HomeMy WebLinkAboutROI_38.260.140 Windows ARTICLE 2-ZONING DISTRICTS
Sec. 38.260.140. - Windows.
A. Transparent Area
The amount of transparent area on a building facade.
1. Purpose
To provide visual interest along the public realm by encouraging visual connections between the
public realm and the interior of a building.
2. Applicability
a. Transparency requirements apply to all street-facing building facades of a building.
b. Single-unit dwellings up to fourplexes, including townhomes and rowhomes, are exempt
from the transparency requirements.
3. Standards
a. Applicable ground and upper story building facades must meet the minimum transparency of
the zoning district.
b. To be considered transparent area, window and door glazing must meet the following:
Table 38.260.140-1.
Visible Light External
Transmittance Reflectance
Ground story More than 60% Less than 20%
....................................................................................................................................................................................
Upper story More than 30% Less than 40%
c. Transparent area may be temporarily covered by operable window treatments, such as
curtains or blinds.
d. Muntins, mullions, window sashes, window frames, and door frames, no more than 3 inches
wide are considered transparent area.
Door Frame
Window Sash
Glazing
Rail
LfWindow Frame
Trim
Sill
!D
Bulkhead
Figure 38.260.140-1. Windows.
2-120 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE I BOZEMAN,MONTANA PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT NOVEMBER 24,2025
ARTICLE 2-ZONING DISTRICTS
e. For ground stories intended to be occupied by nonresidential uses, shelving and other visual
obstructions cannot be located within 5 feet of any ground story window or door counting
toward transparent area, measured inward from the exterior face of the transparent area.
D BD
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A� B> Section A Section B
Figure 38.260.140-2. Ground story transparency.
4. Measurement
a. Ground Story
(1) General
Ground story transparency is measured as a percentage, calculated as the sum of all
transparent area divided by the total facade area for the ground story.
(2) Commercial Ground Stories
(a) For ground stories intended to be occupied by nonresidential uses, facade area is
measured between 0 and 12 feet above the top of the finished floor of the ground
story.
(b) If the ground story height is less than 12 feet, facade area is measured between the
top of the finished floor of the ground story and the top of the finished floor above.
12' 12'
Ground tor
u Faca eFrei,
o� , 1 10,
Finished Ground Floor
Figure 38.260.140-3. Ground story facade area - non-residential.
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ARTICLE 2-ZONING DISTRICTS
(3) Residential Ground Stories
For ground stories intended to be occupied by residential uses, facade area is measured
between 1.5 and 8 feet above the top of the finished floor of the ground story.
0 DOD 0 LJIILJIILJI 0
$ o tou
a�de Ire I�iLJI ILJI 0 8'
IS
IS
Finished Ground Floor
Figure 38.260.140-4. Ground story facade area - residential.
b. Upper Stories
(1) Each upper story facade must meet the required transparency standard independently.
All facade area associated with an upper story having the same story designation (for
example: 4th story) is considered part of the same upper story facade.
(2) For the purpose of calculating upper story transparency, facade area is measured as the
portion of a facade area between the top of the finished floor for that story to the top of
the finished floor above. When there is no story above, it is measured to the top of the
wall plate.
E E E � E E E Finished Floor
Fa a S
p�reww� Finished Floor
Figure 38.260.140-5. Upper story facade area.
5. Relief
See 38.260.140(8)
2-122 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE I BOZEMAN,MONTANA PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT NOVEMBER 24,2025