# Sign Regulations in Ennis, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Ennis, Montana regulates 30 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Ground Mounted Signs in the L-CR, C-CR, C-I, HC, P-I zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall, 32 sq ft, and 10 ft wide, with a Not within 10' of any other sign in the street right of way or within clear vision zone setback (Sec. 11-4-13(D)). Most commercial signs in Ennis require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| L-CR, C-CR, C-I, HC, P-I | 24 | 15 ft | 280 sq in (approx 1.94 sq ft) per sign | — |
| R-RD, R-LD, R-MD, R-TD, Residential Districts | 10 | 15 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq ft per sign face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | May not exceed the limits for permanent signs of like type in the district | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### L-CR, C-CR, C-I, HC, P-I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting/Hanging Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | Only one per property frontage; no more than 48 sq ft (from definitions) | Projecting from building; clearance minimum and maximum projections as noted | — | 11-4-13(B), 11-6-5 (Projecting Sign) |
| Ground Mounted Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | 10 ft | Not within 10' of any other sign in the street right of way or within clear vision zone | No more than one per street frontage except in HC and C-I: two if 300' apart | On ground, not within 10' of another sign in any street ROW or clear vision area | — | 11-4-13(D) |
| Neon Window Sign | — | 280 sq in (approx 1.94 sq ft) per sign | — | — | Max two per business | Window | — | 11-4-13(H), 11-6-5 (Neon Sign) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | — | — | — | Max 2 per street frontage | On property where business is located | — | 11-6-5 (Freestanding Sign) |
| Roof Sign | No more than 6 ft above roof or 25 ft from curb line | — | — | — | One per building | On the roof, as an integral architectural feature | — | 11-4-13(O), 11-6-5 (Roof Sign) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft max (3 ft min) | — | 2.5 ft | — | — | On pedestrian walkway, no further than 36" from building property line; not allowed on street or town right of way; must be placed outside normal pedestrian traffic | — | 11-6-5 (Sidewalk Sign) |
| Address Sign | 15 ft (for freestanding address signs) | 2 sq ft per sign face; 32 sq ft per face for apartment buildings | — | — | One per property, or one per street frontage if property fronts multiple streets | Building or property; freestanding if single lot fronts multiple streets (one per frontage) | — | 11-6-5 (Address Sign) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign face (double-sided allowed) | — | — | One per street frontage, or one per 200' of frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent | — | 11-4-13(I), 11-6-5 (Real Estate Sign) |

### R-RD, R-LD, R-MD, R-TD, Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On the wall of a residence | — | 11-4-13(N), 11-6-5 (Residential Sign) |
| Address Sign | 15 ft (if freestanding) | 2 sq ft per sign face; per property/apartment: 32 sq ft | — | — | One per property / street frontage | Building or property; one per property/frontage | — | 11-6-5 (Address Sign) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face (double-sided allowed) | — | — | One per property/ frontage/ 200' of frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent | — | 11-6-5 (Real Estate Sign) |
| Construction/Artisan Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per contractor or artisan | At site of work during construction period | — | 11-6-5 (Construction/Artisan Signs) |
| Temporary Exterior Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | — | In or on window | — | 11-4-13(G), 11-4-14(A)(4) |
| Political Campaign Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property | — | 11-4-13(J), 11-6-5 (Political Sign) |
| Residential Business Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign face (double-sided allowed) | — | — | One per property | On property for home occupation/avocation | — | 11-6-5 (Residential Business Sign) |
| Address Sign (Apartment) | 15 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | — | Generally one per building | At or near entrance to apartment | — | 11-6-5 (Address Sign) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary, Portable, or Special Event Sign | — | May not exceed the limits for permanent signs of like type in the district | — | — | — | On property for event; banners across highway with state approval | — | 11-6-5 (Temporary, Portable, or Special Event Sign) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On- or off-premises for event | — | 11-6-5 (Garage Sale Sign) |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by or for government purposes on public property/right of way | — | 11-6-5 (Government Sign) |
| Holiday Decoration | — | — | — | — | — | Civic, patriotic, religious holidays | — | 11-6-5 (Holiday Decorations) |
| Works of Art | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11-6-5 (Works Of Art) |

