Montana Zoning

Statewide-code state · 3 cities profiled · IBC 2021.

Overview

Preemption classification
Tier C — Dual preemption

Pro-housing: SB 323 (middle housing), SB 528 (ADUs), SB 243 (commercial-to-residential), 2025 parking and single-stair reform. Restricts locals: rent control preemption (2023), bans mandatory inclusionary zoning (2021). Most dual-aggressive red state in the country.

Governance
Statewide

Building and zoning code adoption is mandated at the state level.

Adopted building codes

Local option to enforce

2021
2021
2020
2021
IECC (Residential)
2021
IECC (Commercial)
2021
City-level IBC adoptions (2)
CityIBCAmendment notes
Billings2021
Helena2021

Profiled counties

Cities

Showing 3 of 3
CityPopulationCodeStatusIssues
BillingsBillings Municipal Code, Title 27 — Unified Development Code (Land Use and Zoning) · 13 districtsV2 ✓freshness:volatiledata:gaps-present
HelenaHelena City Code, Title 11 — Zoning and Development · 9 districtsV2 ✓freshness:volatiledata:gaps-present
TownsendCity of Townsend Municipal Code (town code) + Broadwater County zoning regulations (for ETJ / unincorporated land around Townsend) · 4 districtsV2 ✓data:gaps-present

Research status

Data quality

100%completeness3 confirmed