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Missoula, Montana removes all minimum parking requirements for new developments – First in the state.
January 31, 2026/
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 regulations.
Key details regarding parking requirements for new construction in Missoula:
- Elimination of Minimums: The Council has moved to remove minimum parking requirements for new projects, which is part of a broader, ongoing update to the city’s Unified Development Code.
- Context of Changes: This decision is aimed at reducing construction costs and promoting denser, more transit-oriented development, following a 2025 state law (HB 492) that previously capped, and in some cases banned, parking requirements for smaller dwellings.
- Previous Regulations: Previously, developments were strictly governed by Ordinance 3587, which mandated specific parking layouts, driveway design, and prohibited parking in front/street-side setbacks for new construction.
- Future Focus: The City Council has pushed more complex, detailed, and specific parking requirements to the second phase of their code reform project
