# Sign Regulations in Deer Lodge, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Deer Lodge, Montana regulates 15 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Conditional Businesses/Orgs/Institutions/Apartment Complexes)s in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 12 square feet (Sec. § 11.01.100.060(C)). Most commercial signs in Deer Lodge 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 | 11 | 65 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 8 feet | 12 square feet | — |
| Business Districts, Industrial Districts | 4 | 65 feet | 300 square feet | — |

## 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 / Rental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Premises upon which the sign is located | — | § 11.01.100.040(A) |
| Legal Notice / Identification / Information / Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required/erected by government bodies | — | § 11.01.100.040(B) |
| Integral Decorative or Architectural Feature (Non-Lettered) | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | § 11.01.100.040(C) |
| Bulletin Board (Public/Religious/Education) | — | — | — | — | — | For churches, schools, or other public, religious or educational institutions | — | § 11.01.100.040(E) |
| On-site Sign | 30 feet | — | — | Not closer to lot line than the required minimum setback for the principal use | — | Business and industrial districts, as accessory uses | — | § 11.01.100.050(A) |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 30 feet | — | — | Not closer to lot line than the required minimum setback for the principal use | — | Business and industrial districts, as accessory use | — | § 11.01.100.050(A)(1), (4), (5) |
| Roof Sign | 65 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 11.01.100.050(A)(5) |
| Off-site Sign | 30 feet | — | — | Not closer to lot line than the required minimum setback for principal use | — | — | — | § 11.01.100.050(B) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Sign (Major Home Occupation) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per major home occupation | Attached to main door, side of residential building, or suspended in window | — | § 11.01.100.060(A) |
| Building-Attached Sign (Child Care/Day Care) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Attached to the building | — | § 11.01.100.060(B) |
| Freestanding Sign (Conditional Businesses/Orgs/Institutions/Apartment Complexes) | 8 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Freestanding or attached to building | — | § 11.01.100.060(C) |

### Business Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-site Sign | 30 feet | — | — | Not closer to lot line than required principal use setback | — | Accessory use on lot | — | § 11.01.100.050(A) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | — | — | Not closer to lot line than required principal use setback | — | On lot | — | § 11.01.100.050(A)(1), (4), (5) |
| Roof Sign | 65 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 11.01.100.050(A)(5) |
| Off-site Sign | 30 feet | — | — | Not closer to lot line than required principal use setback | — | — | — | § 11.01.100.050(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Deer Lodge

- No sign shall, due to its location, lighting, size intensity or color, create a hazard to the safe, efficient movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Any sign determined to be hazardous by law enforcement, the Fire Chief, or Building Inspector and/or Code Enforcement Officer shall be removed by the owner or be repaired or modified within 30 days of notification.
- All signs must be maintained by the owner and kept in good condition.
- All parts and supports of signs must be routinely painted and repaired when in an unsafe, deteriorated, or rotted condition.
- The surface of the ground under and about any freestanding sign must be kept free of weeds, rubbish, or flammable waste material.
- Interior street, building and other signs shall be uniform in design and reflect good taste in style and size.

## Signs exempt from permit in Deer Lodge

- Signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located.
- Legal notices, identification, information or directional signs erected or required by government bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except lettering, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking.
- Bulletin boards for churches, schools or other public, religious or educational institutions.
- Signs advertising yard sales.
- Political advertising signs.

## Full detail

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

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