Bozeman officials outline Unified Development Code rewrite to simplify zoning, support housing

Chris Saunders, long-range planning manager in the Community Development Department, told the Bozeman Economic Vitality Board on April 2 that the city is midway through a supplemental engagement phase for a comprehensive rewrite of the Unified Development Code and will take revisions to the City Commission in May and June.

Saunders said the UDC — a single code that currently runs over 500 pages and covers zoning, subdivision and several technical standards — is being reorganized to improve usability and to implement goals in the city—s adopted plans. "The Unified Development Code is a single document in the municipal code that covers zoning, subdivision and then a whole lot of other related elements," Saunders said.

City staff emphasized two drivers for the update: better clarity and streamlined procedures for applicants, and legal compliance with recent state land-use law. Saunders identified the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA) as a key statutory driver and said the project timeline is tied to a compliance deadline the presentation referenced as May 17, 2026. He said the city is continuing public engagement through the Engage Bozeman platform, chat kits, open houses and a follow-up survey to refine draft language before formal public hearings.

Major proposed changes described in the presentation include consolidating residential districts (reducing district types from eight to five), creating a new B3C…