Update of NCOD Design Standards
Summary
The update to the historic district's design guidelines is paused after the city lost its historic preservation planner and consultant. Staff plan to re-hire a consultant this fall and a new planner is being recruited.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 7
- Last 30 days
- 1
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 13, 2026.
Impact analysis
The city will spend money on a new consulting contract to restart the project.
Eventually, owners and developers in the historic district who want clearer, updated design standards.
Homeowners could face more micromanagement if the complexity stands; neighborhoods fear continued loss of character if standards stay weak.
Mentions & discussions (7)
Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board - Oct 13, 2026
The draft would relocate NCOD regulations to other parts of the Unified Development Code and update its language. NCOD rules affect what homeowners and developers can do in Bozeman's conservation districts.
Community Development Board - Sep 21, 2026
The update to the historic district's design guidelines is paused after the city lost its historic preservation planner and consultant. Staff plan to re-hire a consultant this fall and a new planner is being recruited.
Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board - Jul 15, 2026
Bozeman is rewriting the design guidelines that control what owners in the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District can do to their buildings. Consultants proposed a four-tier system, but board members say it's too complex, conflicts with the new zoning code, and risks micromanaging homeowners. The City Commission will weigh in on policy direction later in July.
Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board - Jun 17, 2026
The Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District design guidelines project is moving along — the community survey is open through the end of June, and the next Neighborhood Focus Group meeting is set for July 9. These guidelines shape what new construction and renovations look like in Bozeman's older neighborhoods.
Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board - May 20, 2026
The 2006-era design guidelines are being overhauled by The Lakota Group, with an online survey launching before June. A tiered approach — stricter rules for landmarks, more flexibility elsewhere in the NCOD — is being considered.
Inter-Neighborhood Council - Mar 12, 2026
Bozeman's new UDC allows 90-foot buildings downtown, and many residents want the height rolled back to 70 feet while the NCOD design guidelines are rewritten. The INC voted to ask the City Commission for a temporary zoning pause; the Commission holds the final decision.
Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board - Feb 18, 2026
Bozeman is overhauling the design rules for its Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District, which covers 4,000-plus properties and nine National Register historic districts near downtown. Any exterior modification in the NCOD requires design review, so the updated guidelines will shape what renovations and new construction look like for years.
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