# Sign Regulations in Billings, Montana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Billings, Montana (MT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/montana/billings
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MT/Billings/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH27ZO_ART27-1400SICO)

## At a glance

Billings, Montana regulates 29 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Monument / Multitenant Monument / Shopping Center Monuments in the Corridor Mixed-Use 1 (CMU1), Corridor Mixed-Use 2 (CMU2), EBURD RSVMS zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and CMU1: 50-110 sf; CMU2: 80-375 sf, with a 5 ft from property lines; clear vision area setback (Sec. Table 27-1400.5; Table 27-1400.7). Most commercial signs in Billings require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | Shall not extend above the roofline of the building to which it is attached; EMD: max height 40 ft from building wall grade, at least 2 ft from top of wall | 48 square feet (general) | — |
| Neighborhood Residential (N1, N2, N3, NX1, NX2, NX3, RMH) | 4 | 8 ft or height of the wall on which sign is located, whichever is lower | 48 sf | — |
| Neighborhood Office (NO), Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NMU), EBURD RSV | 9 | 8 ft | 100 sf per sign | — |
| Corridor Mixed-Use 1 (CMU1), Corridor Mixed-Use 2 (CMU2), EBURD RSVMS | 10 | 25 ft (40 ft in certain areas of CMU2 and EBURD RSVMS within 660 ft of interstate) | 250 sf per sign | — |
| Central Business District (CBD), Downtown Mixed Use (DX) | 11 | Attached signs on taller structures (except roof signs) must be at/below 10th story; wall sign EMD max 40% of sign area | 250 sf per sign (<10 stories), no max (≥10 stories) | — |
| Commercial (CX), Industrial 1 (I1), Industrial 2 (I2), EBURD Core West (EBURD CW), EBURD 13th Street (EBURD 13th St.), EBURD Interstate South (EBURD IS) | 10 | 25 ft (40 ft within 660 ft/oriented to interstate) | 250 sf per sign | — |
| Public 1: Park and Open Space (P1) | 1 | — | Local street: 32 sf; Collector street: 64 sf; Minor arterial: 64 sf; Principal arterial: 100 sf | — |
| Public 2: Public and Institutional (P2) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public 3: Medical Campus (P3) | 2 | 20 ft | 250 sf per sign | — |
| P3 Educational Campus, P3 Civic Campus | 2 | 20 ft | 175 sf per sign | — |
| Billings Townsite Historic District, Old Town Historic District | 4 | — | 50% of that allowed for underlying zoning | — |
| North Elevation Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Corridor Mixed-Use 1 (CMU1), Corridor Mixed-Use 2 (CMU2), EBURD RSVMS

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Same as wall | 250 sf per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage | Each tenant per street frontage | — | Table 27-1400.6; Sec. 27-1407.C.2(a) |
| Projecting Sign | Same as wall | 48 sf | — | — | 1 per tenant | Each tenant | — | Table 27-1400.6 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per awning | On awning | — | Table 27-1400.6 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument / Multitenant Monument / Shopping Center Monument | 8 ft | CMU1: 50-110 sf; CMU2: 80-375 sf | — | 5 ft from property lines; clear vision area | See Table 27-1400.1 | Table 27-1400.1 for number; per street frontage | — | Table 27-1400.5; Table 27-1400.7 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pedestrian-Scale | 8 ft (single pole), 5 ft (double pole) | 8 sf | — | 2 ft from property lines; clear vision area | See Table 27-1400.1 | Per street frontage; see Table 27-1400.1 | — | Table 27-1400.7 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole | 25 ft (40 ft in certain areas of CMU2 and EBURD RSVMS within 660 ft of interstate) | CMU1: up to 110 sf; CMU2 up to 140-240 sf; see Table 27-1400.5 | — | 5 ft from property lines; clear vision area | 1 per parcel | 1 per parcel | — | Table 27-1400.7 |
| Freestanding Sign - Access Point | 3 ft | 6 sf | — | 0 ft; clear vision area | 1 per vehicle access | At vehicle access points | — | Table 27-1400.7; Sec. 27-1405.A.2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Structural Canopy | 2 ft above canopy | — | — | Canopy zone standards | 1 per street frontage | On canopy | — | Table 27-1400.7 |

