Purpose of Zoning
- The purpose of zoning is to promote the public health, public safety, and general welfare of the community;
- To conserve natural resources;
- To provide adequate light and air;
- To facilitate the provisions for public works requirements such as water, sewer, and environmental needs;
- To ensure orderly development according to the Growth Policy adopted for all parts of the County;
- To regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, buildings, and other structures, the percentage of a lot that may be covered by impervious surfaces, the size of yards and other open spaces, the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residences, and/or uses; and
- The protection of the aesthetic resources of the County.
How to Find Your Zoning
To look up your zoning please go to Flathead County's Interactive Mapping website. Once on the Flathead County GIS click View under Interactive Mapping Application (IMA), then click OK. To search for your property, enter the address in the search bar. If you do not know the address or no address has been assigned, you can search by assessor number, owner name, subdivision, tract ID, or geocode by clicking on Property Search under the search bar.
Once you complete the search the property will be highlighted with a pop-up pointing to the property. To determine the zoning click on the Parcel Information Report located below the search bar, then click By Drawing on the Map, and next click on the subject property. A new pop-up window will appear, scroll down to County Zoning and click the + sign.
Once you find your zoning on the Flathead County GIS, you can look at the applicable zoning regulations on the right of this page for uses allowed, setbacks, and other regulations.
*If you have questions regarding something within city limits, please contact the appropriate city planning office. You can find contact information here.
the Difference Between Permitted and Conditional Uses
Permitted use is a use allowed without permitting in a particular zone but subject to the limitations of the regulations of such use district. Some zones require permitted uses to undergo site plan review. Check out the Building Information page for more information on site plan review.
A conditional use is a use that may be allowed in the zone as defined but which, because of size, location, impact, operation requirements, demand on public facilities, or necessary improvements requires additional guidance and control to make such uses in the same district. This additional guidance is established through the conditional use permitting process. A conditional use would require a conditional use permit prior to the operation of the use.