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Sign Permit — Manhattan, Montana · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source: https://www.townofmanhattan.com/s/Sign-Permit-3nsh.pdf
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Sign Permit in Manhattan, Montana
Required for installation of permanent signage within Manhattan town limits, per Manhattan Town Code 10-15-4. Temporary signs are exempt from the permit requirement but are restricted in timing and mounting. Applications are submitted on the Town's dedicated Sign Permit Application form (separate from the combined Building/Electrical/Mechanical/Plumbing Permit Application used for most other permit types in this file), which requires site plan review and sign design documentation.
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
When you need this permit
- Permanent signs require a Sign Permit per Manhattan Town Code 10-15-4; temporary signs are exempt from the permit but may be placed no earlier than 8 hours before an event and must be removed within 8 hours after, must be freestanding, and cannot be attached to poles or other permanent structures
- No signage is permitted on State Highways (S Broadway, N 5th, and Main Street)
- Application must identify site business name/address, property owner, business owner, sign contractor, existing signage to remain (type, copy, area, prior permit number), and the new signage requested (sign type, area, height, value, sign copy/text, whether the sign projects over the public right-of-way)
- Application must state the total sign area (including signage to remain), the applicable zone, and the building's frontage in linear feet
- Complete application requires: scaled elevation plans; a site plan (if applicable); an 8.5" x 11" color rendering of the sign; and an equivalent electronic image (JPG)
- Signed by both the applicant and the property owner
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Sign Permit FeeFlat fee printed directly on the Town of Manhattan Sign Permit Application form as fetched 2026-07-22; the form does not distinguish fee by sign size or type
$75.00
Review timeline
Plan review
Not published — contact the department
Inspection process
See the full Manhattan inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- Manhattan uses a dedicated Sign Permit Application, separate from the combined Building/Electrical/Mechanical/Plumbing Permit Application used for most other permit types in this file.
- Temporary signs (e.g., event signage) do not require a Sign Permit, but must be freestanding, may not be placed more than 8 hours before an event, and must be removed within 8 hours after — and no signage of any kind, temporary or permanent, is allowed along the town's State Highway frontages (S Broadway, N 5th, and Main Street).
- Unlike several other permit types in this file, the Sign Permit form publishes a fixed dollar fee ($75.00) directly on the application rather than referring applicants to an unpublished fee schedule at the Town Office.
- No inspection procedure for signage is published by the Town — unlike the Fence Permit, which explicitly requires two site inspections, the Sign Permit Application does not describe an inspection step.
Frequently asked questions
Manhattan requires a sign permit for: Permanent signs require a Sign Permit per Manhattan Town Code 10-15-4; temporary signs are exempt from the permit but may be placed no earlier than 8 hours before an event and must be removed within 8 hours after, must be freestanding, and cannot be attached to poles or other permanent structures; No signage is permitted on State Highways (S Broadway, N 5th, and Main Street); Application must identify site business name/address, property owner, business owner, sign contractor, existing signage to remain (type, copy, area, prior permit number), and the new signage requested (sign type, area, height, value, sign copy/text, whether the sign projects over the public right-of-way); Application must state the total sign area (including signage to remain), the applicable zone, and the building's frontage in linear feet; Complete application requires: scaled elevation plans; a site plan (if applicable); an 8.5" x 11" color rendering of the sign; and an equivalent electronic image (JPG); Signed by both the applicant and the property owner. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Manhattan Building Division at (406) 284-3235 before starting work.
$75.00 flat fee, per the Town of Manhattan Sign Permit Application form. This is one of the few Manhattan permit types with a fee published directly on the application rather than referred to an unpublished town-office fee schedule.
Manhattan does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Town of Manhattan Building Division at (406) 284-3235 for current turnaround.
You'll need: Sign Permit Application; Scaled Elevation Plans; Color Rendering / Electronic Image. Depending on your project, Manhattan may also ask for: Site Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.
Apply through Town of Manhattan Building Division at 207 South Sixth Street (P.O. Box 96), Manhattan, MT 59741. Phone: (406) 284-3235, email: townofmanhattan@gmail.com. Office hours: Town Office, 207 S. 6th St., Manhattan, MT 59741, Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Town Office/Zoning: 406-284-3235; Building Official Brandon Yung: 406-595-9300, byung.town@gmail.com). Official information: https://www.townofmanhattan.com/building-zoning.
Manhattan, Montana has adopted: Montana has a mandatory statewide building code administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Building Codes Bureau, amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Title 24, Chapter 301. Cities, counties, and towns may become 'certified' to locally administer permitting and inspection for all or part of the code (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, swimming pool, etc.); non-certified areas/trades fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs list (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf) and Current Codes page (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes).; Manhattan is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), Mechanical (M), Plumbing (P), Electrical (E), AND Swimming Pool (SP) within Manhattan town limits — full certification across all five trade categories, matching Billings and Belgrade. Certified building official on file with DLI: Brandon Yung. Verified directly against the DLI's official 'Certified City, County and Town Programs' roster (PDF, updated 2026-04-22): the Manhattan row reads 'Manhattan | B, M, P, E, SP | Brandon Yung | | City Limits'. Source: https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf; Manhattan Town Code section 12-1-1 (Adoption Of The Model Technical Codes And Administrative Rules): 'The current editions of the model uniform technical codes, to include, but not be limited to, building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical, and all accompanying appendices, amendments and modifications adopted or required to be adopted by the building codes bureau, Montana department of labor and industry (or its successor) as set out in the administrative rules of Montana, as amended from time to time by the building codes bureau, are adopted by reference.' This incorporates the same statewide code editions used by other DLI-certified Montana jurisdictions (2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 UPC, 2021 IECC, 2021 ISPSC, 2020 NEC, ICC A117.1-2017), automatically updated as the Building Codes Bureau amends ARM Title 24, Chapter 301 (effective 60 days after a signed mayoral administrative order per 12-1-1.C). Source: Manhattan Town Code 12-1-1, https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/manhattanmt/latest/manhattan_mt/0-0-0-6397 (Ord. 287, 2-10-2004; amd. Ord. 299, 11-9-2004; Ord. 06-007, 6-13-2006; Ord. 24-005, 5-9-2024); Manhattan Town Code section 12-1-2.C: 'Plans shall be reviewed and inspections made in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Bozeman city building code enforcement division.' This is a notable local arrangement — Manhattan's own Building Official (Brandon Yung) issues permits locally under Manhattan's DLI certification, but plan review and inspection procedure follows the City of Bozeman Building Division's rules and procedures. Source: Manhattan Town Code 12-1-2, https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/manhattanmt/latest/manhattan_mt/0-0-0-6411 (Ord. 297, 8-9-2004; amd. Ord. 24-005, 5-9-2024); Manhattan Town Code Title 12, Chapter 1 (Building Codes) is available at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/manhattanmt/latest/manhattan_mt/0-0-0-6392; Manhattan Town Code Title 10, Chapter 2 (Administration and Enforcement / Zoning Permit) at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/manhattanmt/latest/manhattan_mt/0-0-0-3289. Local amendments apply — see the Manhattan overview page for the full list.
No — temporary signs are exempt from the Sign Permit requirement, but must be freestanding (not attached to poles or permanent structures), may be placed no earlier than 8 hours before an event, and must be removed within 8 hours after the event ends. No signage, temporary or permanent, is allowed on the town's State Highway frontages (S Broadway, N 5th, and Main Street).
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Manhattan building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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