# Sign Regulations in Missoula, Montana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Missoula, Montana (MT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/montana/missoula
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-13
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/mt/missoula/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT20ZO_CH20.75SI)

## At a glance

Missoula, Montana regulates 52 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Ground Sign (General Commercial/Industrial)s in the Neighborhood Commercial (C1), Community Commercial (C2), Limited Industrial-Residential (M1R), Limited Industrial (M1), Heavy Industrial (M2) zoning district are capped at 22 ft tall and Max 72 sq ft before setback bonus; up to 122 sq ft with maximum setback bonus, with a Base setback not specified; area bonus tied to additional setback from ROW (2 sq ft per linear ft of setback). setback (Sec. 20.75.060.B.1–2; Table 20.75-3 (Ground); footnotes [1]–[2]). Most commercial signs in Missoula require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 31 | 8 ft | ≤ 60 sq ft per theater screen/auditorium; max 180 sq ft total all changeable-copy theater signs | — |
| Residential 215 (R215), Residential 80 (R80), Residential 40 (R40), Residential 20 (R20), Residential 10 (two-unit/townhouse) (RT10), Residential 8 (R8), Residential 5.4 (R5.4), Residential 3 (R3), Open Space (OP1), Public Lands and Institutional (OP3) | 4 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residential 5.4 (two-unit/townhouse) (RT5.4), Residential 2.7 (two-unit/townhouse) (RT2.7), Residential 2.7 (multi-dwelling) (RM2.7), Residential 2 (multi-dwelling) (RM2), Residential 1.5 (multi-dwelling) (RM1.5), Residential 1 (multi-dwelling) (RM1), Residential 0.5 (multi-dwelling) (RM0.5), Residential Manufactured Housing Park (RMH), Open and Resource Lands (OP2) | 4 | 22 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Business (B1), Community Business (B2), Business Mixed-Use (B3) | 5 | 8 ft | 50 sq ft per building frontage | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (C1), Community Commercial (C2), Limited Industrial-Residential (M1R), Limited Industrial (M1), Heavy Industrial (M2) | 5 | 22 ft | Max 72 sq ft before setback bonus; up to 122 sq ft with maximum setback bonus | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 5 | 22 ft | 50 sq ft + 1 sq ft per additional ft of building frontage (no explicit cap) | — |
| /NC-SR overlay district (/NC-SR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| /PUD, NC-B (Boulevard), H (Historic), Special Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Open Space (OP1), Open and Resource Lands (OP2), Public Lands and Institutional (OP3), Aviation (A) | 1 | 8 ft for temporary signs; others per 20.75.040. | Per Table 20.75-1 temporary (6 sq ft) plus exempt minor/incidental signs. | — |
| R districts (Residential districts, general) | 1 | Temporary: 8 ft; ground/wall as per relevant group in Table 20.75-1 when nonresidential/other uses present. | Temporary: 6 sq ft; minor: 6 sq ft; incidental: 2 sq ft; other sizes via Table 20.75-1 when use qualifies as “other uses”. | — |
| OP districts (Open Space/Public districts, general) | 1 | Wall 6 ft for OP1/OP3; wall 22 ft for OP2; ground 6 ft; temporary 8 ft. | Per Table 20.75-1 for OP1/OP3 (group with low-density R) and for OP2 (group with RT/RM/RMH), plus exempt sign limits. | — |
| B districts (Business districts, general) | 1 | Wall: N/A; ground: 6 ft in B1/B2/B3; temporary: 8 ft. | Per Tables 20.75-2 and 20.75-3 (for nearby C/M standards if within 100 ft of residential) plus general allowances for specific sign types. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Minor Sign (Permit-Exempt) | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to 6 per business | On private property; may not extend into ROW except where otherwise allowed; must be visible consistent with general placement rules. | — | 20.75.040.A |
| Flag/Emblem/Crest/Insignia (Nation/Government) (Permit-Exempt) | — | — | — | Flagpoles must be at least 20 ft from property line. | Max 3 poles | Located on a pole a minimum of 20 ft from the property line. | — | 20.75.040.H |
| Hanging Sign (Under Canopy/Marquee) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public entrance | Suspended below underside of a canopy or marquee over a sidewalk/drive/grade. | — | 20.75.070.B.1; 20.75.020.C.3 |
| Multi-tenant Sign | 6 ft (if freestanding) | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public entrance | Per building entrance open to general public; may be freestanding or wall-mounted. | — | 20.75.070.D |
| Sidewalk Sign (Non-BID Parcels) | 5 ft | — | 3 ft | — | 1 per business (if parcel has no ground sign) | On sidewalk immediately in front of the building occupied by the advertiser; only where sidewalk width allows a minimum 6-ft pedestrian clear zone; not allowed where no sidewalk or insufficient width; not in state highway ROW without state permission. | — | 20.75.070.I.1–2 |
| Sidewalk Sign (Business Improvement District - BID Exception) | 5 ft | — | 3 ft | — | Up to 2 per business (if parcel has no ground sign) | On same side of street as advertiser, within three blocks of advertiser's building. At least one of up to two signs must be placed immediately in front of advertiser's building. | — | 20.75.070.I.3 |
| Stacking Lane Sign - Primary Menu Board | 8 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per order station, max 2 per parcel | Within stacking lane of drive-through use, interior to development site; may not be oriented/located to be legible from off-site. | — | 20.75.070.J.1.a–2 |
| Stacking Lane Sign - Secondary | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Within stacking lane/drive-through area, interior to site; not legible from off-site. | — | 20.75.070.J.1.b–2 |

