The City of Bozeman is updating the way it reviews and regulates the design of buildings in the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD). This update was one of several recommendations included in the Historic Preservation Policy & Local Landmark Project Phase 1 Report, which Bozeman City Commission adopted in May 2025 after significant community engagement and public input on the project. The update will include an overhaul of the existing design guidelines to align with current best practices in historic preservation, respond to community goals and values, and support the ongoing Local Landmark Project.
Community engagement will be a key component of the process, with many opportunities for community members to provide input and help shape the future of Bozeman’s historic neighborhoods. To kick off the project, all are invited to a Community Open House on April 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Bozeman Events Space in the North Ballroom (14 S Tracy). The evening will begin with a short presentation from the project team, but the community is invited to stop by at any point during the event to participate in interactive activities, including mapping exercises and discussion boards focused on what’s working well and what could be improved.
“The City of Bozeman has long been committed to historic preservation and continues to be,” said Erin George, Director of the City’s Community Development Department. “With this project, we are dedicating time and resources to ensure the NCOD Design Guidelines are clear and effective. We hope everyone can participate in our engagement events and share your perspective on how we can best guide building design in historic areas.”
The NCOD has been in place since 1991 and contains over 4,000 properties and nine National Register Historic Districts located in and around Bozeman's historic downtown core. The NCOD was created to stimulate the restoration and rehabilitation of structures while also inviting new construction that enhances the character and function of the area. The design guidelines, titled “Bozeman Guidelines for Historic Preservation and the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD)” were originally adopted in 2006 and had a minor update in 2015.
For more information on the NCOD Design Guidelines Update, or to sign up to receive updates, visit the project website at https://engage.bozeman.net/ncodupdate.
