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Sign Permit (Zoning) in Forsyth, Montana

Forsyth, MT Code of Ordinances 12-2-9 'Signs' (Title 12 Zoning Regulations, Chapter 2 General Requirements, Ord. 2000-03, 9-13-2000) regulates outdoor advertising and business signs citywide. Subsection B lists specific sign categories exempt from a permit (real-estate signs, address/nameplate signs, non-commercial government flags, government-required legal/directional signs, non-lettered architectural features, non-advertising traffic/parking signs, institutional bulletin boards set back 10'+ from the right-of-way, and temporary political signs removed within 15 days of an election); ordinary on-site business/industrial signage is NOT among the listed exemptions, and subsection D is explicitly titled 'Regulation Of Off-Site Signs Requiring A Permit,' confirming at minimum that off-site (billboard-type) signs require a permit — the ordinance text does not use the word 'permit' again in subsection C's on-site-sign standards, so whether an ordinary on-site business sign is itself a separate permitted transaction (versus simply a standard enforced at zoning review of a broader project) is not fully spelled out in the codified text. Separately, Forsyth's own Building Code (11-1-1(A)(10)) adopts International Building Code Appendix Chapter H (Signs), per ARM 24.301.134, as an optional local building-code chapter governing the structural design/construction of sign structures — a layer distinct from, and in addition to, this Title 12 zoning permit. No fee schedule, application form, administering-department contact, or review timeline for this permit was found published anywhere on the City's own website or in the codified ordinances as of this review.

Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permit-exempt under 12-2-9(B): real estate signs (max 12 sq ft, 6 sq ft in residential districts), address/nameplate signs, non-commercial government flags/insignia, government-required legal/directional signs, non-lettered architectural features, non-advertising on-site traffic/parking signs, church/school/institutional bulletin boards (10'+ from the right-of-way line, no traffic-visibility obstruction), and temporary political/campaign signs (removed within 15 days of the election)
  • On-site signs in business and industrial districts (12-2-9(C)): no freestanding sign within the required front/side/rear yard setback, and none within 50' of a side/rear lot line abutting a residential district; max freestanding-sign height 75'; signs over a sidewalk/walkway require at least 8' vertical clearance; one wall sign per use plus one freestanding sign per building regardless of the number of businesses in it; total sign surface area capped at 2 sq ft per lineal foot of building frontage, up to a 100 sq ft maximum
  • Off-site signs explicitly require a permit under 12-2-9(D): same yard-setback and 50' residential-buffer rule; illumination must be constant intensity only (no flashing/intermittent/rotating/moving lights) and may not create glare, reflection, or a traffic hazard; max area 32 sq ft; max height 35'
  • Any electrically-illuminated sign's wiring, fittings, and materials must comply with the state electrical code (12-2-9(D)(2)) — since Forsyth holds no DLI Electrical certification, this means a separate state-issued Electrical Permit (see electrical-permit-state entry) is also required for the sign's electrical connection, in addition to whatever applies under this zoning permit
  • Sign structures may separately be subject to International Building Code Appendix Chapter H (Signs), adopted as an optional local building-code chapter at Forsyth Code 11-1-1(A)(10)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Zoning sign permit feeNo fee schedule for a sign permit was found published on forsythmt.info, in Forsyth Code of Ordinances Title 12 (Zoning Regulations, Chapter 2, section 12-2-9, reviewed in full), or anywhere else searched as of this review — an honest publication gap, not an inferred or invented figure. Applicants must contact Forsyth City Hall at (406) 346-2521 for current fee information.
Not published — contact the department

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Sign Permit (Zoning) permit actually take in Forsyth?

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Inspection process

    Tips

    • Off-site (billboard-type) signs explicitly require a permit under Forsyth Code 12-2-9(D). Whether an ordinary on-site business sign requires its own separate permit transaction, versus being enforced as a zoning standard during broader site review, is not spelled out explicitly in the codified text — confirm directly with City Hall before installing on-site business signage.
    • If your sign will be electrically illuminated, budget for a separate state-issued Electrical Permit (Forsyth holds no DLI Electrical certification) in addition to this zoning sign permit — Forsyth Code 12-2-9(D)(2) requires illuminated-sign wiring to comply with the state electrical code.
    • No fee schedule, application form, or administering-department contact for sign permits is published on the City's own website — call City Hall directly at (406) 346-2521 rather than relying on forsythmt.info.
    • Forsyth's Building Code separately adopts IBC Appendix Chapter H (Signs) as an optional local chapter (Forsyth Code 11-1-1(A)(10)) governing sign structural design — a distinct requirement from the Title 12 zoning sign permit.

