The Bozeman Community Development Board unanimously approved two housekeeping amendments to the Unified Development Code at its June 15th meeting, with both items moving to the City Commission for final consideration on July 14th. The first amendment addresses parking standards in the B-3 downtown district, carrying forward provisions the commission specifically tailored for that area before an October 1st state law deadline. Without this fix, downtown parking regulations would default to citywide standards, affecting group residential uses and commercial standards unique to the district.
The second amendment proved more substantive, focusing on short-term rentals in the newly created RA residential district. When the code consolidated the former RS, R1, and R2 districts into RA, a discrepancy emerged: R2 had permitted Type 2 short-term rentals (owner-occupied homes rented while the owner is away), but RS and R1 had not. Community Development Director Erin George explained that staff initially drafted language prohibiting Type 2 rentals in RA, a decision that affected 62 existing properties. Board Member Mark Egge moved to replace the grandfathering approach with outright allowance of Type 2 rentals in RA, citing consistency, affordability, and administrative simplicity. The amendment passed 4-0. Board members noted that Type 2 rentals represent 53 percent of all short-term rental permits citywide and help residents manage housing costs.