, and landscaped buffers
    • The allocation of land among various commercial and mixed-use zoning districts
    • Which zoning districts should be maintained, modified, or removed from the code
    • Where in Bozeman there should be no minimum parking requirements
    • The number of parking spaces required elsewhere in the city


    The City Commission provided the following guidance to the project team on districts and transitions:

    • Pursue a strategy including the use of a fixed building stepback for zone edge transitions
    • Consider the use of landscaped buffers (including water-wise requirements) and come back to Commission for further direction
    • Update several zoning districts, including:
      • Change most (but not all) B-2 zoning to B-2M,
      • Reconfigure the B-1 district,
      • Modernize the B-P district,
      • Maintain and modernize the NEHMU district, and
      • Remove/consolidate the R-O and UMU districts.

    Regarding parking, the City Commission directed the following:
    • Consult with advisory boards for further guidance on what other urban renewal areas to remove parking requirements (like parts of the Midtown area today)
    • Implement the Downtown Plan recommendations:
      • Remove minimum parking requirements in the core area downtown (roughly Main St. from Rouse to Grand)
      • Reduce the commercial parking requirements in the rest of the B-3 zone
    • Reduce and simplify other parking minimums citywide.


    Visit the City Commission page here to view the meeting recordings and minutes (link). The consultant team's presentation is also available in the Presentation Materials section of this website - parking here (link), and commercial districts and transitions here (link).

  • Code Connect Webinar #3 – Wednesday, 3/8

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    Join us at the next Code Connect meeting on Wednesday, March 8th! The project team will recap this month’s work sessions with the City Commission, discuss progress on code drafting, and answer questions about the project. Code Connect meetings will take place every other month throughout the course of the project, to inform the community about the project and gather input on proposed approaches.

    Topic: Commercial Districts, Zone Transitions and Parking

    Date and Time: Wednesday, March 8 at 6:00 PM

    Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84562733565

    Meeting ID: 845 6273 3565

    Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keiutIMEZt

  • City Commission Work Session #5 – Parking

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    The project team has their next work session with City Commission on Tuesday, February 28th. Our discussion will focus on parking regulations in the revised UDC.

    You can find the related materials, agenda, and the link to join the meeting online the city’s website (link). We’ll post a summary of the meeting as well as presentation slides to this site shortly after the session.

    We will also meet with the Community Development Board the day before, on Monday, February 27th to discuss our progress on the UDC revision so far. You can find out more and join the meeting virtually here (link). Thank you for staying engaged!

  • Reminder: City Commission Work Session #4 – Transitions and Commercial Zoning

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    The project team has their next work session with City Commission on this Tuesday, February 14th. Our discussion will focus on how the new UDC will approach zone edge transitions, and general updates to commercial and mixed-use zoning districts.

    You can find the related materials, agenda, and the link to join the meeting online the city’s website (link). We’ll post a summary of the meeting as well as presentation slides to this site shortly after the session. Thank you for staying engaged!

  • 2/14 City Commission Work Session – Transitions and Commercial Zoning

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    The project team has their next work session with City Commission on Tuesday, February 14th. Our discussion will focus on how the new UDC will approach zone edge transitions, and general updates to commercial and mixed-use zoning districts.

    You can find the related materials, agenda, and the link to join the meeting online the city’s website (link). We’ll post a summary of the meeting as well as presentation slides to this site shortly after the session. Thank you for staying engaged!

  • Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

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    There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and engage with the project next month both virtually and in-person. Keep an eye out for the following events and engagement opportunities:

    • Ongoing: Online engagement surveys (click here to learn more and participate)
    • City Commission Work Session #4 – Commercial Zoning – February 14th
    • Community Development Board UDC Work Session – February 27th
    • City Commission Work Session #5 – Parking – February 28th
    • Code Connect Webinar #3 – Zoning Districts and Parking – March 8th

    We will also be scheduling more in-person engagement station events on a regular basis, so be sure to check back on this page often. We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Page last updated: 20 Nov 2024, 09:30 AM