# Sign Regulations in Havre, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Havre, Montana regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 35 ft above mean average of lot. tall and 200 sq ft total for all pole signs facing one street frontage. (Sec. 4-6-16; 4-6-5; 4-6-7; 4-6-24). Most commercial signs in Havre require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 35 ft above mean average of lot. | 672 sq ft display area per plot. | — |
| Freestanding Signs Prohibition (All Zones) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District | 2 | — | 9 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 1 | — | 32 sq ft for rigid temporary signs; overall temporary sign area max: 100 sq ft. | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 35 ft above mean average of lot. | 200 sq ft total for all pole signs facing one street frontage. | — | — | — | Supports must be on private property. May not project over public property. | — | 4-6-16; 4-6-5; 4-6-7; 4-6-24 |
| Ground Sign | — | 672 sq ft display area per plot. | — | May not project beyond required building line setback for buildings in the zoning classification. | — | May not project over public property or beyond the required building line setback. | — | 4-6-17; 4-6-5; 4-6-7; 4-6-24 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to the roof framing, walls and/or columns of the building, advertising display entirely above roof level. | — | 4-6-18; 4-6-7; 4-6-24 |
| Wall Sign | Shall not extend more than 12 inches above the highest point of parapet or roof supporting building. | — | — | — | — | Attached to wall, face parallel to wall. | — | 4-6-19; 4-6-7; 4-6-24 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projects from and supported by building wall. | — | 4-6-20; 4-6-7; 4-6-24 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Placed on, attached to, or constructed in a marquee. | — | 4-6-23; 4-6-7; 4-6-24 |
| Mobile or Portable Sign | — | 50 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Shall be placed on privately owned property. | — | 4-6-26; 4-6-10; 4-6-5 |
| Bench Sign | — | — | Maximum 6 ft in length. | — | One bench per block face | On public property (sidewalks, surfaced boulevards, adjacent property); placed on concrete pad. | — | 4-6-27; 4-6-5; 4-6-10 |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 4-6-25(A); 4-6-9(D); 4-6-9(H); 4-6-24 |
| Bench Sign (Residential Use) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4-6-27(E) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | — | 32 sq ft for rigid temporary signs; overall temporary sign area max: 100 sq ft. | — | — | — | — | — | 4-6-25(A); 4-6-9(D); 4-6-9(H); 4-6-24 |

## Prohibited signs in Havre

- 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 the sign code.
- No sign shall be constructed, enlarged, altered, moved or converted contrary to or in violation of any provisions of the chapter.
- Signs or sign structures constructed or maintained in violation of the chapter are declared to be a public nuisance.
- No excessively bright signs will be permitted; determination is at the discretion of the director of public works.
- No blinking, strobe or other pulsating lights may be used on any sign.
- Freestanding signs are prohibited on all tracts of ground located within the city.

## Signs exempt from permit in Havre

- Painting, repainting or cleaning of an advertising structure, or changing the advertising copy or message, does not require a sign permit unless a major structural change is made.
- Flags or emblems of political, civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organizations are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs of duly constituted governmental bodies, including traffic or regulatory devices and legal notices/warnings at railroad crossings, are exempt from permit requirements.
- 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, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Memorial plaques, cornerstones, historical tables and similar items are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs posted in conjunction with doorbells or mailboxes not exceeding 144 square inches in area are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs required to be maintained or posted by law or governmental order/rule/regulation are exempt from permit requirements, unless specifically prohibited, limited, or restricted.
- Small, nonilluminated, non-projecting signs not exceeding four square feet in area, not otherwise prohibited, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Construction signs giving the names of contractors and architect-engineers located on the construction site are exempt from permit requirements.
- All signs that are entirely constructed, erected, and/or placed within the interior of the building served are exempt from permit requirements.
- A sign placed upon the premises for the sole 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, is exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The inspector of buildings may require the filing of plans or other pertinent information with a sign permit application where, in his opinion, such information is necessary to ensure compliance with the chapter.
- Designs of bench signs must be submitted in three copies to the department of public works and be approved prior to permit issuance.

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

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