### Central Business District (CBD), Downtown Mixed Use (DX)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Attached signs on taller structures (except roof signs) must be at/below 10th story; wall sign EMD max 40% of sign area | 250 sf per sign (<10 stories), no max (≥10 stories) | — | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage | Per tenant, each street frontage | — | Sec. 27-1407.D.2(a), Table 27-1400.8 |
| Projecting Sign | May not extend above roofline | 48 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 27-1400.8 |
| Roof Sign | 4 ft above roofline | — | — | — | 1 per premises | 1 per premises | — | Table 27-1400.8 |
| Under Awning/Under Canopy Sign | Below awning/canopy | — | — | — | 1 per tenant | Per tenant | — | Table 27-1400.8 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument/Multitenant Monument | 8 ft | 50-74 sf per side | — | 0 ft; clear vision area | See Table 27-1400.1 | 1 per street frontage; see Table 27-1400.1 for number | — | Table 27-1400.9; Sec. 27-1407.D |
| Freestanding Sign - Pedestrian-Scale | 8 ft (single pole); 5 ft (double pole) | 12 sf per side | — | 0 ft; clear vision area | See Table 27-1400.1 | 1 per street frontage; Table 27-1400.1 | — | Table 27-1400.9 |
| Freestanding Sign - Access Point | 3 ft | 6 sf | — | 0 ft; clear vision area | 1 per vehicle access | At vehicle access points | — | Table 27-1400.9; Sec. 27-1405.A.2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Structural Canopy | 2 ft above canopy | — | — | 0 ft; clear vision area | 1 per street frontage | On canopy | — | Table 27-1400.9 |

### Commercial (CX), Industrial 1 (I1), Industrial 2 (I2), EBURD Core West (EBURD CW), EBURD 13th Street (EBURD 13th St.), EBURD Interstate South (EBURD IS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Same as wall | 250 sf per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant per street frontage | Per tenant, per street frontage | — | Table 27-1400.10; Sec. 27-1407.E.2(a) |
| Projecting Sign | Same as wall | 48 sf | — | — | 1 per tenant | Per tenant | — | Table 27-1400.10 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per awning | On awning | — | Table 27-1400.10 |
| Roof Sign | 4 ft above roofline | 250 sf | — | — | 1 per premises | 1 per premises, in lieu of wall sign | — | Table 27-1400.10 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 8 ft | 100 sf per side | — | 5 ft from property lines; clear vision area | See Table 27-1400.1 | 1 per street frontage, Table 27-1400.1 for number | — | Table 27-1400.11 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole | 25 ft (40 ft within 660 ft/oriented to interstate) | 100 sf per side | — | 5 ft from property lines; clear vision area | See Table 27-1400.1 | 1 per street frontage, Table 27-1400.1 for number | — | Table 27-1400.11 |
| Freestanding Sign - Access Point | 3 ft | 6 sf | — | 0 ft; clear vision area | 1 per vehicle access | At vehicle access points | — | Table 27-1400.11 |
| Freestanding Sign - Structural Canopy | 2 ft above canopy | — | — | 5 ft from property lines; clear vision area | 1 per street frontage | On canopy | — | Table 27-1400.11 |

