Code Reform

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The Our Missoula: Growth Policy Update & Code Reform project, led by Community Planning, Development, & Innovation Department (CPDI), is an extensive planning process that will work with the community to update Missoula's vision for future growth and to modernize the City's development regulations, one of the key tools for achieving this vision.

The City is embracing the opportunity to reorganize and reform our development codes. This will give the City better tools for encouraging development that contributes to shared community goals. Examples of these goals are affordable housing, equity, and climate change mitigation. It will also make the code more clear and easier to use for residents and businesses.


What Are Development Codes & Why Are They Important?

The zoning code includes regulations that determine how land is used and developed. More specifically, it determines what types of development can be built in different areas (or “zones”) of a city and regulates the shape and size of parcels and buildings. Historically, zoning codes were primarily used to separate incompatible uses to ensure, for example, that housing is not developed next door to a loud, polluting factory.

More recently, zoning codes are also used as a tool for guiding growth that meets shared community goals, such as affordable housing or livability with an emphasis on “placemaking” rather than just use and form. Unfortunately, zoning codes often also include outdated and discriminatory rules that contribute to racial and economic segregation and other social equity issues. That’s why it is important for the City to keep the code up to date and remove unnecessary or harmful rules.

In addition to the Zoning Code, the City has many other regulations that guide the design of streets, open space, utilities, drainage, and other development-related issues. These regulations, often referred to as development codes, will also be addressed in the Our Missoula project.

Why does the city need to update its zoning and development codes? 1. The code is not regulating development in a way that advances the community's current goals. A new Growth Policy was adopted in 2015, but the code has not been significantly amended. The city and residents have observed that the code often gets in the way of development that would help achieve these goals. 2. Community priorities are evolving. A Growth Policy Review occurred in fall of 2021. The city identified that the community needs and priorities have changed in recent years. The Growth Policy Review emphasized the need to update the code to ensure alignment between city policies and regulations that guide development. 3. The code is confusing and difficult to use for residents, businesses, and City staff. Rules and regulations are spread across too many different sections. Some rules conflict with other rules, causing confusion about which rule applies. And the various sections are not well organized, making it difficult to find information.


What Will Code Reform Do & Not Do?

Code reform will be intentionally designed to have a positive impact on many facets of new development. This may mean allowing more housing in places that allow people to live in closer proximity to where they work, shop, and find services. It can also mean promoting more housing diversity and affordability. Or that homeowners have better options for renovating their properties. The code reform can also improve how buildings integrate with the surrounding neighborhood. Lastly, code updates can improve the type and quality of public amenities that are included with new development. This includes streets, trails, and parks.

The development code is a set of rules and regulations that apply when a development project or alterations to a property are proposed. It does not require anyone to build or change their property retroactively. For example, the code cannot require a property owner to go back and provide affordable housing or a new park.

The current housing crisis in Missoula is an urgent issue that the code reform will address to achieve community goals. It is just one of many City tools available. For example, the City builds public infrastructure like streets and trails, and develops new parks. The City also provides financial incentives to property owners to build or provide amenities that directly or indirectly benefit the community alongside their projects. These tools work in concert with the development codes to encourage development that meets community needs.

The Code Reform process will result in the creation and adoption of a Unified Development Code (UDC), which is a regulatory document that contains all of the city regulations that relate to development - including zoning, subdivision, public works, and parks and recreation regulations. The goal of adopting a UDC is to provide aligned, clear, and consistent rules and efficient processes that result in predictable land use outcomes.


Learn More

Use the news feed below to find updates, documents, and opportunities to provide your input related to the code reform process of the Our Missoula project. Visit the Our Missoula Events page to stay up to date on in-person opportunities.

The Our Missoula: Growth Policy Update & Code Reform project, led by Community Planning, Development, & Innovation Department (CPDI), is an extensive planning process that will work with the community to update Missoula's vision for future growth and to modernize the City's development regulations, one of the key tools for achieving this vision.

The City is embracing the opportunity to reorganize and reform our development codes. This will give the City better tools for encouraging development that contributes to shared community goals. Examples of these goals are affordable housing, equity, and climate change mitigation. It will also make the code more clear and easier to use for residents and businesses.


What Are Development Codes & Why Are They Important?

The zoning code includes regulations that determine how land is used and developed. More specifically, it determines what types of development can be built in different areas (or “zones”) of a city and regulates the shape and size of parcels and buildings. Historically, zoning codes were primarily used to separate incompatible uses to ensure, for example, that housing is not developed next door to a loud, polluting factory.

More recently, zoning codes are also used as a tool for guiding growth that meets shared community goals, such as affordable housing or livability with an emphasis on “placemaking” rather than just use and form. Unfortunately, zoning codes often also include outdated and discriminatory rules that contribute to racial and economic segregation and other social equity issues. That’s why it is important for the City to keep the code up to date and remove unnecessary or harmful rules.

In addition to the Zoning Code, the City has many other regulations that guide the design of streets, open space, utilities, drainage, and other development-related issues. These regulations, often referred to as development codes, will also be addressed in the Our Missoula project.

