# Sign Regulations in Lewistown, Montana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lewistown, Montana (MT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/montana/lewistown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Lewistown, Montana regulates 24 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Uses)s in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 48 sq.ft., with a 15 ft. from any public right of way setback (Sec. 5-21-41(D), (E)). Most commercial signs in Lewistown 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 | — | 64 sq.ft. | — |
| Residential Zones | 5 | 6 ft. | 48 sq.ft. | — |
| Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones | 7 | 35 ft. | 8 sq.ft. | — |
| Highway Commercial Zones | 2 | 35 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs not requiring permit | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5-21-33 |
| Construction Sign (Residential Zones) | — | 32 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property of construction project | — | 5-21-40(B) |
| Construction Sign (All Other Zones) | — | 64 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property of construction project | — | 5-21-40(B) |
| Real Estate Sign (Single Lot) | — | 10 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | On property being advertised | — | 5-21-40(C) |
| Real Estate Sign (Multiple Lots) | — | 18 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per property | On property being advertised | — | 5-21-40(C) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Attached to building | — | 5-21-40(D) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq.ft. total per lot | — | — | 4 per lot | Only on private property, with permission | — | 5-21-40(E) |
| Temporary Special Events Signs, Banners, Pennants, Festoons, Searchlights, Decorations | — | — | — | — | — | Per premises as permitted by administrator | — | 5-21-40(G) |

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 48 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage, neighborhood, subdivision, or development | Subdivision entrance/neighborhood | — | 5-21-41(B) |
| Identification Sign (Apartment or Condominium Complex Entrance) | — | 36 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per entrance | Complex entrance | — | 5-21-41(C) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | 6 ft. | 48 sq.ft. | — | 15 ft. from any public right of way | 1 per use | On site, 15 ft. setback from public right-of-way | — | 5-21-41(D), (E) |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | — | 48 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per use | On building | — | 5-21-41(D) |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (Permitted Use in Dwelling Unit) | — | 2 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per lot or premises | Attached to building or displayed in window | — | 5-21-41(D), 5-21-40(C) |

### Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft. | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage, plus 1 per each additional 250' over first 300' | On site, must not project beyond property lines, nor extend more than 1/2 the distance from property line to curb | — | 5-21-42(B) |
| Wall Sign and Electric Awning Sign (Combined) | — | — | — | — | — | On building facade | — | 5-21-42(C) |
| Projecting Sign (in lieu of Wall or Freestanding Sign) | — | — | — | — | — | May project up to 2/3 distance from property line to curb; must maintain 10 ft. clearance over pedestrian areas. | — | 5-21-42(D) |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq.ft. | — | — | 1 per occupancy/entrance | Suspended beneath canopy/marquee | — | 5-21-42(E) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 4 sq.ft. aggregate per occupancy | — | — | — | — | — | 5-21-42(F) |
| Portable and Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not allowed within public right of way | — | 5-21-42(G) |
| Off Site Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5-21-42(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Lewistown

- It is unlawful to erect, place, or maintain a sign except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Banners, festoons, and searchlights are prohibited in all districts (except as allowed in section 5-21-40).
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals are prohibited.
- Snipe signs or signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights, or placed on any public property or public right of way are prohibited (except as allowed in section 5-21-40).
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers parked or located primarily for displaying such signs are prohibited (except for allowed portable signs or signage on vehicles in normal business operation).
- Commercial signs on city property or public right of way are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Glaring signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- No private signs of any nature shall be affixed to public historic lighting fixtures maintained in the city.
- No sign may be constructed or placed to simulate or interfere with traffic control devices or official highway directional/information signs.
- Signs are not allowed to interfere with or hide from view the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal.
- No public authority shall permit any traffic sign or signal bearing commercial advertising to be placed on any street or highway.
- Every prohibited sign, signal, or device imitating or interfering with official traffic signs is declared to be a public nuisance and may be removed by the appropriate authority without notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lewistown

- Signs used by churches, synagogues, or civic organizations are exempt from permit requirements.
- Construction signs of sixteen square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements.
- Directional/information signs of six square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements.
- Holiday or special events decorations are exempt from permit requirements.
- Nameplates of two square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements.
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Garage sale signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary special event signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Snipe signs as provided in section 5-21-40 are exempt from permit requirements.
- No permit is required for the maintenance of a sign or for a change of copy on painted, printed, or changeable copy signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit must include a site plan with measurements showing the proposed location of the sign along with the locations of all existing signs on the same premises.
- Specifications and drawings showing the materials, design, dimensions, structural supports, and electrical components of the proposed sign must be submitted with the application.
- All proposed signs exceeding thirty two (32) square feet and requiring a permit shall undergo review by the design review board.
- Sign permit applications are subject to review and approval by the design review board, if required.
- When requesting a variance from code requirements, the applicant may apply to the board of adjustment for a variance; a variance may only be granted if certain hardship and other criteria are met.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/montana/lewistown