## Prohibited signs in Billings

- Non-electronic message display signs that are animated by means of flashing, scintillating, blinking, traveling lights, displaying video, or any other means not providing constant illumination are prohibited.
- Signs that contain or are an imitation of an official traffic or emergency sign or signal, or by reason of their size, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign, signal, or device, or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal or device are prohibited.
- Signs with a lighting or control mechanism that causes radio, radar, cellular, wireless, or other electronic signal interference are prohibited.
- Wind-driven signs are prohibited; no sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the sign to swing due to wind action. Signs shall be anchored to prevent any lateral movement.
- Signs that operate or employ visible moving parts or any portion of which moves, or give the illusion of motion are prohibited.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter are prohibited.
- Signs that are light projecting or operate or employ any motion picture projection or video projection in conjunction with any advertisements are prohibited.
- Signs and sign structures, including exempt signs, are prohibited in the following locations: in the right-of-way or on public property without city approval; on private property without consent of the owner or authorized agent; within a clear vision triangle; attached to utility poles, other utility or public infrastructure structures or equipment, or wireless communication facilities.
- Signs that create conflict with traffic control signs, signals, or private signs resulting in vehicular or pedestrian safety hazards, including by obstructing vision or being confused with official traffic control devices, are prohibited.
- Signs that create a danger to the public during inclement weather or high winds due to their location or manner of placement are prohibited.
- Signs that create a hazard due to collapse, fire, collision, decay, abandonment, or other safety considerations are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct firefighting, police, or emergency activities are prohibited.
- Signs that are improperly mounted or installed (e.g., attached to a standpipe, gutter drain, unbraced parapet wall, or fire escape) unless verified by a licensed structural engineer are prohibited.
- No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way, public property, or on private property so that it is visible from the public right-of-way and has any sign or advertising device for the sole purpose of advertising or directing people to a business or activity, except for exempted vehicular signage.
- Non-exempt signs that are painted on or attached to any fence or any wall which is not structurally a part of a building are prohibited.
- Signs shall not be approved or disapproved based on the content or message they display, except that signs are prohibited from displaying: text or graphics harmful to minors as defined by law; obscene, fighting words, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, or true threats; content confusing with traffic control; false information related to public safety; false or misleading information.
- Flashing or rotating lights are prohibited on signs.
- General prohibition on new off-premises/billboard sign construction until removal of nonconforming signs (except as replacement under prescribed conditions).

## Signs exempt from permit in Billings

- Changing of the advertising copy or message on an existing approved painted or printed sign, marquee, changeable copy sign, or similar approved sign (whether electrical, illuminated, electronic changing message display, or non-illuminated painted message) specifically designed for replaceable copy is exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign not involving structural changes is exempt from permit requirements. Replacement of or change of a plastic sign face is also exempt.
- Changes in the content of show window displays and permitted temporary signs are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Signs not intended for view or readily legible from the public right-of-way or adjacent residential, public, or civic districts or uses (internal signs) do not require a permit.
- Integral signs that are carved into stone or similar material and are integral to the building, or plaques placed flat against a building, not exceeding 4 square feet in area, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs less than one square foot in area affixed to machines, equipment, fences, gates, walls, gasoline pumps, or utility cabinets are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs or banners on fences and structures within an arena, park, recreational complex, or athletic field facing inward are exempt from permit requirements.
- Flags affixed to a permanent flagpole or structure do not require a permit.
- Up to two flutter flags affixed to a permanent flag pole do not require a permit.
- One official neighborhood watch sign per developed property, plus small wall or freestanding neighborhood watch signs as specified in the code, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Official public signs approved by a governmental body (e.g., traffic/pedestrian safety, public notices), signs/notice required by law/court/government order, and government signs/notices for convenience and safety are exempt.
- Bench signs on benches located on active, fixed bus routes authorized by the relevant authority are exempt, provided that benches are on active, fixed routes and comply with all location requirements.
- Seasonal displays, including incidental signage, provided both sign and display meet clear vision area requirements, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Lettering or symbols applied directly onto or flush-mounted magnetically to a motor vehicle operating in the normal course of business are exempt.
- Internal park signage in public parks is exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit is required to erect, place, modify the size or shape, allow continued placement, or convert any portion of a sign, unless otherwise exempt.
- Sign permit is required for existing signs that become nonconforming by zoning code update if changes are made.
- Sign permit exemptions do not relieve the owner from complying with all other provisions of the code, adopted building code(s), or state regulations.
- Sign plan/master sign plan requirements are not explicitly described in the provided sections; however, provisions for multitenant sign allocations (responsibility of property owner) and replacement of nonconforming signs with conforming signs suggest that multi-tenant and certain development conditions may require sign plans or administrative review/approval of overall signage allocation.
- Billboard/off-premises signs: Replacement and new billboard construction, where allowed, require conformance to spacing, location, and review standards. Special review required for certain new/replacement billboards in specified districts.
- Variance, special review, sign plan, or other public meeting requirements are referenced in connection with off-premises signs, billboards, and certain nonconformities, but are not triggered uniformly for all signs—requirements are context/district-dependent.

## 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 12 zoning districts in Billings — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Billings+MT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-billings

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