# Sign Regulations in Colstrip, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Colstrip, Montana regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (On-site)s in the Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Business Districts zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 100 sq ft (in aggregate with other signs), with a Min 10 ft from lot line or right of way setback (Sec. 8-3-6(C)(1), (C)(3), (C)(4), (C)(6), (C)(7)). Most commercial signs in Colstrip 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 | — | 32 sq ft (4' x 8') | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Business Districts | 6 | 35 ft | 100 sq ft (in aggregate with other signs) | — |
| Residential Districts | 9 | — | 32 sq ft (4' x 8') | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (General) | — | 12 sq ft (general); 6 sq ft (in residential districts) | — | — | — | On the premises being advertised | — | 8-3-6(B)(1) |
| Identification Signs (Noncommercial) | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | 8-3-6(B)(2) |
| Legal/Directional/Government Signs | — | — | — | — | — | As required by government | — | 8-3-6(B)(4) |
| Traffic/Parking Directional Sign (Private Property) | — | — | — | — | — | Private property | — | 8-3-6(B)(5) |
| Bulletin Board (Church/School/Public/Religious/Educational Institution) | — | — | — | Min 10 ft from right-of-way | — | Minimum 10 ft from right of way of any street or highway | — | 8-3-6(B)(6) |
| Political/Campaign Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 8-3-6(B)(7) |
| Residential Use Sign (Attached) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to structure | — | 8-3-6(B)(8) |
| Signage for Permitted Businesses in Residential Areas | — | 32 sq ft (4' x 8') | 8 ft | — | — | Located so as not to obstruct traffic visibility | — | 8-3-6(B)(9) |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (On-site) | May not project above the highest point of the roof | 100 sq ft (in aggregate with other signs) | — | — | 1 per use | On the building | — | 8-3-6(C)(4), (C)(6), (C)(7) |
| Freestanding Sign (On-site) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft (in aggregate with other signs) | — | Min 10 ft from lot line or right of way | 1 per building | At least 10 ft from any lot line or street right of way | — | 8-3-6(C)(1), (C)(3), (C)(4), (C)(6), (C)(7) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On roof | — | 8-3-6(C)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Off-site) | 35 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from lot line or street right of way | — | At least 10 ft from lot line or right of way | — | 8-3-6(D)(1)-(4) |
| Wall Sign (Extending Over Sidewalk/Walkway) | — | — | — | — | — | Over sidewalk or walkway | — | 8-3-6(C)(5) |
| Temporary Sign (Permit Required) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 8-3-6(E) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises being advertised | — | 8-3-6(B)(1) |
| Identification Signs (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises | — | 8-3-6(B)(2) |
| Legal/Directional/Government Signs | — | — | — | — | — | As required by government | — | 8-3-6(B)(4) |
| Traffic/Parking Directional Sign (Private Property) | — | — | — | — | — | Private property | — | 8-3-6(B)(5) |
| Bulletin Board (Church/School/Public/Religious/Educational Institution) | — | — | — | Min 10 ft from right-of-way | — | Minimum 10 ft from right of way | — | 8-3-6(B)(6) |
| Political/Campaign Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 8-3-6(B)(7) |
| Residential Use Sign (Attached) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to structure | — | 8-3-6(B)(8) |
| Signage for Permitted Businesses in Residential Areas | — | 32 sq ft (4' x 8') | 8 ft | — | — | Located so as not to obstruct traffic visibility | — | 8-3-6(B)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Colstrip

- No sign may be placed on the roof of any building.
- Illuminated signs or lighting devices may not emit beams or illumination that cause glare or reflection constituting a traffic hazard or nuisance.
- Signs may not obstruct traffic visibility at street or highway intersections.

## Signs exempt from permit in Colstrip

- Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, and which do not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area; except in all residential districts, where the area of the sign shall not be more than six (6) square feet.
- 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.
- 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 (10') 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, not larger than sixteen (16) square feet in size, erected temporarily and removed no later than fifteen (15) days following the election.
- For residential uses, signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in area and attached to the structure.
- Signage for permitted businesses in residential areas may be up to four feet by eight feet (4' x 8') and be located so that it does not obstruct traffic visibility.

## Full detail

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

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