# Sign Regulations in Whitefish, Montana

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

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

## At a glance

Whitefish, Montana regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding or Ground Mounted Signs in the Highway District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 75 sq ft per sign, with a Minimum 5 ft from property line; not within 30 ft of Residential District; specific clear vision for corner lots. setback (Sec. 11-5-6-1(B)(1), 11-5-5(A), 11-5-5(E), 11-5-6-1(A), 11-5-5(F), 11-5-5(J), 11-5-6-1(B)(10)). Most commercial signs in Whitefish require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Highway District | 6 | 10 ft | 75 sq ft per sign | — |
| Old Town District | 8 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft + 5 sq ft per tenant in a multi-tenant site | — |
| Community Business and Resort Districts | 5 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft; multi-tenant base: 24 sq ft + 5 sq ft per tenant | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face (multiple signs allowed if total does not exceed 24 sq ft at entrance) | — |
| Business Service District | 7 | 8 ft (main); 6 ft (secondary) | 50 sq ft per face (main frontage); secondary frontage: 32 sq ft, max 6 ft high | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 4 ft | 24 sq ft per face; max 4 ft high | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Highway District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding or Ground Mounted Sign | 10 ft | 75 sq ft per sign | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line; not within 30 ft of Residential District; specific clear vision for corner lots. | Based on frontage: ≤150 ft: 1; 151-300 ft: 2; 301-450 ft: 3 | Landscape area required around base; setback minimum 5 ft from property line; not within 30 ft of Residential District; corner lots must have a clear vision triangle and sign structure max 36 in in height. | — | 11-5-6-1(B)(1), 11-5-5(A), 11-5-5(E), 11-5-6-1(A), 11-5-5(F), 11-5-5(J), 11-5-6-1(B)(10) |
| Building Mounted Sign - Single Tenant | — | — | — | — | Max 3 per developed site (single business) | Mounted on building | — | 11-5-6-1(B)(4a), 11-5-5(B), 11-5-6-1(A) |
| Building Mounted Sign - Multi-Tenant | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant | Mounted on building for each tenant | — | 11-5-6-1(B)(4b),(6),(7), 11-5-5(B) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting, max 5 ft from building, minimum 8 ft clearance above surface below | — | 11-5-6-1(B)(5), 11-5-5(B)(1) |
| Alley/Rear Entrance Sign | 8 ft | 6 sq ft (alley entrance), 16 sq ft (for business accessed only from alleyway) | — | — | 1 per rear/side entrance; 1 for access only from alley | Flush mounted at alley/rear entrance | — | 11-5-6-1(B)(8), 11-5-5(H) |
| Neon Advertising Window Sign | — | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 4 per business | Inside window | — | 11-5-6-1(B)(9) |

### Old Town District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding or Ground Mounted Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft + 5 sq ft per tenant in a multi-tenant site | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per developed site | Landscape area around base, mounted on two parallel posts/aggregate base; min. 5 ft setback from property line | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(1),(B)(1)-(4),(9) |
| Building Mounted Sign - Single Tenant (≤1 frontage) | — | — | — | — | 2 per single business (1 frontage); 3 if 2+ frontages | Building mounted | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(2),(B) |
| Building Mounted Sign - Multi-Tenant | — | — | — | — | 1 building sign and 1 under-awning sign per tenant | Building mounted and under-awning over sidewalk (minimum 7 ft clearance) | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(2),(4),(B) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting, must be perpendicular and min. 8 ft above surface below. | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(3), 11-5-5(B) |
| Alley/Rear Entrance Sign | — | 6 sq ft (alley/rear entrance), 16 sq ft (accessed only from alleyway) | — | — | 1 per alley/rear entrance | Flush mounted at rear/alley entrance | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(5) |
| Sandwich Board (A-Frame) Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side; max 2 ft wide | 2 ft | — | 1 per storefront entrance | Within 15 ft of storefront entrance; must maintain 4 ft unobstructed pedestrian sidewalk | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(6) |
| Neon Advertising Window Sign | — | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 4 per business | Inside window | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(7) |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Window (interior) | — | 11-5-6-2(A)(10) |

