# Sign Regulations in Manhattan, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Manhattan, Montana regulates 36 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (25+ ft setback)s in the L-1 Light Industrial District zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 50 sq ft per sign, with a 25 ft setback (Sec. 10-15-4.H.4.b.1). Most commercial signs in Manhattan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 23 | Lettering/designs max 8 inches in height | Max total sign area increases by 50% per additional business, but no individual sign or sign height may exceed district allowance. | — |
| AG Agricultural District | 6 | 12 ft (with 6 ft clearance) | 32 sq ft (all signs on a lot) | — |
| RR Rural Residential District | 3 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft max total on lot (conditional uses) | — |
| R-1 Low Density Residential District, R-3 Medium Density Residential District | 1 | — | 8 sq ft max total on lot (conditional uses only) | — |
| CBD Central Business District | 6 | 24 ft (max); min 8 ft clearance over sidewalk/walkway; min 14 ft clearance over driveway/alley | 200 sq ft (all signs on a lot) | — |
| NHB Neighborhood Highway Business District | 5 | Maximum elevation 4312.25 ft above sea level | 400 sq ft (all signs on a lot) | — |
| L-1 Light Industrial District | 6 | 15 ft max height; min 8 ft clearance over sidewalk/walkway | 200 sq ft (all signs on a lot) | — |
| RT Residential Transitional District | 1 | — | 8 sq ft (all signs on a lot) | — |
| 10-7A District, 10-7B District, 10-7C District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Lettering/designs max 8 inches in height | First awning sign excluded from lot maximum; additional counted as wall signs | — | — | — | On valance at base or vertical portion of awning | — | 10-15-4.A.1 |
| Marquee Sign | — | Counted as wall signs | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-4.A.6 |
| Freestanding Sign (Master Signage Plan) | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 10-15-4.A.7.c |
| Master Signage Plan (All Signs) | — | Max total sign area increases by 50% per additional business, but no individual sign or sign height may exceed district allowance. | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-4.A.7.d |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building; can be on fascia of canopy or object under canopy (regulated) | — | 10-15-4.A.13 |
| For Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises advertised | — | 10-15-3.C |
| Information Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On public or private property | — | 10-15-3.G |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Immediately in front of business | — | 10-15-3.J |

### CBD Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | 24 ft (max); min 8 ft clearance over sidewalk/walkway; min 14 ft clearance over driveway/alley | 24 sq ft per projecting sign | — | — | 2 | — | — | 10-15-4.F.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | 10-15-4.F.3 |
| Window Sign | — | May cover no more than 25% surface area of window/door; considered wall sign for area calculation | — | — | — | Window/door | — | 10-15-4.F.4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-4.F.5 |
| Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-4.F.6 |
| All Signs (CBD District) | — | 200 sq ft (all signs on a lot) | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-4.F.1 |

### L-1 Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | 15 ft max height; min 8 ft clearance over sidewalk/walkway | 24 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | — | — | 10-15-4.H.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | 10-15-4.H.3 |
| Freestanding Sign (25+ ft setback) | 8 ft | 50 sq ft per sign | — | 25 ft | 1 per 100 ft frontage per abutting street | — | — | 10-15-4.H.4.b.1 |
| Freestanding Sign (under 25 ft setback) | 8 ft | 34 sq ft per sign | — | less than 25 ft | 1 per 100 ft frontage per abutting street | — | — | 10-15-4.H.4.b.2 |
| Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-4.H.5 |
| All Signs (L-1 District) | — | 200 sq ft (all signs on a lot) | — | — | — | — | — | 10-15-4.H.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Manhattan

- No sign or portion thereof may consist of or contain moving devices, including, but not limited to, banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers or spinners.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all districts.
- No sign may be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights, except for portions of a sign that indicate the current time or temperature.
- No illuminated sign or lighting device may be placed or directed so that the illumination causes glare or reflection beyond the property lines of the lot.
- No exposed light bulbs are allowed except for Christmas decoration.
- Freestanding signs shall not be placed within the sight distance triangle required for traffic safety.
- Portable signs, except for sidewalk signs, are prohibited in all districts. Portable signs that have changeable copy are allowed up to thirty (30) days per organization.
- Unauthorized signs, signals, markings or devices purporting to be or resembling official traffic-control devices or railroad signs are prohibited in view of any street.
- No traffic sign or signal bearing any commercial advertising may be placed or maintained on any street.
- No wall sign shall project more than one foot (1') from the face of the building to which it is attached. Wall signs attached to a protective canopy or apparatus shall not extend beyond the edges of the fascia or apparatus.

## Signs exempt from permit in Manhattan

- Architectural decoration that is integral to the design of a building (excluding moving parts, flashing lights, or letters/trademarks indicating occupants or business).
- Campaign signs erected no sooner than sixty (60) days before an election and removed no later than fifteen (15) days after the election.
- For sale, lease or rental signs on the premises, not exceeding six (6) square feet.
- Flags, banners, symbols, or other insignia of governmental bodies or political subdivisions.
- Holiday decorations (decorative lights and visual elements associated with traditional public or religious holidays displayed only during the normal holiday season).
- Identification signs bearing only property numbers, postbox numbers, names of occupants, or other identification of premises, not exceeding one square foot.
- Information signs for directing, informing or guiding pedestrians or vehicles (no advertising matter), not exceeding two (2) square feet.
- Legal notices posted by or required by governmental bodies.
- Preexisting signs (erected prior to the effective date), unless altered in external appearance.
- Sidewalk signs that are not illuminated and only displayed during business hours, not exceeding six (6) square feet.
- Temporary signs in any zoning district (subject to use and removal times, per regulations).
- Historic signs erected at least twenty five (25) years prior to the effective date and maintained/restored to original condition, with granted historic sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan is required, at the discretion of the planning board, for all signs on two (2) or more contiguous lots, or for all signs on one lot with two (2) or more uses or business establishments.
- Sign applications eligible for consideration as part of a master signage plan may be required to be submitted as a master signage plan by the planning board.
- Application and review procedures for a master signage plan are the same as for a single sign permit, including requirements for documentation and adherence to the submittal and approval process in section 10-15-6.
- For applications requesting deviations from the standard sign regulations, a public hearing before the planning board and town council is required for both individual and master signage plan applications.
- An application for deviation from sign regulations must include sufficient documentation to illustrate the superior environment, landscape quality or architectural character expected from the deviation.
- Historic sign permits are subject to public hearing procedures and must document the sign’s original erection date and alterations.

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

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