    Frequently asked questions

    Forsyth requires a sign permit (zoning) for: Permit-exempt under 12-2-9(B): real estate signs (max 12 sq ft, 6 sq ft in residential districts), address/nameplate signs, non-commercial government flags/insignia, government-required legal/directional signs, non-lettered architectural features, non-advertising on-site traffic/parking signs, church/school/institutional bulletin boards (10'+ from the right-of-way line, no traffic-visibility obstruction), and temporary political/campaign signs (removed within 15 days of the election); On-site signs in business and industrial districts (12-2-9(C)): no freestanding sign within the required front/side/rear yard setback, and none within 50' of a side/rear lot line abutting a residential district; max freestanding-sign height 75'; signs over a sidewalk/walkway require at least 8' vertical clearance; one wall sign per use plus one freestanding sign per building regardless of the number of businesses in it; total sign surface area capped at 2 sq ft per lineal foot of building frontage, up to a 100 sq ft maximum; Off-site signs explicitly require a permit under 12-2-9(D): same yard-setback and 50' residential-buffer rule; illumination must be constant intensity only (no flashing/intermittent/rotating/moving lights) and may not create glare, reflection, or a traffic hazard; max area 32 sq ft; max height 35'; Any electrically-illuminated sign's wiring, fittings, and materials must comply with the state electrical code (12-2-9(D)(2)) — since Forsyth holds no DLI Electrical certification, this means a separate state-issued Electrical Permit (see electrical-permit-state entry) is also required for the sign's electrical connection, in addition to whatever applies under this zoning permit; Sign structures may separately be subject to International Building Code Appendix Chapter H (Signs), adopted as an optional local building-code chapter at Forsyth Code 11-1-1(A)(10). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Forsyth Building Department — city-certified for Building (B), RESIDENTIAL ONLY per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's certified-jurisdiction roster (certified official on file: Gabe Martinsen). Commercial building permits, and Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits of ANY project type, within Forsyth city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. Rosebud County itself performs NO building or electrical permitting function for the city or the unincorporated county — confirmed directly on the Rosebud County Planner page. at (406) 346-2521 before starting work.

    Forsyth does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Forsyth Building Department — city-certified for Building (B), RESIDENTIAL ONLY per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's certified-jurisdiction roster (certified official on file: Gabe Martinsen). Commercial building permits, and Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits of ANY project type, within Forsyth city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. Rosebud County itself performs NO building or electrical permitting function for the city or the unincorporated county — confirmed directly on the Rosebud County Planner page. at (406) 346-2521 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Sign Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Forsyth Building Department — city-certified for Building (B), RESIDENTIAL ONLY per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's certified-jurisdiction roster (certified official on file: Gabe Martinsen). Commercial building permits, and Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits of ANY project type, within Forsyth city limits are issued directly by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Building Codes Bureau, not the City. Rosebud County itself performs NO building or electrical permitting function for the city or the unincorporated county — confirmed directly on the Rosebud County Planner page. at City Hall, 247 N 9th Ave, Forsyth, MT 59327. Phone: (406) 346-2521, email: Not published; contact City Hall at (406) 346-2521. Office hours: City Hall, 247 N 9th Ave, Forsyth, MT 59327, Monday-Friday (hours not published online as of this review). City Hall main line (406) 346-2521. The City of Forsyth's own website (forsythmt.info) is a Wix-hosted site whose 'Permit Application' and 'Code Information Consultation' pages are generic Wix Bookings service-page templates with no published fee schedule, application form, or department-specific contact beyond the main city phone number; no dedicated Building Department staff directory, direct-dial extension, or department email was found published anywhere on the site as of this review.. Official information: https://www.forsythmt.info/.

