The Flathead County Planning Board will hold its next workshop on the draft Lake and Lakeshore Regulations on September 16, 2026, after the regularly scheduled meeting at 6:00 pm in the Country Kitchen at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 North Meridian, Kalispell, Montana. This workshop will be the second in a four-part series and will focus on erosion control, while continuing the discussion on policies, procedures, and changes to the Montana Code.
- Section 2.5 WORK REQUIRING A PERMIT
- Sections 2.8 CONSTRUCTION OR INSTALLATIONS NOT ALLOWED IN THE LAKESHORE PROTECTION ZONE
- Section 3.3 PLANNING BOARD REVIEW PROCEDURE, WHEN REQUIRED
- Section 4.2 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
- A. CONSTRUCTION
SEASONBEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - D. EROSION, SEDIMENTATION, AND STORM RUNOFF
- A. CONSTRUCTION
- Section 4.3 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR FACILITIES
- E.
RETAINING WALLS AND RIP RAPSHORELINE EROSION CONTROL - F. DREDGE, FILL, AND SWIM BEACH CREATION
- E.
- Various Definitions
The current draft contains changes made after the January workshop; those changes are highlighted in yellow.
Subsequent workshops will address the following topics:
- Workshop 3 (TBD): Restoration - October 14, 2026
- Workshop 4 (TBD): General Construction Standards and Design Standards. - December 9, 2026
Workshop February 14, 2024: here
Workshop January 14, 2026: here
Workshop July 8, 2026:
This workshop focused on policies, procedures, and changes to Montana Code. (75-7-218 MCA SB168 Lakeshore Enforcement), Specifically, the following:
- Section 1.4 JURISDICTION
- Sections 2.6.F. EXEMPTIONS FROM REGULATIONS - Prescriptive structures and minor maintenance on prescriptive structures
- Section 2.7 NON-CONFORMING BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES, AND USES
- Section 2.9 DEVIATIONS
- Section 3.1.E APPLICATION - Additional Information
- Section 3.2 APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURE
- Section 3.5 PERMIT VALIDITY
- Section 5.1 VARIANCES
- Section 5.4 APPEALS
- Definitions for Administrative Officer, Deviation, Maintenance, Normal and Minor, Mean Annual High-Water Elevation, Nonconforming Structure, Prescriptive Structures, Storing, Stockpiling, Variance, and Wrack Line
The current draft contains changes made after the January workshop; those changes are highlighted in yellow. The draft section on Policies and Procedures has been changed since it was first posted in May to clarify that each permit extension is for a period of 12 months.