### Business Service District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding, Ground Mounted, or Monument Sign | 8 ft (main); 6 ft (secondary) | 50 sq ft per face (main frontage); secondary frontage: 32 sq ft, max 6 ft high | — | 5 ft from property line/right-of-way | 1 or 2 per developed site depending on frontage | 5 ft setback from property line/right-of-way. Corner lots: sign along each frontage but not within same setback. | — | 11-5-6-5(B)(1),(8),(A) |
| Building Mounted Sign - Single Tenant | — | 24 sq ft (30 sq ft if freestanding sign square footage is transferred) | — | — | Max 2 per single business | Building mounted | — | 11-5-6-5(B)(3),(4) |
| Building Mounted Sign - Multi-Tenant | — | 24 sq ft; 30 sq ft if transfer | — | — | 1 per tenant | Building mounted | — | 11-5-6-5(B)(5a),(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting from building | — | 11-5-6-5(B)(4),(3) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | Total sign area (awning/canopy + building sign) cannot exceed 24 sq ft/tenant | — | — | 1 per business/tenant | Awning/canopy | — | 11-5-6-5(B)(3d) |
| Internal Business Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business with only interior driveway access | Flush mounted building sign | — | 11-5-6-5(B)(6) |
| Advertising Window Sign | — | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 3 per business | Inside window | — | 11-5-6-5(B)(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Whitefish

- Abandoned signs or any sign which identifies or advertises an activity, business, product, service or special event which is no longer produced, conducted, performed or sold on the premises where the sign is located.
- Animated, rotating, flashing or blinking signs, strobe lights and searchlights except electronic message signs displaying time and temperature as provided elsewhere in these regulations. Barbers' poles are not regulated under this section.
- Signs that have been unlawfully or illegally erected and/or maintained.
- Signs that constitute a traffic hazard or a nuisance that are detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the public.
- Permanent display of banners, pennants, festoons, balloons, tethered objects, strings of flags, streamers, inflated objects or any device intended as an attractant that is affected by the movement of the air.
- Roof signs higher than the apex of the roof, except religious symbols which are permitted up to 35 feet with possibility of exceeding this height with a conditional use permit. Existing religious symbols are exempt.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals.
- Advertising matter or sign painted, mounted or attached on a vehicle, trailer or boat, outdoor storage containers and/or waste receptacles or their enclosures which are stored, parked or displayed in a conspicuous manner intended to attract the attention for advertising purposes.
- Internally illuminated vending machines located outside a building and viewable from a public right-of-way.
- Commercial billboards and off premises signs (except off premises alley signs as otherwise permitted herein).
- Any portable reader board.
- Permanent reader board (changeable copy) signs incorporated into a sign or as a stand-alone sign except for those associated with a religious assembly, school, fuel prices, theater, public park facilities, convention center or accommodation vacancy/no vacancy signs.
- Any temporary sign attached to public property, including, but not limited to, a utility pole or structure, streetlight, tree, fence, fire hydrant, bridge, curb, sidewalk, park bench or other location on public property except as otherwise provided for in these regulations.
- Any sign with exposed incandescent, metal halide or fluorescent light bulbs.
- Any sign which emits audible sound, odor, smoke, steam, laser or hologram lights or other visible matter, including any device that employs any stereopticon, motion picture or audio projection.
- Any sign placed in any public right-of-way except for signs erected by the City, County, State or other authorized government agency, or as authorized by the City Council issuance of a right-of-way encroachment permit. Private signs permitted in the City right-of-way shall be included in the overall sign allowance for the property.
- Internally illuminated individual letters and internally illuminated signs.
- Electronically automated changeable copy signs, except that such signs displaying the time and temperature shall be permitted up to six (6) square feet in size, which square footage shall be in addition to the square footage otherwise allowed in this chapter.
- A-frame signs except as provided for in the Old Town District.
- Human signs that are considered commercial signs.
- Signs not expressly allowed by the regulations of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Whitefish

