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Sign Permit in Billings, Montana

Required to erect, place, modify the size or shape of, or convert most signs and their support structures in Billings, per City Code Sec. 27-1402(B) (Article 27-1400, Sign Code). Administered by the Planning Division; applications are submitted through the CityView Portal using the dedicated Sign or Fence Permit application type.

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A sign permit is required to erect, place, modify the size or shape of, allow the continued placement of, or convert any portion of a sign — including converting a temporary sign to permanent, or a non-EMD sign to an electronic message device (EMD) sign — per City Code Sec. 27-1402(B)(1), unless the sign is expressly exempted elsewhere in Article 27-1400
  • Sign permits for marijuana businesses must include proof of compliance with state sign regulations along with the completed city sign permit application
  • Apply through the CityView Portal: register for an account, select 'Apply for a Sign or Fence Permit,' and choose Signs as the project type
  • A completed Sign Permit Submittal Planning Template is required for EVERY individual sign requested on the permit (substitution with other documents is not accepted); a permit covering ten signs requires ten completed templates
  • The Planning Template must include a two-dimensional site plan/aerial showing the specific sign location, with setbacks called out for freestanding signs and the building-footprint location for attached signs, plus a building or sign elevation showing dimensions, square footage, and (for attached signs) building frontage length
  • Temporary signs use a separate Temporary Sign Permit application specifying a valid-from/valid-to date range, and are prohibited within required setbacks or intersection/driveway clear-vision zones; the application requires a sketch showing building location, proposed sign location, driveway approach, north arrow, and any existing temporary signs within 150 feet
  • Signs and their supporting structures must be located on private property, outside the public right-of-way, except for awning/sidewalk signs in the Central Business District (CBD) and East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD), and certain projecting signs permitted by zoning district
  • Illuminated or electrical signs (including EMD signs) require a separate Electrical Permit from the Building Division for the electrical connection, in addition to the Planning Division sign permit

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Sign Permit FeeCalculated by the CityView Portal at submission (Apply for a Sign or Fence Permit > Fee Estimate) and paid immediately after the application is submitted. The City's Permit Fees page (billingsmt.gov/133/Permit-Fees) lists only Building, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing fee schedules — no flat sign-permit fee table is published, and the office-use 'Permit Fee' field on the Temporary Sign Permit form is left blank for staff to fill in at issuance.
Not published as a fixed dollar schedule

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Sign Permit permit actually take in Billings?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing Inspection (freestanding signs only)

    For pole, monument, or other freestanding signs with footings, a standard Building Division footing/foundation inspection applies before backfill, under the City's general footing and foundation requirements (masonry, concrete, or treated wood extending below the 36-inch frost line)

  2. 2

    Electrical Final (illuminated/EMD signs only)

    Illuminated or electronic message device (EMD) signs require a separate Electrical Permit and pass through the standard electrical rough-in/final inspection sequence before the sign is energized

See the full Billings inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Every individual sign on a permit needs its own completed Sign Permit Submittal Planning Template — the City explicitly states substitution with other documents is not acceptable, and a ten-sign permit requires ten templates.
  • Temporary signs cannot be placed in setbacks or intersection/driveway clear-vision zones; the Temporary Sign Permit sketch requires a minimum 5-foot setback and calling out any existing temporary sign within 150 feet.
  • Illuminated and EMD signs need a separate Electrical Permit from the Building Division on top of the Planning Division sign permit.
  • Sign permit fees are not published on a flat schedule — use the CityView Portal's built-in fee estimator (Apply for a Sign or Fence Permit) to get a project-specific quote before submitting.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. City Code Sec. 27-1402(B) requires a sign permit to erect, place, resize, or convert most signs, including converting a temporary sign to permanent or a standard sign to an electronic message device (EMD) sign. Apply through the CityView Portal's Sign or Fence Permit application, with a completed Sign Permit Submittal Planning Template for each sign.

The City does not publish a flat sign-permit fee schedule. The fee is calculated by the CityView Portal's fee estimator when you apply and is due immediately after submission. Contact the Planning Division at (406) 657-8247 for a fee estimate before applying.

Billings does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Billings Building Division at (406) 657-8270 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Sign Permit Application; Sign Permit Submittal Planning Template. Depending on your project, Billings may also ask for: Temporary Sign Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Billings requires 2 inspection(s) for a sign permit, in order: Footing Inspection (freestanding signs only), Electrical Final (illuminated/EMD signs only). Schedule each through City of Billings Building Division ((406) 657-8270).

Apply through City of Billings Building Division at 316 N 26th St, 5th Floor, Billings, MT 59101. Phone: (406) 657-8270, email: permits@billingsmt.gov. Office hours: Building Division front counter, 5th Floor, City Hall, 316 N. 26th St., Billings, MT 59101 (inspection requests: inspections@billingsmt.gov or 406-657-8270). Official information: https://www.billingsmt.gov/67/Building.

Billings, 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.); a certified local program's adopted code 'may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau' (ARM 24.301.202). Non-certified areas fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs and Current Codes pages (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).; Billings is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), Plumbing — Mechanical/Gas (P(M/G)), Electrical (E), Mechanical (M), and Swimming Pool (SP) within Billings city limits; certified program contact on file with DLI: Jessica Fust, (406) 657-8270. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Current Codes page (list of certified jurisdictions), bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits/current-codes; 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings, last readopted September 1, 2022 per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150. Note: per the City's Adopted Codes page, IRC Chapters 11-14 and 16-43 are deleted in their entirety; IRC Chapter 15 (Exhaust Systems) is adopted as an alternative to the IMC for exhaust systems only, with all other mechanical-system requirements for detached 1-2 family dwellings and townhouses (3 stories or less) found in the adopted IMC; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150 (Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code); 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; adopted by City of Billings per Administrative Order #150; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective statewide June 11, 2022; Billings is DLI-certified for swimming pool (SP) permitting; 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) — per City of Billings Building Division FAQ, current adopted code list; ICC A117.1-2017 Accessibility — effective statewide June 11, 2022 (state-adopted; referenced for commercial accessibility compliance); NFPA 99c, Standard on Gas and Vacuum Systems (medical gas), 2021 Edition — per City of Billings Adopted Codes page; All codes amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Title 24, Chapter 301. City of Billings Building Codes were last (re)adopted September 1, 2022 per Administrative Order #150. Local amendments apply — see the Billings overview page for the full list.

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 Billings building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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