# Sign Regulations in Big Timber, Montana

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Big Timber, Montana, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Big Timber, Montana (MT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/montana/big-timber
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Big Timber, Montana regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. All Permanent Signs in the HB, MI zoning district are capped at 30 feet, or 6 feet above the roofline of the building to which the sign is affixed, whichever is lower tall and 150 square feet OR 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage (whichever is less), with a minimum 10 feet from the property line to nearest point of sign. setback (Sec. §151.09(A)(1), (B), (D), §151.05, §151.07, §151.08, §151.10). Most commercial signs in Big Timber require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HB, MI | 4 | 30 feet, or 6 feet above the roofline of the building to which the sign is affixed, whichever is lower | 150 square feet OR 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage (whichever is less) | — |
| CBD | 4 | 30 feet, or 6 feet above the roofline of the building to which the sign is affixed, whichever is lower | 100 square feet OR 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage (whichever is less) | — |
| Residential District | 6 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 20 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### HB, MI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Permanent Signs | 30 feet, or 6 feet above the roofline of the building to which the sign is affixed, whichever is lower | 150 square feet OR 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage (whichever is less) | — | Freestanding signs: minimum 10 feet from the property line to nearest point of sign. | — | On the zone lot | — | §151.09(A)(1), (B), (D), §151.05, §151.07, §151.08, §151.10 |
| Off-premises Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | Max 3 per zone lot | Not on the same lot as advertised activity/business | — | §151.09(A)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Min 10' from property line | — | — | — | §151.09(C)(1) |
| Projecting Sign / Canopy / Awning / Marquee | — | — | — | No extension closer than 18" from back of curb, min 7.5' clearance above sidewalk | — | May extend over sidewalk, not closer than 18 inches from back of adjacent curb, not lower than 7.5 feet above sidewalk. | — | §151.09(C)(2), (D) |

### CBD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Permanent Signs | 30 feet, or 6 feet above the roofline of the building to which the sign is affixed, whichever is lower | 100 square feet OR 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage (whichever is less) | — | Freestanding signs: minimum 10 feet from the property line to nearest point of sign. | — | On the zone lot | — | §151.09(A)(1), (B), (D), §151.05, §151.07, §151.08, §151.10 |
| Off-premises Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | Max 3 per zone lot | Not on the same lot as advertised activity/business | — | §151.09(A)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | Min 10' from property line | — | — | — | §151.09(C)(1) |
| Projecting Sign / Canopy / Awning / Marquee | — | — | — | No extension closer than 18" from back of curb, min 7.5' clearance above sidewalk | — | May extend over sidewalk, not closer than 18 inches from back of adjacent curb, not lower than 7.5 feet above sidewalk. | — | §151.09(C)(2), (D) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (General Exemption) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 4 per zone lot | — | — | §151.11(A) |
| Special Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §151.11(B) |
| Identification Sign (Exemption) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per zone lot | On property (wall sign) | — | §151.11(C) |
| Official Governmental Flags | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §151.11(D) |
| Historical Marker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §151.11(E) |
| Freestanding/Hung Sign (Inside Building) | — | — | — | — | — | Located inside a building | — | §151.11(F) |
| Public Property Information/Warning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On public property | — | §151.11(G) |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §151.11(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Big Timber

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, or change the use of any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the City-County Planning Officer/Office, except as provided for exempt signs.
- Temporary, lighted ground signs over 24 square feet; banners; or balloon signs are prohibited.
- Animated, rotating, revolving beacons or searchlights, flashing signs, signs which have moving parts are prohibited, except signs denoting the correct time and temperature so long as the only moving parts relate to the display of time or temperature and only the name of the business or individual maintaining the sign is displayed.
- Strings, lines, or streamers of exposed light bulbs are prohibited, except as temporary holiday decorations.
- Signs which emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter are prohibited.
- Notices, political posters, handbills, advertisements, or any other signs attached, erected, or painted on any tree; power, telephone, or any utility pole; bridge; fire hydrant; or official public sign in any public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are to be removed within 60 days of the close of the business.
- No symbols, signs, or other graphic representations of marijuana leaves, plants, joints, or other marijuana paraphernalia shall be placed in a public location to advertise, identify, or locate a medical marijuana caregiver’s growing, sale, or production location.

## Signs exempt from permit in Big Timber

- Temporary signs such as 'for sale,' political campaign signs, garage sales, and the like, not to exceed six square feet per sign, limited to four signs per zone lot, and which shall be removed within one week after the designated event, do not require a permit.
- Signs denoting special events that are otherwise prohibited by this chapter may be displayed two weeks before and not to exceed one week after the event, and do not require a permit.
- One identification sign per zone lot not to exceed 20 square feet bearing only property number, post box numbers, and names of occupants of premises (must be a wall sign) does not require a permit.
- Official governmental flags do not require a permit.
- Historical markers with approval of the City-County Planning Officer/Office do not require a permit.
- Freestanding or hung signs located inside a building do not require a permit.
- Signs placed on public property by public or quasi-public entities giving information or warnings do not require a permit.
- Incidental signs do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for sign permits must be accompanied by plans, designs, specifications, or drawings stating specifically all dimensions, animations (if any), lighting, colors, and a plan of installation stating clearances and setbacks.
- Any changes from the original plans, submitted at the time of application, must be approved, in writing, by the City-County Planning Officer/Office.
- There is no mention of a master sign plan, variance meeting, or similar in the ordinance.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 4 zoning districts in Big Timber — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Big+Timber+MT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-big-timber

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