## Prohibited signs in Ennis

- Vehicles Used As Signs: Signs that are placed on, affixed to or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer and placed on public or private property for the primary purpose of providing a sign not otherwise permitted.
- Signs or sign structures that create a hazard by obstructing a clear view or pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
- Pornographic signs or any language on a sign that could be considered offensive.
- Signs painted on or attached to benches, street fixtures or other street objects.
- Signs which move and/or are animated by means of flashing, traveling or blinking lights, or other means not providing constant illumination, unless specifically allowed.
- Appendages to primary signs which have flashing, blinking, or traveling lights.
- Any sign which emits sound, odor, or visible matter.
- Any sign erected without a permit, if a permit is required.
- Any sign erected in or over public right of way or other public property, unless erected by or with permission from an authorized governmental agency for public purposes, unless otherwise allowed.
- Signs which bear or contain statements that demean or otherwise degrade religions, races, or ethnic groups.
- Signs, including political signs, attached, maintained, painted, printed or otherwise affixed to any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, bench, tree or other surface on public property, or over/across any street or public thoroughfare, except by authorized public employee or as required/permitted by law (except certain advertised garage/yard/bake sales, lost pets, missing persons, etc.).
- Illegal signs: constructed or altered after adoption of sign code without permit, or constructed/maintained illegally before sign code adoption and not compliant.
- Abandoned signs: those that advertise entities that have been abandoned for any length of time or vacated for a period in excess of one year.
- Beacon lights and strobe lights (attached to any sign, structure, or building).
- Billboard signs (off-premises signs that are 250 square feet or larger).
- Animated signs (kinetic or illusory motion, moving parts, balloons, holograms, etc.).
- Obscene signs (offensive language, hate-based or discriminatory content, or patently offensive sexual matters).
- Skylights and searchlights (used to illuminate the sky for attention).
- Message center signs (EMC: electronic message centers).
- Off-premises signs, unless a variance is obtained and approved.
- Signs that obstruct or restrict clear vision for traffic or pedestrian safety.
- Backlighted, transparent or luminescent awnings.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ennis

- Repainting, cleaning or other normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a design approval has been given, as long as the design, color, material, or content is not modified in conflict with intent of chapter.
- Changing the advertising copy or message on an awning or canopy.
- Temporary signs: construction, real estate, political campaign, garage, yard, patio or other similar sale signs of a temporary nature.
- Temporary window signs.
- Traffic directional signs onto or within premises.
- Governmental or official notices, flags, emblems or insignia.
- Religious or holiday decorations.
- Internally lit soda machines and telephone booths.
- Any signs that are state or federally regulated and are not required to comply with local sign requirements.
- Dedication or historical plaques.
- Temporary, nonprofit organizations' special event signs.
- Ordinary preventive maintenance of a lawfully existing sign, not involving change of placement, size, lighting, color or height.
- Repainting of a lawfully existing sign exactly as it was.
- Address signs not exceeding two (2) square feet per face do not require a permit.
- Construction/artisan signs do not require a permit.
- Directional or instructional signs do not require a sign permit.
- Noncommercial flags do not require a sign permit; commercial flags require a permit.
- Garage sale signs do not require a sign permit.
- Government signs do not require a sign permit.
- Historic signs do not require a sign permit.
- Holiday decorations do not require a sign permit.
- Interior signs do not require a sign permit.
- Menu signs less than two (2) square feet do not require a permit.
- Political signs do not require a sign permit.
- Public notices do not require a sign permit.
- Real estate signs do not require a sign permit.
- Service signs less than one square foot do not require a permit.
- Sports arena signs do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary, portable, or special event signs do not require a sign permit.
- Vacancy/open/office signs not exceeding six (6) square feet per face do not require a permit.
- Vehicle signs do not require a permit.
- Works of art that do not advertise a person, product, service, or business do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signing for a business within a commercial or industrial center shall be in harmony with the signing of the entire complex. The signing for any new or remodeled commercial or industrial center shall be approved concurrent with the architectural review of the project in the form of a signing program.
- Permit Required: It shall be unlawful to erect, place, construct, reconstruct, or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the town of Ennis, unless the sign is specifically exempted from permit requirements.
- No sign permit application shall be accepted if the applicant/property owner has installed any sign in violation of the provisions of this chapter and the sign has not been brought into compliance, removed, or included in the application.
- In multiple-tenant or multiple-use buildings, allocation of sign area to different activities or tenants must not exceed the total maximum area allowed if a single tenant occupied the entire building.
- A variance is required for off-premises signs.

## Full detail

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

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