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Commissioners approve comprehensive text amendments to county zoning code (Zone Change 7.27)
Summary
The Board approved Zone Change 7.27, a package of text amendments to Yellowstone County's zoning regulations addressing housekeeping errors, residential density clarifications, parking minimums, signage, nonconformities and enforcement procedures.
Yellowstone County commissioners approved a comprehensive set of text amendments to the county zoning regulations, designated Zone Change 7.27 and adopted by resolution of intent (Res. 25-49).
County planning staff told commissioners the changes are a mixture of housekeeping corrections, clarifications and substantive amendments identified during implementation of the county's updated zoning code adopted in 2020. The package includes corrections to cross-references and section numbering, updates to conform with a 2023 state law change that removed certain manufactured-home distinctions, and several substantive local changes.
Key substantive changes highlighted by staff included: - Authorization for more than one principal dwelling on large rural residential parcels where the parcel size or street frontage can accommodate an additional dwelling, subject to state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approval for water and sewer when applicable. - Revisions to urban zone districts (Lockwood and parts of Billings) to mirror city amendments and allow mixed-use districts to have fully residential buildings without a requirement for on-site commercial space. - Restoration of height exceptions for items such as flagpoles, smokestacks and antennas that should not trigger building height limits. - Adjustments to parking minimums, lowering required off-street parking for multi-unit and mixed-use buildings and for manufactured homes from two spaces to one per unit as a minimum standard. - Clarifications protecting legal nonconforming uses and ensuring most dwellings may be reconstructed after damage (with a heavy industrial exception). - Corrections to the landscaping and signage sections, including restoring the threshold for when a landscape architect is required and allowing repairs or rebranding of legal nonconforming signs.
The public hearing produced no public comment. Commissioners adopted the resolution of intent by voice vote.
Ending: The county's planning staff will proceed with ordinance-level adoption steps and implementation tasks per the adopted amendments.