Why does the city need to update its zoning and development codes? 1. The code is not regulating development in a way that advances the community's current goals. A new Growth Policy was adopted in 2015, but the code has not been significantly amended. The city and residents have observed that the code often gets in the way of development that would help achieve these goals. 2. Community priorities are evolving. A Growth Policy Review occurred in fall of 2021. The city identified that the community needs and priorities have changed in recent years. The Growth Policy Review emphasized the need to update the code to ensure alignment between city policies and regulations that guide development. 3. The code is confusing and difficult to use for residents, businesses, and City staff. Rules and regulations are spread across too many different sections. Some rules conflict with other rules, causing confusion about which rule applies. And the various sections are not well organized, making it difficult to find information.


What Will Code Reform Do & Not Do?

Code reform will be intentionally designed to have a positive impact on many facets of new development. This may mean allowing more housing in places that allow people to live in closer proximity to where they work, shop, and find services. It can also mean promoting more housing diversity and affordability. Or that homeowners have better options for renovating their properties. The code reform can also improve how buildings integrate with the surrounding neighborhood. Lastly, code updates can improve the type and quality of public amenities that are included with new development. This includes streets, trails, and parks.

The development code is a set of rules and regulations that apply when a development project or alterations to a property are proposed. It does not require anyone to build or change their property retroactively. For example, the code cannot require a property owner to go back and provide affordable housing or a new park.

The current housing crisis in Missoula is an urgent issue that the code reform will address to achieve community goals. It is just one of many City tools available. For example, the City builds public infrastructure like streets and trails, and develops new parks. The City also provides financial incentives to property owners to build or provide amenities that directly or indirectly benefit the community alongside their projects. These tools work in concert with the development codes to encourage development that meets community needs.

The Code Reform process will result in the creation and adoption of a Unified Development Code (UDC), which is a regulatory document that contains all of the city regulations that relate to development - including zoning, subdivision, public works, and parks and recreation regulations. The goal of adopting a UDC is to provide aligned, clear, and consistent rules and efficient processes that result in predictable land use outcomes.


Learn More

Use the news feed below to find updates, documents, and opportunities to provide your input related to the code reform process of the Our Missoula project. Visit the Our Missoula Events page to stay up to date on in-person opportunities.

  • Code Diagnostic & Guiding Principles for Code Reform

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    City Council adopted the Guiding Principles for Code Reform at the June 10th City Council meeting. You can read the agenda and meeting materials here and the Guiding Principles resolution here.


    Code Diagnostic


    The Code Diagnostic is a critical first step in understanding what changes are needed to align our development regulations with our community's vision for the future. It is an analysis of our existing conditions - not a recommendation of specific code changes - and will help us construct a roadmap for reforming the code through the Our Missoula process.

    Missoula's last comprehensive development code update predates the 2015 Our Missoula Growth Policy. Since 2015, the City has adopted and updated many plans and policies related to land development that are not supported by our outdated development. We are updating the 2015 Growth Policy as part of the Our Missoula project, which also includes a comprehensive update to our development codes.

    This diagnostic identifies key issues with Missoula’s development codes and provides actionable insights and considerations for improving clarity, consistency and alignment with the community’s goals and state regulations. It is a synthesis of policy and regulatory documents, listening sessions with frequent code users in the community, staff input, and technical analyses.

    The Code Diagnostic evaluates Missoula's current development codes through the following questions:


    Alignment with Adopted Policies: How well do the codes implement adopted land development policies? Code Format & Organization: How well do the codes communicate expectations clearly and is information easy to find and understand? Development permitting processes: How well do development permit review and approval processes provide predictable, fair, and timely service?

    There are four key findings described in the Code Diagnostic:

    1. Codes present barriers to housing equity, capacity, and affordability.
    2. Codes present barriers to compatible infill development and limit diversity.
    3. Codes do not support mobility and climate policies.
    4. Codes are difficult to navigate for customers and staff.



    Guiding Principles


    The key findings of the Code Diagnostic illuminate the need for a new paradigm of development codes and approval processes to guide Missoula’s more equitable, affordable, sustainable, and resilient future. The key findings are the basis for creating the Guiding Principles for Code Reform. The City committed by resolution to use the Guiding Principles for Code Reform as the “North Star” for comprehensive code reform and they will guide all changes to the development codes and the zoning map.

    The adopted Guiding Principles for Code Reform include:

    1. Organize the codes with a clear and consistent structure that provides user-friendly navigation.
    2. Use plain language and clear graphics to make the codes accessible and understandable.
    3. Clarify and consolidate development permit review decision authority to increase predictability.
    4. Increase overall housing capacity throughout Missoula and especially near key transit corridors.
    5. Provide market-feasible incentives for Affordable Housing.
    6. Allow for more diverse housing choices and neighborhood serving uses throughout Missoula that support the updated Future Land Use Map.
    7. Promote adaptive reuse of existing buildings and prioritize growth that utilizes existing infrastructure.
    8. Promote preservation and protection of the natural environment
    9. Map zoning districts in ways that support equity; sustainability and resilience, a vibrant public realm; and a walkable and healthy community.



    To read the full Code Diagnostic, click here.

    To read the Executive Summary, click here.


Page last updated: 28 Jan 2025, 07:48 PM