To promote the public health, safety and general welfare through reasonable, consistent, and non-discriminatory regulations for the installation and maintenance of signs. This section is intended to preserve free speech, expression, and content neutrality while balancing the need to regulate the secondary effects of signs, particularly those that may adversely impact scenic views; safety for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians; and the interests of the public. These regulations are intended to ensure that signs are not overwhelming; and are not a distraction or impediment due to brightness, movement, size, or height; and do not create a hazard.

The City recognizes that signs are a necessary means of visual communication for public convenience and way-finding; and businesses, services, and other activities have the right to identify themselves by using signs that are accessory and incidental to the uses on the premises where the signs are located.

This section is not intended to regulate government signs.

The City has the authority to regulate signs under the United States Constitution, the State Constitution, and the Statutes of the State of Montana.

To the extent any provision of the sign standards can be read in a manner that makes such provision legally invalid, such interpretation is unintended and the provision shall be interpreted only in a manner that is legally compliant. If any provision is or becomes legally unenforceable, then such provision shall be deemed stricken and all remaining provisions shall be enforced as if the offensive provision did not exist.

The standards of this section shall apply to the erection, construction, relocation, installation or alteration of any outdoor advertising sign, structure, markings, symbol or other advertising device unless exempted in Section 12.4.6.40, Exemptions.

For the purpose of this article, certain words and terms shall have the meaning as established in this section.

The standards of this article shall not apply to the following:

The erection, construction, relocation or alteration of a sign or other advertising device not exempted in Section 12.4.6.40, Exemptions, requires a Sign Permit. Electrical and building permits pursuant to the currently adopted electrical and building codes may be required in addition to the Sign Permit from the Zoning Administrator.

The following signs shall be prohibited:

The historic nature of Downtown Red Lodge provides the City with a unique attraction for residents and visitors. Neon and illuminated signs have a long history in Red Lodge and can be used to improve the visual landscape of downtown if the signs are historic in appearance and do not hide architectural elements of our historic downtown buildings. Neon and illuminated signs may be approved if they meet the following standards:

Internally illuminated signs inside Commercially Zoned Districts, other than the Downtown Historic Overlay District, may be approved through Design Review. Applicants must fill out the same application as those of non-illuminated signs.

Any sign legally existing on the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance which does not comply with the provisions of this article shall be deemed a nonconforming sign. No nonconforming sign shall be moved, altered, re-erected, relocated or replaced unless it is brought into compliance with the standards of this article. This shall not prevent the repair or restoration to a safe condition any part of a nonconforming sign or sign structure, or a change of message or normal maintenance on a sign or sign structure.

Any sign that is not structurally sound or no longer serves to inform or attract attention of the public, including illegible signs and signs advertising or identifying abandoned uses, shall be considered abandoned and its removal required. The owner of an abandoned sign shall be responsible for the removal of the sign within 60 days of the adoption of this Zoning Ordinance or within 60 days termination of the use advertised by the sign.

The Zoning Administrator may approve temporary signs to be erected for not more than 30 days to advertise non-commercial special events, and short-term activities. Short-term sales promotions for private businesses are not eligible for temporary signs under this provision. Temporary signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in sign area except banners that span a street may not exceed 96 square feet in sign area. Temporary real estate signs of greater than six square feet, but not more than 32 square feet, may be approved by the Zoning Administrator for tracts of land greater than two acres for up to six months and is subject to renewal. Temporary real estate signage does not count towards an advertising package.