    Forsyth, 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; non-certified trades — and, where a city's Building certification is itself partial (e.g. residential-only), non-certified project types — fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).; Forsyth is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), RESIDENTIAL ONLY, within city limits; certified official on file with DLI: Gabe Martinsen, 406-346-2521. Verified directly against the DLI Building Codes Bureau's 'Montana Certified Local Government Program' roster PDF, updated 04/22/2026 (fetched and text-extracted directly from the source PDF): 'Forsyth | B (residential only) | Gabe Martinsen | 406-346-2521 | City Limits'. Note: Gabe Martinsen is ALSO the certified official listed for Miles City, MT (B, M, SP, E (residential only)) on the same roster — a single official serving two separate certified programs is plausible (shared regional building inspector) but was not independently confirmed beyond the roster entry itself. Source: https://bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf; Colstrip, MT — also within Rosebud County — holds its OWN INDEPENDENT Montana DLI certification for Building (B), RESIDENTIAL ONLY, with a DIFFERENT certified official (Russell Murphy, 853-5084) and a different city-limits jurisdiction line on the same roster: 'Colstrip | B (residential only) | Russell Murphy | 853-5084 | City Limits'. This confirms Forsyth and Colstrip run INDEPENDENT city-level certified Building programs — they do NOT share a single county-level program, despite both being located in Rosebud County. Rosebud County itself does not appear on the DLI roster as a certified jurisdiction in its own right. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified Local Government Program roster PDF (updated 04/22/2026); Rosebud County's own Planning & Permitting department (County Planner page, rosebudcountymt.gov) explicitly states: 'Building and electrical permits are not required through Rosebud County, but may be required by the State of Montana.' The County Planner's office assists the City of Forsyth, City of Colstrip, unincorporated communities, and independent boards within Rosebud County with subdivision, flood plain, zoning, and septic permitting only — NOT building or electrical permitting, which is consistent with Forsyth and Colstrip each running their own independent city-level DLI-certified Building programs rather than a county-administered one. Source: https://rosebudcountymt.gov/departments/county-planner/; Forsyth, MT Code of Ordinances, Title 11 Building Regulations, Chapter 1 Building Code, Section 11-1-1 'Building Codes Adopted' (current through Ord. 2024-11, passed 12-16-2024; section itself amended by Ord. 01-2014 1-12-2015, amd. Ord. 2020-01 6-8-2020, Res. 2021-R04 4-12-2021) adopts by reference: International Building Code 2012 edition (per ARM 24.301.131, including Appendix Chapter C group U agricultural buildings, and ARM 24.301.146); Residential Building Code 2018 edition; International Energy Conservation Code 2018 edition (per ARM 24.301.161); International Existing Building Code 2012 edition (per ARM 24.301.171); National Electric Code 2014 edition (NFPA 70, per ARM 24.301.401); International Mechanical Code 2012 edition (per ARM 24.301.172); International Fuel Gas Code 2012 edition (per ARM 24.301.173); Uniform Plumbing Code 2012 edition (per ARM 24.301.301); Building Accessibility Rules per ARM 24.301.901-905; and Optional Appendix Chapters B (Board of Appeals) and H (Signs) per ARM 24.301.134. Section 11-1-1(B) states these codes 'are applicable to all buildings within the building code enforcement area of Forsyth as provided by section 50-60-102, Montana Code Annotated.' Note the adopted code editions (2012 IBC/IMC/IFGC/UPC/IEBC, 2014 NEC, 2018 IRC/IECC) are OLDER than the state's current statewide-effective editions (2021 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IMC/IFGC/IECC/ISPSC/UPC, 2020 NEC per the DLI Building Codes Bureau's Current Codes page effective June 11, 2022) — Forsyth's local ordinance text has not been updated to match the state's most recent code-adoption cycle, though the state-enforced trades (Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical) in Forsyth are governed by whatever edition the state DLI Building Codes Bureau currently applies statewide, not this local ordinance text. Source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/forsythmt/latest/forsyth_mt/0-0-0-1929; Per the Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau's Current Codes page (statewide effective date June 11, 2022, applicable to all state-enforced trades and jurisdictions, including Forsyth's state-routed commercial building and its Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical permits): 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IECC, 2021 ISPSC, 2021 UPC, 2020 NEC, 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessibility. Source: bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes. Local amendments apply — see the Forsyth overview page for the full list.

    Off-site (billboard-type) signs explicitly require a permit under Forsyth Code 12-2-9(D). Certain sign categories (real estate, address/nameplate, government, non-advertising directional, temporary political, etc.) are exempt under 12-2-9(B). For an ordinary on-site business sign, the ordinance sets structural/size standards in 12-2-9(C) but does not explicitly restate a permit requirement — contact Forsyth City Hall, (406) 346-2521, to confirm the current process for your specific sign.

    No fee schedule is published online by the City of Forsyth for sign permits. Contact City Hall at (406) 346-2521 for a current quote.

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