### Neighborhood Commercial (C1), Community Commercial (C2), Limited Industrial-Residential (M1R), Limited Industrial (M1), Heavy Industrial (M2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (General Commercial/Industrial) | N/A (limited by building height and clearance rules) | 50 sq ft + 1 sq ft per additional foot of building frontage (no explicit cap beyond formula) | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On each building frontage for allowed uses. | — | 20.75.060.B.1–2; Table 20.75-3 (Wall) |
| Ground Sign (General Commercial/Industrial) | 22 ft | Max 72 sq ft before setback bonus; up to 122 sq ft with maximum setback bonus | — | Base setback not specified; area bonus tied to additional setback from ROW (2 sq ft per linear ft of setback). | 1 per parcel per nonintersecting street frontage | On ground along parcel street frontage in C1, C2, M1R, M1, M2. | — | 20.75.060.B.1–2; Table 20.75-3 (Ground); footnotes [1]–[2] |
| Projecting Sign (In Lieu of Ground Sign) | 14 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building/business (table shows 1) | Projecting from building facade in C1, C2, M1R, M1, M2. | — | 20.75.060.B.2; Table 20.75-3 (Projecting); footnote [3] |
| Temporary Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | On ground, building, structure or fence as allowed generally. | — | 20.75.060.B.2; Table 20.75-3 (Temporary signs); 20.75.040.I |
| Other Signs (Commercial/Industrial Specific Types) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.75.060.B.2 (Other Signs row); 20.75.070.F.1 |

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | N/A (subject to building height/clearance rules) | 50 sq ft + 1 sq ft per additional ft of building frontage (no explicit cap) | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On each building frontage for CBD uses. | — | 20.75.060.C.2; Table 20.75-4 (Wall) |
| Ground Sign | 22 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel per nonintersecting street frontage | On ground along parcel street frontage in CBD. | — | 20.75.060.C.2; Table 20.75-4 (Ground); footnote [1] |
| Projecting Sign (In Lieu of Ground Sign) | 14 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building/business | Projecting from building facade in CBD. | — | 20.75.060.C.2; Table 20.75-4 (Projecting); footnote [2] |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Not specified | On ground, building, structure or fence as generally allowed. | — | 20.75.060.C.2; Table 20.75-4 (Temporary Signs); 20.75.040.I |
| Other Signs (CBD) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.75.060.C.2 (Other Signs row); 20.75.070.F.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Missoula

