Montana bill proposed allowing more homes in city zones

Cities with at least 5,000 residents would have to allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes on certain lots. This applies in cities with at least 5,000 residents, on lots where a single-family home is allowed. Rules for these homes could not be more restrictive than rules for single-family homes.

A municipality's governing body would have to allow larger apartment buildings and some mixed-use projects on qualifying lots. This applies in a Census-designated urban municipality with more than 5,000 residents as of the latest census. A larger apartment building has at least five homes. A mixed-use project has homes and limited nonresidential space on the first floor of a building with at least two stories. The lot must be in a commercial zone and have letters confirming that municipal water and sewer systems can serve it. Parking rules could require no more than one off-street space per home, plus accessible spaces required by federal law; a shared parking agreement could provide the same number of spaces.

Local governments would have to include at least five housing strategies in zoning rules for most areas where homes are allowed. The requirement covers most areas in a local government's jurisdiction where residential development is allowed. Strategies include allowing different kinds of homes, reducing some parking or lot-size rules, and allowing homes near transit or in commercial areas. Some existing rules adopted before May 17, 2023, would count toward the total. If one strategy includes another, only one would count.