2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 75. Environmental Protection › Chapter 15. Landscape Management › Part 1. Outdoor Advertising › 75-15-113. Standards for permitted advertising

75-15-113. Standards for permitted advertising.
Except for outdoor advertising beyond 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an interstate or primary highway outside of an urban area, outdoor advertising permitted under 75-15-111(1)(d) and (1)(e) must conform to the following requirements:
(1) Signs may not be erected or maintained that exceed 672 square feet in area, including border and trim but excluding base or apron, supports, and other structural members.
(2) Signs may not exceed 48 feet in length.
(3) The maximum height of the sign structure, including the sign face, is 30 feet, measured at a right angle from the surface of the roadway at the centerline of the interstate or primary highway.
(4) No more than two facings visible and readable from the same direction on the main-traveled way may be erected on any one sign structure. Whenever two facings are so positioned, neither may exceed 325 square feet.
(5) Double-faced, back-to-back, and V-type signs are considered to be a single sign or structure.
(6) When two or more faces, back to back, are supported by separate structures, each is considered to be a single sign.
(7) No two signs may be spaced less than 500 feet apart adjacent to an interstate highway or limited-access primary highway, except that signs may be erected closer than 500 feet if they are separated by buildings or other obstructions in a manner that only one sign facing located within the 500-foot spacing distance is visible from the highway at any one time.
(8) Signs may not be located within 500 feet of any of the following that are adjacent to the highway unless the signs are in an incorporated area:
(a) public parks;
(b) public forests;
(c) public playgrounds;
(d) scenic areas designated as such by the department or other state agency having and exercising this authority;
(e) cemeteries.
(9) A sign may not be located on an interstate highway or freeway within 500 feet of an interchange or intersection at a grade or rest area. The 500 feet is to be measured along the interstate or freeway from the beginning or ending of the pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main-traveled way.
(10) Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following restrictions:
(a) Signs that contain, include, or are illuminated by a flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights are prohibited, except those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather, or similar information.
(b) Signs that are not effectively shielded as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at a portion of the traveled ways of the interstate or federal-aid primary highway, that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or that otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of a motor vehicle are prohibited.
(c) A sign may not be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
(11) The location of sign structures situated on the primary highways between streets, roads, or highways entering or intersecting the main-traveled way must conform to the following minimum spacing criteria:
(a) When the distance between centerlines of intersecting streets or highways is less than 1,000 feet, a minimum spacing between structures of 150 feet may be permitted between the intersecting streets or highways.
(b) When the distance between centerlines of intersecting streets or highways is 1,000 feet or more, minimum spacing between sign structures must be 300 feet.
History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 2, 2nd Ex. L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 89, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 162, Ch. 316, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 216, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 32-4719; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 45, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 512, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 510, L. 1995.