- Signs that simulate or are likely to be confused with traffic control signs commonly used by government agencies or construction contractors are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Searchlights are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Animated, flashing, blinking or scintillating signs are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Signs located so as to obstruct the view of traffic-control devices or vehicles at intersections or pedestrians at marked crosswalks, as determined by the city engineer, are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Dynamic display billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Mobile billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Vehicle signs are not permitted in public rights-of-way, on public property or on private property where such objects are visible from the public right-of-way.
- Temporary (portable) changeable copy signs are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Inflatable signs and any sign that moves or gives the appearance of moving, and any sign which flutters, undulates, swings, rotates, oscillates or otherwise moves by natural or artificial means (including balloons, flags, pennants, streamers, spinners or other types of wind signs) are prohibited, except national and governmental subdivision flags as noted in 20.75.040.G.
- Human signs, human directional signs, and sign walkers that display, advertise, or promote commercial activity or provide direction to commercial activity are prohibited in all zoning districts unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Signs not expressly allowed by the regulations of Chapter 20.75 are prohibited.
- No sign or supporting structure, including temporary signs, may extend beyond the property boundary except as otherwise expressly stated.
- Signs and supporting structures that overhang or extend within vehicle traffic lanes or parking spaces must maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet; signs violating this are not allowed.
- Allowed signs above sidewalks and other pedestrian areas must maintain at least nine feet of vertical clearance; signs installed with less clearance are not allowed.
- Signs erected, constructed, affixed, painted, changed in copy, altered, or relocated without a required sign permit (where one is required) are not allowed.
- Signs and their supports, braces, guys, anchors, and electrical equipment that are not kept fully operable and in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition must be removed; failure to maintain constitutes a violation.
- Unsafe or inadequately maintained signs that are not removed or brought into compliance after required notice are subject to removal by the city at the owner’s expense.
- Signs presenting an immediate danger to the public are prohibited and must be repaired or removed immediately upon order of the zoning officer.
- Abandoned signs that are not removed within 30 days after becoming abandoned are in violation of the ordinance.
- Nonconforming signs that are structurally altered (beyond change of copy or routine maintenance), relocated, or replaced without being brought into full compliance are not allowed.
- Billboards may not be installed or enlarged after February 14, 1985 in any zoning district in the City of Missoula.
- Billboards in OP, B, CBD, or any R zoning district must be removed as required in 20.75.160; failure to remove when triggered by rezoning or annexation is a violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Missoula

