By Eric Dietrich, Montana Free Press
House Bill 337 would dictate a minimum lot size of 2,500 square feet anywhere with city water and sewer connections in an effort to promote less expensive housing.
A bill heard Tuesday at the Montana Legislature aims to increase the number of modestly priced homes available to Montana residents by reining in the power of city and town governments to require that new homes be built on properties of a certain size.
House Bill 337, sponsored by Rep. Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, would dictate that local governments can’t require minimum lot sizes bigger than 2,500 square feet in areas served by municipal water and sewer systems. It’s among the first major proposals to come before this year’s Legislature that aligns with the supply-focused approach to Montana’s housing crunch articulated by a housing task force convened by Gov. Greg Gianforte last summer.
