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The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs
serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and
programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through
the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If
you would like to submit a program to the national wildfire programs database,
please complete the following form (MS
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Title: |
Big Sky MT, Gallatin County Subdivision Regulations and Growth Policy
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Type: |
Regulatory
Community Planning
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Jurisdiction: |
County
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State: |
Montana
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Program Description: |
Program Description: Big Sky, Montana -- Gallatin County - Regulatory Programs
Background
In the past 30 years, the Big Sky area of Montana has experienced a lot of residential growth. Because a significant area of the Big Sky region does not have structural fire protection, a group of concerned landowners and government officials created the Big Sky Fire Planning Committee in 1998. In February, 2000 that group issued a report called the Big Sky Fire Management Strategy. The study looked at agency and landowner roles and responsibilities in the event of wildfire, indigenous vegetation and fire history, and urbanization. The report makes recommendations in many areas, including vegetation management through fuel breaks and creation of defensible space around buildings, adoption of new subdivision regulations and covenants, creating fire-resistant homes, disaster preparedness, and public education.
Gallatin County Growth Policy
Gallatin County has responded to the need for fuel reduction by revising its Subdivision Regulations and its Growth Policy to address fire hazard risk reduction. The growth policy was adopted in April of 2003. A goal of the Growth Policy is to "protect human life and property from natural hazard areas."
- Discourage development in areas prone to wildland fire to protect property and life from fires.
- Encourage mitigation of wildland/urban interface fire hazards, including creation of defensible space for each structure, prior to final plat.
- Encourage reduction of fire fuel loads.
- Require covenants that address emergency services access, defensible space, roofing materials, wood burning chimneys, and fuel reduction.
Vegetation Management Regulations
Gallatin County Subdivision Regulations contain many fire protection requirements, including water supply and fill site requirements, and a fire impact fee for new construction in fire districts. In addition, covenants which address fire safety are required in any subdivision within the WUI areas. These relate to roof requirements, spark arresters on chimneys, and smoke detectors. The following covenant relating to the creation and maintenance of defensible space is required:
"Defensible space shall be created around habitable structures. The defensible spaces shall be of the minimum size as determined by the Wildland Residential Interface Development Guidelines" (DNRC, 1993). (The Guidelines are summarized on this website in the section on Montana Fire Protection Guidelines for Wildland Residential Interface Development.) Gallatin County uses the Fire Protection Guidelines for Wildland Residential Interface Development and DNRC's Fire Risk Rating for Existing and Planned Wildland Residential Interface Developments in Montana (1993) for reference when reviewing all new subdivisions.
Contact Information
For more information, contact, via email, Sean O'Callaghan at the Gallatin County Planning Department.
Gallatin County Planning Department
311 W. Main, # 208
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406)582-3130
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