MISSOULA, Mont. — The National Charging Smart Program awarded the city of Missoula with a silver community designation for its electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Missoula received a bronze recognition in 2025.

Officials say Missoula’s new Unified Development Code, which was adopted last year, made the upgrade possible by updating development regulations and creating more opportunities for public charging infrastructure.

UDC updates that supported the designation include:

• Permitting EV chargers as an accessory use to parking lots in all zoning districts by right.
• Establishing primary use standards for charging infrastructure as its own land use — separate from motor vehicle fueling stations — and allowing those uses in all commercial and industrial zoning districts.