# Sign Regulations in Boulder, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Boulder, Montana regulates 12 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Business District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and Subject to formula and 100 sq ft cap total for all signs, with a Minimum district principal use setback from street; minimum 50 ft from side or rear lot line abutting a residential district. setback (Sec. §153.36(C)(2), (C)(5), (C)(6), (C)(7), (C)(8), (C)(9)). Most commercial signs in Boulder require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential District | 6 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Business District, Industrial District | 4 | 35 ft | Total area of all permitted signs not to exceed 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate/Special Event Sign | — | 12 square feet (6 square feet in residential districts) | — | — | — | On premises being advertised. | — | §153.36(B)(1) |
| Premises Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | §153.36(B)(2) |
| Flag/Insignia (Government) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(B)(3) |
| Governmental Identification/Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(B)(4) |
| Decorative/Architectural Feature | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(B)(5) |
| Directional Sign (Private Property, No Advertising) | — | — | — | — | — | On private property | — | §153.36(B)(6) |
| Bulletin Board (Public Institution) | — | — | — | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way line | — | Minimum ten feet from established right-of-way line, must not obstruct traffic visibility at intersections. | — | §153.36(B)(7) |
| Temporary Sign (with permit) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(E) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate/Special Event Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | §153.36(B)(1) |
| Premises Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | §153.36(B)(2) |
| Flag/Insignia (Government) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(B)(3) |
| Bulletin Board (Public Institution) | — | — | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | — | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way, not to obstruct intersection visibility | — | §153.36(B)(7) |
| Political or Campaign Sign (Temporary, No Permit) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(B)(8) |
| Temporary Sign (with permit) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(E) |

### Business District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Total area of all permitted signs not to exceed 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On face of building. | — | §153.36(C)(1), (C)(9) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft | Subject to formula and 100 sq ft cap total for all signs | — | Minimum district principal use setback from street; minimum 50 ft from side or rear lot line abutting a residential district. | 1 per building | On-site, setback at least the required minimum for principal uses in the district; cannot be closer than 50 ft to a side or rear lot line abutting a residential district. | — | §153.36(C)(2), (C)(5), (C)(6), (C)(7), (C)(8), (C)(9) |
| Temporary Sign (with permit) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §153.36(E) |
| Off-site Sign (Freestanding) | 35 ft | 32 square feet | — | Required district setback from street; minimum 50 ft from side or rear lot line abutting residential district. | — | Setback at least the required minimum for principal uses in the district; minimum 50 ft from side or rear lot line abutting a residential district. | — | §153.36(D)(1)-(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Boulder

- No sign or part thereof may contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving devices.
- Devices such as strings of lights may not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention.
- No sign may be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights.
- An illuminated sign or lighting device may not be placed or directed so that the beams and illumination therefrom cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
- All wiring, fittings and materials used in the construction, connection and operation of electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the State Electrical Code.
- No sign may be placed on the roof of any building.

## Signs exempt from permit in Boulder

- Signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, or for special events or sales, and which do not exceed 12 square feet in area (or 6 square feet in residential districts).
- Signs bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
- Flags and insignia of any government except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices; identification, information or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Bulletin boards for churches, schools or other public, religious or educational institution provided the sign is located a minimum of ten feet from the established right-of-way line of any street or highway and does not obstruct traffic visibility at street or highway intersections.
- Political or campaign signs erected temporarily and removed no later than 15 days following the election.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Boulder, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Boulder+MT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-boulder

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