Helena, Montana Zoning Map
Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel - and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 34 districts.
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Zoning
- District code & full name
- Parcel boundary & APN
- All 34 districts mapped
Building controls
- Front setback
- Side setback
- Rear setback
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Helena, Montana Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type. Helena's ordinance does not state permitted uses as citywide flags, so they are read from each district's own table rather than summarised here.
| Zone Code | Category | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
PLI Public Lands And Institutions District | - | 2,622.1 ac | Standards & uses → |
R-2 Residential District | - | 1,929.9 ac | Standards & uses → |
B-2 General Commercial District | - | 1,475.4 ac | Standards & uses → |
A Airport | - | 1,178.1 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 34 districts
Start from what you're trying to build
Each one runs against the live Helena dataset and returns the districts, standards and approvals involved.
What does PLI actually permit?
The full standards for one district, read straight from the source.
Run it →How is Helena zoned?
Helena regulates land through 34 zoning districts, and two mechanisms account for much of the count.
The first is the transitional residential series. Districts appear as R-3 with a transitional designation at 16, 19 and 25, together covering roughly 123 acres, alongside a plain Transitional Residential district at about 55. Numbering transitional districts by intensity, rather than treating transition as a single condition, lets the city step down from higher density to lower in defined increments.
The second is individually numbered planned unit developments. Several appear, each covering a specific project, so a district code beginning with PUD points to that approval rather than to general standards.
Public Lands And Institutions is the largest classification at roughly 2,622 acres, which in a state capital is unsurprising, and an Airport district covers about 1,178.
The residential ladder runs R-1, R-2 and R-3 covering roughly 3,653 acres between them, with a Residential Urban district at about 84 and two residential office districts covering roughly 521.
A Commercial Light Manufacturing district covers roughly 651 acres, combining two categories that most cities keep separate and giving the city a flexible employment classification. A Downtown district covers about 152 acres. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Helena zoning: frequently asked questions
What are the transitional residential districts?
A series appearing as R-3 with a transitional designation at 16, 19 and 25, covering roughly 123 acres together, plus a plain Transitional Residential district at about 55. Numbering transition by intensity lets the city step down density in defined increments.
How are planned unit developments handled?
Individually numbered, with each covering a specific project. A district code beginning with PUD points to that approval rather than to a general set of standards.
Which is the largest district?
Public Lands And Institutions at roughly 2,622 acres, unsurprising in a state capital, followed by the R-2 residential district at about 1,930 and general commercial at roughly 1,475.
What is the Commercial Light Manufacturing district?
A combined district covering roughly 651 acres that merges two categories most cities keep separate, giving Helena a flexible employment classification.
Is the airport zoned separately?
Yes, an Airport district covers roughly 1,178 acres, the fourth largest classification in the city.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Helena planning department before acquisition or design.