(1) Signs or displays advertising cultural exhibits of nonprofit historical or arts organizations may be erected and maintained adjacent to controlled routes.

(2) Cultural signs shall not exceed the following size limits:

(a) Maximum area - 150 square feet.

(b) Maximum height - 20 feet.

(c) Maximum length - 20 feet.

(d) All size dimensions include border and trim, but exclude supports.

(3) Cultural signs must meet the following spacing requirements:

(a) Each location of a cultural sign must be approved by the Montana Department of Transportation;

(b) cultural signs visible from controlled routes must not be located within 500 feet of an intersection in rural areas, or within 140 feet of an intersection in cities or towns;

(c) cultural signs visible from interstate highways must not be located within 500 feet of the gore of an interchange;

(d) cultural signs must not be located within 500 feet of any of the following that are adjacent to the controlled route unless the signs are in an incorporated area:

(i) public parks;

(ii) public forests;

(iii) public playgrounds; or

(iv) scenic areas designated as such by the department or other state agency having and exercising this authority;

(e) cultural signs facing the same direction of travel shall be spaced more than one mile apart;

(f) cultural signs pertaining to the same activity, facing the same direction of travel, and erected along a single route approaching the activity are limited to three signs;

(g) cultural signs located adjacent to the interstate system shall be within 75 air miles of the activity;

(h) cultural signs located adjacent to the primary system shall be within 50 air miles of the activity.

(4) The message on cultural signs shall be limited to the identification of the attraction or activity and directional information useful to the traveler in locating the attraction, such as mileage, route numbers, or exit numbers. Descriptive words or phrases and pictorial or photographic representations of the activity or its environs are prohibited.

(5) Privately owned activities or attractions eligible for cultural signing are limited to nonprofit historical and arts organizations. To be eligible, privately owned attractions or activities must be nationally or regionally known and of outstanding interest to the traveling public.

(a) The Montana Department of Transportation will make a determination of eligibility for each attraction or activity. In making this determination, the department will, when it is deemed necessary, avail itself of the experience and knowledge of selected groups in the specific type of attraction or activity being considered. These groups shall include, but not be limited to, commissions, boards, other agencies and/or other state departments.

(b) The department's determination of eligibility is subject to review by the State Transportation Commission upon written request of any interested person. Such request must be made within 30 days of the notification of the determination by the department to the privately owned activity or attraction. The commission shall provide the interested person or persons at least 30 days notice of the time and place where the determination of eligibility will be reviewed and shall permit oral or written comments to be submitted.

(6) Cultural signs shall meet all general restrictions on characteristics for off-premise signs found in ARM 18.6.231.

(7) A permit must be obtained for each cultural sign accompanied by a nonrefundable inspection fee. There is no initial permit fee or renewal fee for cultural signs.