An overview of Missoula illustrating ongoing construction and potential housing developments.
Missoula, September 4, 2025
The City of Missoula has temporarily halted the review of all development applications, affecting residential and commercial permits. This pause lasts from late August until September 15 and aims to facilitate the establishment of a new Unified Development Code (UDC) by 2025. Builders express concerns over potential job losses due to permit delays, while city officials emphasize the need for updated zoning regulations to address housing density and affordability issues in the area.
The City of Missoula has made a pivotal decision to temporarily halt the planning review of all development applications, impacting both residential and commercial building permits. This pause, effective from late August through September 15, includes zoning desk availability and all business license applications. City officials aim to adopt a new Unified Development Code (UDC) by the end of 2025, prompting the need for this temporary measure.
This stoppage is designed to establish a clearer framework for future development regulations, which cover crucial areas such as zoning, subdivisions, public works, and parks and recreation guidelines. City leaders believe that implementing this UDC is critical to preventing longer-term negative effects on subdivision activity and the initiation of new projects.
Local builders and construction professionals have expressed significant concerns regarding the potential ramifications of permit delays. For instance, Jason Nuckolls, a local builder, highlighted worries that these delays could result in job losses among carpenters and laborers, especially as the winter months approach. The looming uncertainty surrounding building permits is prompting anxiety within the industry.
Along similar lines, Chris Chitty, another builder in the region, voiced frustration over the expectation that builders must plan six months in advance for permits. This unpredictability complicates project timelines and financial forecasts, raising concerns about possible layoffs in the construction sector due to these delays.
Eran Pehan, the director of the city’s Community Planning, Development, and Innovation office, emphasized the urgency of having a draft of the UDC ready by an internal deadline of October 1. Recent months have seen an uptick in permit processing, with over 200 permits issued, thereby indicating heightened development activity prior to the pause.
Furthermore, the city has generated discussion around the expenditure of $1 million on an outside consultant for the code reform process. Despite inquiries about the necessity to redirect staff resources given this substantial investment, the city clarified that the consultant’s role does not extend to the ongoing consolidation process of the UDC.
One of the overarching goals of the new UDC is to enhance housing density and expand available areas for development. By doing so, the city aims to alleviate the pressing issue of high housing and rental prices that have plagued the area. However, builders and developers remain perturbed over the rising development and permit fees in the past five years, a situation coupled with longer approval times.
Mayor Andrea Davis acknowledged some miscommunication regarding the anticipated delays in development applications. Nonetheless, she reiterated the importance of finalizing and implementing the UDC reforms to facilitate smoother construction processes in Missoula.
The Wye area, which is located near Highway 93, has been identified as a transitional zone for upcoming urban-style housing developments. This area is projected to accommodate between 10,000 to 15,000 homes in the coming decades. Meanwhile, Missoula County has relaxed certain building regulations, exempting specific structures from permit requirements in response to public feedback. This decision is intended to simplify access to building approvals and potentially relieve housing affordability challenges facing residents.
This pause allows the city to adopt a new Unified Development Code, which aims to create clearer regulations around zoning, subdivisions, and other development matters.
Local builders are concerned that delays in permits could lead to job losses among construction workers, particularly during the winter months.
The Wye area is anticipated to host urban-style housing developments that could accommodate between 10,000 and 15,000 homes over the next several decades.
The new UDC aims to address rising housing density needs and create a more predictable framework for future construction projects in Missoula.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Effective Dates | Late August to September 15 |
| Impact | Affects all residential and commercial building permits, zoning desk availability, and business license applications |
| Goal | Adopt a new Unified Development Code by the end of 2025 |
| Projected Housing in Wye | 10,000 to 15,000 homes |
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