76-2-205. Procedure for adoption and amendment of regulations and boundaries, MCA

Montana Code Annotated 2025

TITLE 76. LAND RESOURCES AND USE

CHAPTER 2. PLANNING AND ZONING

Part 2. County Zoning

Procedure For Adoption And Amendment Of Regulations And Boundaries

76-2-205. Procedure for adoption and amendment of regulations and boundaries. (1) The board of county commissioners shall observe the procedures described in subsections (2) through (8) when establishing or revising boundaries for zoning districts and when adopting or amending zoning regulations.

(2) (a) Notice of a public hearing on the proposed zoning district boundaries and of regulations for the zoning district must state:

(i) the boundaries of the proposed district;

(ii) the general character of the proposed zoning regulations;

(iii) the time and place of the public hearing; and

(iv) that the proposed zoning regulations are on file for public inspection at the office of the county clerk and recorder.

(b) The notice must be:

(i) posted not less than 45 days before the public hearing in at least five public places, including but not limited to public buildings and adjacent to public rights-of-way, within the proposed district; and

(ii) published once a week for 2 weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county.

(3) At the public hearing, the board of county commissioners shall give the public an opportunity to be heard regarding the proposed zoning district and regulations.

(4) After the public hearing, the board of county commissioners shall review the proposals of the planning board and shall make any revisions or amendments that it determines to be proper.

(5) The board of county commissioners may pass a resolution of intention to create a zoning district and to adopt zoning regulations for the district.

(6) The board of county commissioners shall publish notice of passage of the resolution of intention once a week for 2 weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county. The notice must state:

(a) the boundaries of the proposed district;

(b) the general character of the proposed zoning regulations;

(c) that the proposed zoning regulations are on file for public inspection at the office of the county clerk and recorder; and

(d) that for 30 days after first publication of this notice, the board of county commissioners will receive written comments on the creation of the zoning district or to the zoning regulations from persons owning real property within the district whose names appear on the last-completed assessment roll of the county.

(7) Within 30 days after the expiration of the comment period, the board of county commissioners may in its discretion adopt the resolution creating the zoning district or establishing the zoning regulations for the district.

(8) (a) When amending a zoning regulation, the board of county commissioners shall provide notice of a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the zoning regulation.

(b) The notice must state:

(i) a general description of the changes to the regulation;

(ii) the time and place of the public hearing; and

(iii) that the original zoning regulation and any proposed amendments to the original zoning regulation are on file for public inspection at the office of the county clerk and recorder.

(c) The notice must be:

(i) posted not less than 15 days before the public hearing; and

(ii) published once a week for 2 weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county.

(d) The board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution amending the zoning regulation after the public hearing.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 246, L. 1963; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 273, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 16-4705; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 591, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 446, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 380, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 154, L. 2025.