# Sign Regulations in Kalispell, Montana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kalispell, Montana (MT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/montana/kalispell
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-13
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42633334#42633334)

## At a glance

Kalispell, Montana regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding and Ground Signs in the B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, I-1, I-2 zoning district are capped at Max 28 ft (depending on ROW setback, see Table) tall and See Table: Max 200 sq ft per face (see Table for ROW setback correlations), with a Varies by location to ROW; 0-10 ft setback = 15 ft height/60 sq ft per face, up to 51+ ft setback = 28 ft height/200 sq ft per face. setback (Sec. §27.22.130(2), §27.22.090(1), §27.22.080(1)). Most commercial signs in Kalispell require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 3 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face | — |
| R-5, RA-1, RA-2, B-1, P-1 | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face (except B-1: 36 sq ft per face) | — |
| H-1 | 6 | 12 ft | 70 sq ft per face | — |
| B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, I-1, I-2 | 9 | Max 28 ft (depending on ROW setback, see Table) | 288 sq ft per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 3 ft | 24 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### H-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-residential uses, not hospitals) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On site. | — | §27.22.120(2) |
| Wall/Marquee/Canopy Sign (Nonresidential uses, not hospitals) | — | 20 sq ft per use | — | — | 1 | On building. | — | §27.22.120(2) |
| Entrance Sign (Hospital parking lot) | 6 ft | 14 sq ft per face | — | — | — | At parking lot entrances to hospital facility/complex. | — | §27.22.120(3) |
| Freestanding/Marquee/Wall Sign (Hospital Complex) | 6 ft | 70 sq ft per face | — | — | 3 | On developed lot for hospital complex. | — | §27.22.120(4) |
| Off-premises Hospital Entrance Sign | 12 ft | 54 sq ft per face | — | — | 2 | At primary hospital entrance roads from major arterials. | — | §27.22.120(5) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | On dwelling/at main entrance. | — | §27.22.120(6) |

### B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding and Ground Signs | Max 28 ft (depending on ROW setback, see Table) | See Table: Max 200 sq ft per face (see Table for ROW setback correlations) | — | Varies by location to ROW; 0-10 ft setback = 15 ft height/60 sq ft per face, up to 51+ ft setback = 28 ft height/200 sq ft per face. | 1 per 30 ft of frontage; up to 2 if frontage exceeds 500 ft. Each frontage (on corner lots) eligible. | On site, not extending over ROW. Setback from ROW as per Table. Electrical service must be underground. | — | §27.22.130(2), §27.22.090(1), §27.22.080(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall. Cannot extend above wall/parapet unless architecturally incorporated (see §27.22.090(2)(a)). | — | §27.22.130(3), §27.22.080, §27.22.090(2) |
| Projecting Sign (Main Street between Center and 8th) | — | 9 sq ft (up to 15 sq ft if 15 ft above grade and approved by Architectural Review Committee) | — | No part over public right-of-way closer than 2 ft from curb or beyond 48 inches, whichever is less. | — | At right angles to building face; min 8 ft above grade. | — | §27.22.130(4), §27.22.090(4) |
| Projecting Sign (Elsewhere) | — | 15 sq ft per face | — | — | — | At right angles to building face; min 8 ft above grade. | — | §27.22.090(4) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On canopy; subject to general canopy sign standards. | — | §27.22.130(6), §27.22.090(6) |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On marquee only. | — | §27.22.130(7), §27.22.090(5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Businesses) | Max as per Table + 25% | Max per face as per Table + 25% | — | — | 1 per shopping center/lot | — | — | §27.22.130(5), §27.22.090(3) |
| Billboard | 28 ft | 288 sq ft per face | — | Not closer to ROW than building setback; minimums as per district. | — | Only along federal or state highway (US Hwy 2, 93); not allowed in B-3, B-4, B-5 or within 1,500 ft of Main and Idaho streets. | — | §27.22.130(9), §27.22.090(7) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property, to direct traffic flow. | — | §27.22.050(3) |
| Identification Sign (Public/Charitable/Religious Institution) | Per district | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street front | On premises of such institution. | — | §27.22.050(4) |
| Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling/tenant | At main entrance. | — | §27.22.050(8) |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On lot with secondary informational purpose (e.g. 'loading only'). | — | §27.22.050(9) |
| A-frame/Sandwich Board Sign (Designated District Only) | 3 ft | 10 sq ft per face (single or double-sided) | — | — | 1 per lot | On sidewalk, directly in front of business and adjacent to building. | — | §27.22.050(1)(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Kalispell

