Missoula County Zoning Regulations Billboard Amendment

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Update: The county commissioners adopted a resolution to prohibit new billboards and conversion of static billboards to digital billboards in industrial zoned areas at their May 12 public hearing meeting.


Project Description:  

The Missoula County Commissioners have proposed to amend the sign code in the Missoula County Zoning Regulations (MCZR) to prohibit billboards as a sign type in areas zoned Industrial Center, Light (ICL), and Industrial Center, Heavy (ICH).  They are also proposing to prohibit conversion of existing static copy billboards to electronic message display billboards. 

Current zoning regulations outlined in Section 8.8.B. (MCZR) allow billboards, including digital or electronic copy billboards, up to 300 square feet in size, in industrial zoned areas. 


If approved, the amendment will: 

  1. Prohibit installation of new billboards in areas subject to Part 2 zoning applied in 2022, including adding a second face on an opposite side of an existing billboard.
  2. Permit existing billboards to remain in place as nonconforming signs subject to Section 10.6 and allow upkeep and maintenance.
  3. Prohibit reconstruction of existing billboards that are damaged or destroyed where the cost of reconstruction exceeds 50% of the replacement cost.
  4. Permit only external illumination of billboard signs.
  5. Prohibit the conversion of any static copy billboard to an electronic message display (digital billboard).


Project Timeline: 

Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board public meeting: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 

  • In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room 

  • Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal. 


County Commissioners’ public hearing meeting: 2 p.m. Thursday, March 26 

  • In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room 

  • Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.


County Commissioners’ special public meeting: 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 12

  • In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room 

  • Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.



Public Comment:  

 We welcome your comments up until the close of the public hearing, so please submit public comment by May 11 using the comment tool below. Let us know what you think by logging in or creating an account and submitting your comment below. 


Project Lead:  

Jennie Dixon, 406-258-4946  


Important Links and Documents:  

Current Billboard Sign Regulations Section 8.8.B 

Proposed Sign Regulations to prohibit new billboards, including internally lit and electronic message displays 

Document Summarizing proposed changes in table format  

Overall map of industrial zoned areas (shown above)  

Report containing 9 subareas maps 

Billboard Zoning Amendment


Project Description:  

The Missoula County Commissioners have proposed to amend the sign code in the Missoula County Zoning Regulations (MCZR) to prohibit billboards as a sign type in areas zoned Industrial Center, Light (ICL), and Industrial Center, Heavy (ICH).  They are also proposing to prohibit conversion of existing static copy billboards to electronic message display billboards. 

Current zoning regulations outlined in Section 8.8.B. (MCZR) allow billboards, including digital or electronic copy billboards, up to 300 square feet in size, in industrial zoned areas. 


If approved, the amendment will: 

  1. Prohibit installation of new billboards in areas subject to Part 2 zoning applied in 2022, including adding a second face on an opposite side of an existing billboard.
  2. Permit existing billboards to remain in place as nonconforming signs subject to Section 10.6 and allow upkeep and maintenance.
  3. Prohibit reconstruction of existing billboards that are damaged or destroyed where the cost of reconstruction exceeds 50% of the replacement cost.
  4. Permit only external illumination of billboard signs.
  5. Prohibit the conversion of any static copy billboard to an electronic message display (digital billboard).


Project Timeline: 

Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board public meeting: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 

  • In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room 

  • Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published on the Missoula County’s public meeting portal. 


County Commissioners’ public hearing meeting: 2 p.m. Thursday, March 26 

  • In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room 

  • Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.


County Commissioners’ special public meeting: 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 12

  • In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room 

  • Virtual option: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.



Public Comment:  

 We welcome your comments up until the close of the public hearing, so please submit public comment by May 11 using the comment tool below. Let us know what you think by logging in or creating an account and submitting your comment below. 


Project Lead:  

Jennie Dixon, 406-258-4946  


Important Links and Documents:  

Current Billboard Sign Regulations Section 8.8.B 

Proposed Sign Regulations to prohibit new billboards, including internally lit and electronic message displays 

Document Summarizing proposed changes in table format  

Overall map of industrial zoned areas (shown above)  

Report containing 9 subareas maps 

Billboard Zoning Amendment

Update: The county commissioners adopted a resolution to prohibit new billboards and conversion of static billboards to digital billboards in industrial zoned areas at their May 12 public hearing meeting.

We will try to respond within five business days.