How Billings Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide

Billings maintains 114 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Billings falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Freeway-Facing Signs

Billings allows larger off-premises billboards in the interstate corridor, up to 480 square feet versus 250 square feet elsewhere, but has banned all new billboards citywide since 1999, permitting only conforming replacements.

Key details: Interstate corridor bonus size: 480 sq ft (vs. 250 sq ft). Interstate corridor defined: within 660 ft of interstate ROW. Max height: 35 ft above road grade. New billboards: banned citywide since 1999. Front setback: 20 feet from property line.

Erecting an unpermitted or oversized billboard is a sign code violation subject to removal; discontinued billboards (dark 60+ days) must be removed or restarted within 30 days of city notice.

This is one of the stricter rules in Billings's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Window Signs

Billings exempts window signs covering up to 25% of a window from sign-area totals; coverage above that counts against the building's overall wall sign allowance.

Key details: Exempt coverage: Up to 25% of window area. Over 25%: Counts as wall sign area. Location allowed: Ground or upper-story windows. Governing code: BMCC Sec. 27-1405.

Exceeding the 25% threshold isn't itself a violation: it just consumes wall-sign area allowance. Sign permit and zoning enforcement (BMCC Ch. 27) applies if total signage then exceeds the district's overall cap; the city's development services division handles sign permit compliance.

The Bottom Line

Billings's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Billings is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Billings can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.