- Signs erected and maintained by the Federal, State, or local government; public utility, public service or railroad signs that aid in safety; off premises hospital signs.
- Signs that cannot be read from a public right-of-way, including signs located entirely inside a building and not readily visible from outside the building, as well as signs intended to be readable from within a parking area but not readable beyond the boundary of the lot where they are located.
- Nonilluminated window displays, window signs and painted window lettering, with the exception that, in the Old Town District, such signs are allowed a limited area.
- A ground or wall sign not exceeding four (4) square feet located at a housing or apartment complex.
- One subdivision sign per entrance to a subdivision on streets with different names not exceeding twenty four (24) square feet per face nor exceeding four feet (4') in height.
- On-premises incidental signs that do not exceed two (2) square feet.
- Non-illuminated non-commercial signs not exceeding six (6) square feet on residential and resort residential zoned properties, and not exceeding thirty two (32) square feet in Commercial and Industrial Zones.
- Barber poles and religious symbols.
- The following non-illuminated temporary signs located on private property, provided they are removed at the completion of the activity (in real estate, completion means closing) identified in the sign: Notices posted by public agencies; temporary signs placed on public property no more than two (2) weeks prior to an event and removed no more than two (2) days after; temporary signs on active construction sites not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet per face and consolidated for multiple contractors; temporary election signs within size and time limits; temporary signs for property for sale or rent within size and number limits; temporary yard or garage sale signs up to six (6) square feet and four feet in height; temporary seasonal displays on recognized civic, patriotic and religious days within date limits.
- One display box up to six (6) square feet for menus and a bulletin board up to twelve (12) square feet for events and notices is allowed for each restaurant, bar and lounge, or grocery store.
- Works of art including wall graphics, carvings and sculptures with no advertising matter, not used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- The flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, organization of nations, state, province, county, city, any religious, civic or fraternal organization or educational institution, provided conditions on size, location, clearance, number and permit for flagpoles over 35 feet are met.
- Signs on motor vehicles or trailers which are being operated or stored in the normal course of business such as signs indicating the name of the owner or business on delivery trucks, trailers and the like; provided that the primary purpose of such vehicles is not for use as signs and provided that such vehicles are parked or stored in areas appropriate to their use as vehicles.
- A single changeable copy sign associated with a public park facility (see subsection 11-5-5K of this chapter).
- A shared service club sign erected in cooperation with the City that can be used to advertise established organizations within the City. One may be located on Highway 93 South and one may be located on Highway 93 North.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan will be required for all multiuse buildings and commercial developments containing more than one tenant and/or building that will be kept on file with the City. The master sign plan must be approved prior to issuance of a building permit for all new buildings, additions or renovations. The master sign plan will run with the multiuse building or commercial center and not with the individual tenants.
- In the Highway District, a master sign plan is required for all multiuse buildings and commercial developments containing more than one tenant and/or building. The master sign plan must be approved prior to issuance of a building permit for any new building, additions or renovations.
- In the Highway District, for multiple businesses and buildings greater than 100,000 square feet, a master sign plan is required for all multiuse buildings and commercial developments containing more than one tenant and/or building. The plan shall be negotiated on a project basis with each individual complex. For any development to be vested under this provision, the owner or agent needs to present the master sign plan to the review bodies within one year of adoption of this title.
- In the Old Town District, a master sign plan shall be required for all multiuse buildings and commercial developments containing more than one tenant and/or building. The master sign plan shall run with the multiuse building or commercial center and not with the individual tenants.
- In the Business Service District, a master sign plan shall be submitted for all multi-business buildings or developments containing more than one tenant and/or building. The conceptual master sign plan must be approved prior to issuance of a building permit or zoning compliance permit for any new building, additions or renovations. The master sign plan shall run with the multiuse building and not with the individual tenants.
- Performing art centers may establish a designated event promotion sign area through an overall sign plan submitted by the operator/owner of the building to the Planning Department for review and approval. Once approved, no additional permit is required to change individual event promotion sign panels.
- Variances: No variances to the provisions of these regulations shall be considered or granted except when an unforeseen circumstance presents itself because of unique circumstances and written findings are made by the City Council in accordance with the variance criteria outlined in these regulations. Exception may be granted for historic or community icon signs per defined criteria.

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

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