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Cities, including Missoula, Slash Parking Minimums to Boost Housing Affordability
At least 14 states and 116 cities are cutting or removing parking minimums to ease housing shortages.
Since 2019, numerous states and cities including California, Oregon, and Virginia have enacted laws reducing or eliminating minimum parking requirements, while some cities like Columbus have scaled back requirements. This structural shift addresses the growing housing affordability crisis by lowering development costs previously inflated by parking mandates.
Columbus, the first U.S. city to enact off-street parking rules in 1923, historically increased requirements, such as mandating 150 parking spaces for 100 one-bedroom units by 2022. Beginning in 2023, California’s statewide ban and Oregon’s restrictions mark significant regulatory changes. North Carolina and Virginia have recently enacted similar laws eliminating or restricting parking minimums. These reforms face opposition from some local officials concerned about zoning authority and street congestion. Cities must now manage curbside parking through permits, meters, and loading zones to compensate for lost minimums.
Montana has not been mentioned among these jurisdictions, but if it follows this trend, local governments might encounter similar tensions balancing housing demands and parking management. Given Montana’s dispersed urban centers and reliance on driving, eliminating parking minimums could shift development patterns and infrastructure priorities, influencing affordability and growth strategies in the state.
Cities, including Missoula, target parking to promote housing
By The Missoula Current News – Daily News in Missoula Montana
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Missoula, Montana removes all minimum parking requirements for new developments – First in the state.
In January 2026, the Missoula City Council voted to remove all minimum parking requirements for new developments as part of a major zoning code update, positioning the city to become the first in Montana to eliminate such mandates
. This move aims to encourage higher density, reduce housing costs, and update
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