Bill > HB492

This bill revises municipal zoning laws to significantly reduce parking requirements for various types of residential and commercial developments. Specifically, the legislation limits local governments' ability to mandate parking spaces, allowing only one parking space per residential dwelling unit, with exceptions for accessible parking required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill provides additional relief by eliminating minimum parking requirements for existing buildings undergoing use changes, child-care facilities, deed-restricted affordable housing, assisted living facilities, and residential units under 1,200 square feet. Importantly, the bill emphasizes that while these are maximum parking requirements, property owners, developers, and builders are still free to provide more parking spaces than the minimums if they choose. The legislation applies to municipalities with populations over 5,000 and aims to promote more flexible urban development by reducing bureaucratic barriers to construction and adaptive reuse of buildings. The bill will become effective on October 1, 2026, giving local governments time to adjust their zoning regulations to comply with the new standards. By limiting parking mandates, the bill seeks to potentially reduce development costs, increase housing affordability, and support more efficient land use in urban areas.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0886