# Sign Regulations in Chinook, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Chinook, Montana regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the Business District zoning district are capped at 35 feet above mean average of the lot tall and 200 sq ft (all pole signs on premises facing the street frontage) (Sec. 17.36.130, 17.36.040, 17.36.270, 17.36.200). Most commercial signs in Chinook require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business District | 9 | 35 feet above mean average of the lot | 672 sq ft of display area on any one plot | — |
| Commercial or industrial areas | 2 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential areas | 1 | — | 9 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

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

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Shall not extend more than 12 inches above the highest point of parapet or roof supporting building | — | — | — | — | Wall of building or structure; face of sign parallel to wall | — | 17.36.160, 17.24.090, 17.36.040, 17.36.200 |
| Pole Sign | 35 feet above mean average of the lot | 200 sq ft (all pole signs on premises facing the street frontage) | — | — | — | All supports on private property; may not project over public property | — | 17.36.130, 17.36.040, 17.36.270, 17.36.200 |
| Ground Sign | — | 672 sq ft of display area on any one plot | — | May not project beyond required building line setback | — | Shall not project over public property or beyond required building line setback | — | 17.36.140, 17.36.040, 17.36.200 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof; attached/anchored to frame of building | — | 17.36.150, 17.36.040, 17.36.200 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from wall; minimum vertical clearance 14 ft over alleys, 10 ft over other public property | — | 17.36.170, 17.36.040, 17.36.200 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On, attached to, or constructed in a marquee | — | 17.36.190, 17.36.040, 17.36.200 |
| Temporary Sign - Business District | — | 100 sq ft for any temporary sign; Rigid material max 32 sq ft in commercial or industrial; Cloth: see requirements | — | — | — | — | — | 17.36.210, 17.36.040 |
| Mobile or Portable Sign | — | 50 sq ft per side | — | Not within 40 ft radius from intersection of property lines on a corner lot | — | On privately owned property (not within 40 ft of intersection of property lines at a corner lot) | — | 17.36.220, 17.36.040, 17.36.270, 17.36.200 |

### Commercial or industrial areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Rigid Material) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 17.36.210 |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 17.36.210 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.36.200, 17.36.040, 17.36.110 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.36.030, 17.36.040, 17.36.200 |
| Permit-Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.36.060 |

## Prohibited signs in Chinook

- No sign shall be erected or placed in such a manner as to confuse or obstruct the view, or interpretation, of any official traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall exceed in area the requirements of this chapter as herein provided.
- No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any street any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain nor shall the municipality permit upon any street any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
- No excessively bright signs will be permitted.
- No blinking, strobe or other pulsating lights may be used.
- No temporary sign shall exceed one hundred square feet in area.
- Temporary signs of rigid material shall not exceed thirty-two square feet in area in commercial or industrial areas and shall not exceed nine square feet in area in residential areas.
- Any sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business, product or service shall be removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises upon which such sign may be found within thirty days after written notice from the building inspector.
- No sign shall be changed in any manner that will increase the noncompliance of such sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chinook

- Painting, repainting or cleaning of an advertising structure or the changing of the advertising copy or message thereon shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires a sign permit unless a major structural change is made.
- Flags or emblems of political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.
- Signs of duly constituted governmental bodies, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notice or warnings at railroad crossings.
- Temporary signs, not exceeding nine square feet of surface area or not more than two signs totaling not over eighteen square feet of surface area on any lot appertaining to campaigns, drives or events of political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.
- Memorial plaques, cornerstones, historical tablets and the like.
- Signs posted in conjunction with doorbells or mailboxes, not exceeding one hundred forty-four square inches in surface area.
- Signs required to be maintained or posted by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, unless specifically prohibited, limited or restricted.
- Small nonilluminated, nor projecting signs, not exceeding four square feet in surface area, not otherwise prohibited.
- Construction signs giving name of general contractors, mechanical contractors, electrical contractors, architect-engineers located on the construction site.
- All signs that are entirely constructed, erected and/or placed within interior of the building served.
- A sign placed upon the premises of a lot or building for the purpose of advertising said premises for sale or rent, provided the sign does not exceed nine square feet of display surface, and is of a temporary nature.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The building inspector may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information where in his opinion, such information is necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter (17.36.050).

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

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