About Project Re:Code

A city is like a living organism: once it is born, it grows, matures, and changes. Billings, like any city, has experienced--and continues to experience--this cycle of change. Billings is growing, with new industries, new residents, and new ideas working together to create a thriving 21st century city.

Though change can be exciting, it should not be without purpose and direction. To provide a framework for responsible future growth and adaptation, the City Council adopted the 2016 City of Billings Growth Policy. Contained in the Growth Policy are the Policy Statement and Guidelines, outlining the Growth Policy's key goals and detailing the City's growth guidelines.

To reach the goals of the Growth Policy, the City of Billings must re-evaluate the efficacy of the "tools" currently being used to direct growth. Zoning regulations are important tools for guiding development: they influence what types of development can exist, where such developments can exist, the aesthetic characteristics of a neighborhood, and housing affordability. Proper (or improper) zoning of a community can have a dramatic impact on the well-being of the city and its residents.

Billings' current Zoning Code is outdated; in the 45 years since its adoption, the City has changed dramatically. To keep up with the City's growth goals and objectives, the City's Planning Division has initiated Project Re:Code, an effort to overhaul the existing Zoning Code and create a new code that better reflects the priorities outlined in the Growth Policy and other supporting documents. Project Re:Code is our chance to adopt a new zoning code that will help meet the changing needs of Billings.
 
Learn more about Project Re:Code