- Abandoned signs.
- Inflatable signs, searchlights, beacons or other gas filled or air filled figures (except as allowed in Section 27.22.050(1)(c)).
- Banners on public property or rights-of-way, except as otherwise permitted by other City standards or policies.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals.
- Snipe signs or signs attached to trees, telephone/electrical poles, public benches, streetlights, or placed on any public right-of-way.
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying said sign. (This does not apply to signs or lettering on buses, taxis, or vehicles operating during the normal course of business.)
- Roof signs unless architecturally incorporated (matching colors/materials/embellishments) into the façade of the building, and mounted on a parapet wall or similar extension of an exterior wall. No part of the sign shall extend over the wall.
- Any temporary or portable signs except as otherwise permitted in Section 27.22.050(1).
- Mechanically animated and/or flashing signs.
- Any temporary or portable sandwich board signs or other portable signs located on public sidewalks or in the public right-of-way, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
- Signs shall not rotate, move, flash, change or blink, except if utilized by a government agency for public safety or information.
- Signs, if illuminated, shall be lighted by continuous, stationary, shielded light sources.
- Signs attached to buildings shall not extend above the wall to which they are attached unless erected to comply with Section 27.22.030(7).
- Permanent signs shall be designed to withstand a wind speed of 70 miles per hour.
- No signs shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of egress.
- No sign shall be attached in any form, shape, or manner which will interfere with any opening required for ventilation.
- Signs shall be located in such a way as to maintain horizontal or vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors. In no case shall a sign be installed closer than 24 inches horizontally or vertically from any conductor or public utility guy wire.
- No sign shall be erected or extend over any public right-of-way.
- It shall be unlawful to display, erect, relocate, or alter any sign without first filing with the Zoning Administrator an application in writing and obtaining a sign permit except as otherwise exempted.
- Signs shall be maintained in good condition at all times. Failure to properly maintain a sign constitutes a violation.
- It is unlawful to maliciously remove or injure any public traffic sign, deface or remove any inscription or light placed upon such sign, or disturb any light on a disabled vehicle or obstruction.
- It is unlawful for any person to place or maintain, or to display upon or in view of any street, any sign, signal or device which purports to be or is an imitation of, or resembles an official traffic sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic.
- It is unlawful for any driver, operator, or pedestrian to disobey instructions of any official traffic sign or signal, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, except authorized emergency vehicles.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kalispell

- Official traffic or government signs.
- The copy and message of signs.
- Signs not intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way.
- Product dispensers and point of purchase displays.
- Score-boards on athletic fields.
- Flags of any nation, government or noncommercial organization.
- Gravestones.
- Religious symbols.
- Commemorative plaques.
- Decorative holiday light displays.
- Traditional barber poles.
- The display of street numbers.
- Any display or construction not defined herein as a sign.
- Temporary signs for specific types of use (see Section 27.22.050(1)): construction signs, real estate signs, political signs up to 32 sq ft, campaign/election signs removed within 14 days after the election, garage/yard sale signs removed within 2 days after the sale, subdivision identification signs, nameplates (1 sq ft max), incidental signs secondary to the use on the lot, works of art without commercial messages, and directional signs (up to 4 sq ft) providing traffic flow to businesses.
- Routine maintenance of a sign except as otherwise specified.
- Interior window signs except strobe, blinking, or other attention-seeking lights/devices (though electronic reader boards in windows count as wall signs and require permits).
- Certain neighborhood garage/yard sale signs and similar, complying with removal timing standards.
- A-frame/sandwich board signs within a defined downtown district, subject to specific conditions and with a permit.
- Government signs and utility location signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A common signage plan is required before issuance of a sign permit for shopping centers and/or lots containing multiple businesses (27.22.090(3)(a)); applies also if common signage is shared between two or more adjacent lots (27.22.080(1)(c)).
- Businesses with approved entrances from more than two collector streets/arterial highways may submit a signage plan to the City Council for approval to exceed otherwise allowable sign area (27.22.080(4)).
- A site plan showing the proposed location of the sign and all existing signs on the same premises is required as part of a sign permit application (27.22.160(1)(d)).
- Signs for shopping centers/multiple businesses require coordinated design and a common signage plan covering number, mode of display, location, size, height, colors, materials, and illumination (27.22.090(3)(a)).
- Variance or appeal requests must be filed pursuant to Chapters 27.31 and 27.32 (27.22.220).

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

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