The City of Bozeman is collecting public input on the Affordable Housing Ordinance this November through an open house and survey on engage.bozeman.net/aho. The open house is being held on Thursday, Nov. 21 at Fire Station 3, 1705 Vaquero Pkwy, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The City Commission adopted the Affordable Housing Ordinance in September 2022 in response to legislative action. The 2021 Montana Legislature passed House Bill 259, which barred the City from requiring affordable housing in new development. As most of the other commonly used tools for creating affordable housing are also prohibited in Montana, the City turned to voluntary incentives to create affordable housing. The ordinance, frequently in combination with other incentives, has led to the creation of nearly 1,500 affordable units, with most being under construction or in the project pipeline.
In the summer of 2024, the City Commission revisited the ordinance amidst renewed interest from the public and asked staff to propose revisions, which fall into three categories:
- Administrative changes to provide clarity in its application.
- Enhancements to better incentivize the voluntary creation of new affordable housing units.
- Amend or remove the deep incentives in response to current market conditions and substantial public feedback.
Following the open house and survey, city staff will solicit input from City Boards, incorporate all feedback and return to the Commission with updates. Public comment is encouraged throughout the project process.
Those seeking more information on the Affordable Housing Ordinance can visit https://engage.bozeman.net/aho.