- Minor signs, up to six signs per business with none exceeding six square feet in area, are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits on the number or area of signs, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property; commercial messages may comprise no more than 50% of the area of any minor sign.
- Incidental signs not exceeding two square feet in area are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property.
- Signs posted by or required to be posted by any government or governmental agency are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property.
- Signs located on private property that are not visible from a public right-of-way or public lands are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property.
- Barber-pole signs not exceeding four feet in height and attached to a building are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property.
- National register district identification signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property.
- Ideological signs are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property.
- Flags, emblems, crests or insignia of any nation or governmental subdivision, located on a pole a minimum of 20 feet from the property line (maximum of three poles) are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits, provided they are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property; the United States flag must be flown in accordance with Title 4 U.S.C.
- Temporary signs in the following categories are allowed without a sign permit and are not counted toward applicable limits (unless otherwise noted), provided they are removed upon completion of the activity and are not internally illuminated, do not cause glare, and do not cast light onto adjacent property: (a) notices posted by public agencies, such as notices of proposed rezoning; (b) temporary signs protecting private property or identifying property hazards; (c) seasonal signs and holiday decorations erected only for the customary duration of general celebration; (d) temporary signs as allowed by each zoning district; and (e) temporary window signs displayed in ground level windows only, with no more than 25% of the window area covered by temporary signs at any one time.
- Wayfinding signage placed in the public right-of-way in accordance with the City's comprehensive Wayfinding Plan is not subject to the sign regulations of Chapter 20.75, although such signage is still subject to other City and State requirements, including encroachment permits.
- Any sign allowed under Chapter 20.75 may contain any lawful noncommercial message instead of another message or copy without additional restriction based on message content, so long as the sign complies with size, height, area, and other requirements; decision-making bodies may not consider content or viewpoint when approving or denying sign permits.
- Building Graphics, when already approved by the Public Art Committee or when included and reviewed as part of a Design Excellence Review within the Design Excellence Overlay, are exempt from the requirement for Design Review approval under 20.85.080, though they must still meet the overall intent of the zoning ordinance.
- Window signs (permanent and temporary) that comply with 20.75.070.C are allowed in addition to other signs; temporary window signs meeting 20.75.040.I.5 are specifically exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Sidewalk signs that meet the dimensional, location, and other criteria in 20.75.070.I are allowed as an additional sign type when the parcel has no ground signs (and subject to BID exceptions) without a separate numerical sign allowance being reduced.
- Signs on bus stop benches and transit shelters placed under agreement with the City at locations specified by the Missoula Urban Transit District are expressly allowed in any zoning district, subject to stated size, illumination, and placement standards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Special signs that do not lend themselves to the measurement provisions of Chapter 20.75 or are designed for a special and unique purpose may be permitted in any zoning district only after Design Review as outlined in 20.85.080, where the zoning officer must find that such signs conform to the overall purpose and intent of the chapter and are appropriate to the related development or structure.
- A Comprehensive Sign Package (a complete system of signage for a site) may be approved by the zoning officer when signs are not in strict compliance with Chapter 20.75 but are part of a comprehensive design plan that meets the overall intent and purposes of the chapter; the applicant must address the complete system of signage for the site along with proposed lighting and architectural detailing that may be considered to support the sign.
- Signs in /PUD, NC-B (Boulevard), H (Historic), or Special Districts must be reviewed by the zoning officer as a special sign class, who will determine whether the signs meet the overall intent and purposes of Chapter 20.75 and the requirements of 20.75.100.
- New Heritage Signs may only be approved when the zoning officer finds they result in superior design for the overall site, conform with the purpose and intent of the chapter, and reflect a historically accurate sign that was on site previously; applicants must provide additional documentation, including consultation with the Historic Preservation Officer, as part of the review.
- The zoning officer may designate existing signs as Heritage Signs (historic or artistic contribution), upon owner or lessee request, entitling them to continue in use subject to maintenance requirements; this operates as a special sign status and may be part of a broader sign package or special sign review.
- The variance procedures of 20.85.090 apply to sign variances under 20.75.130; the Board of Adjustment may grant only the minimum variance necessary to overcome an unnecessary hardship related to site conditions, and cannot base decisions on circumstances unique to a particular industry or business.
- Off-premises ground signs require a special exception granted by the Board of Adjustment before a permit is issued; the Board must find that the business location precludes placement of a visible on‑premises sign or that the parcel does not abut a public street, and that the use is not in a residential zoning district.
- For Special Signs and Comprehensive Sign Packages, applicants are effectively required to submit a coordinated sign plan for the entire site (including lighting and architectural detailing) for zoning officer review in lieu of strict compliance with individual sign standards.
- Building Graphics, while exempt from separate Design Review when approved by the Public Art Committee or as part of a Design Excellence Review, still require a zoning officer determination that they make a positive contribution and are in keeping with the intent of the zoning ordinance, functioning as a type of sign plan or special sign review.
- Multiple provisions indicate that multi-tenant developments may have specific multi-tenant signs in addition to other signs (20.75.070.D and 20.75.080.D); development of these multi-tenant sign elements generally implies the need to coordinate sign design and location as part of a site-wide signage approach, especially when combined with Comprehensive Sign Package provisions.
- Design Review under 20.85.080 functions as the required review process when approving Special Signs and Comprehensive Sign Packages, and will look at the complete signage system for the site rather than only individual sign permits.

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

---

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