# Sign Regulations in Blackfoot, Idaho

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Blackfoot, Idaho, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Blackfoot, Idaho (ID)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/idaho/blackfoot
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Blackfoot, Idaho regulates 25 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Commercial zoning district are capped at 12 ft. (1–10 tenants); 15 ft. (11+ tenants) tall and 50 sq. ft. for single tenant; 80 sq. ft. for 2–10 tenants; 100 sq. ft. for more than 10 tenants, with a 5 ft. min. from property line setback (Sec. 10-6-6 Table 6.1; 10-6-5.H). Most commercial signs in Blackfoot require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts,Residential Districts | 6 | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Multifamily | 2 | 40 ft. | 35 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial | 16 | 40 ft. (general); 100 ft. in Tall Commercial Sign Overlay | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed Use Zoning District,Mixed Use District | 7 | 30 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts | 2 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial Zoning Districts | 1 | — | ≤ 50% of monument sign area | — |
| Tall Commercial Sign Zone Overlay | 2 | 100 ft. | 350 sq. ft. | — |
| Blackfoot Urban Renewal Agency (URA) Boundaries,Historic Districts,Downtown Area | 1 | — | — | — |
| Contract Regulated | 2 | Not more than 2 ft. above bench seat | 24 sq. ft. per sign face (up to 3 faces per shelter) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts,Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Below the floor of the second story | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | On building wall (not above second story); no projection above parapet or roof eave; only on exterior façade facing public street, alley, or customer parking lot | — | 10-6-6 Table 6.1; 10-6-5.A; 10-6-1.B.2; 10-6-7 |
| Yard Sign | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per property | — | — | 10-6-2.B |
| Flag | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Affixed to permanent flagpole or building (not feather flags) | — | 10-6-2.C |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted on window; internal or external | — | 10-6-2.D |
| Signs Located Inside A Building | — | — | — | — | — | Inside a building | — | 10-6-2.E |
| Integral Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Integral to building (e.g. carved in stone, cornerstones, or stamped in sidewalk) | — | 10-6-2.F |

### Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single-Tenant) | Below top of wall (single-story) or below second story (multi-story) | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per sign wall, plus 1 additional sign per 100 linear ft | On building wall facing public street/alley or parking lot | — | 10-6-6 Table 6.1; 10-6-5.A; 10-6-4.A |
| Wall Sign (Multi-Tenant) | Below top of wall (single-story) or below second story (multi-story) | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per sign wall per tenant with exterior public entrance, plus 1 additional per 100 ft | Each tenant with exterior public entrance; on wall facing street/alley or parking lot | — | 10-6-6 Table 6.1; 10-6-5.A; 10-6-4.B |
| Projecting Sign (Single-Tenant) | 20 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per sign wall | On wall facing public street/alley or parking lot | — | 10-6-5.B; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Projecting Sign (Multi-Tenant) | 20 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per sign wall with exterior public entrance | On tenant wall with exterior public entrance | — | 10-6-5.B; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Blade Sign | Below second story | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant per tenant entrance | At tenant building entrance | — | 10-6-5.E; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Changeable Copy Wall Sign | 30 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per sign wall (included in total wall signs) | On sign wall | — | 10-6-5.F; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 12 ft. (1–10 tenants); 15 ft. (11+ tenants) | 50 sq. ft. for single tenant; 80 sq. ft. for 2–10 tenants; 100 sq. ft. for more than 10 tenants | — | 5 ft. min. from property line | 1 per street frontage plus 1 per additional 660 ft. | 1 per street frontage plus 1 additional for each 660 ft. street frontage | — | 10-6-6 Table 6.1; 10-6-5.H |
| Freestanding Post Sign | 40 ft. (general); 100 ft. in Tall Commercial Sign Overlay | 35 sq. ft. (≤40 ft. tall) / 350 sq. ft. (>40 ft. tall) | — | 5 ft. min. from property line | 1 per street frontage plus 1 per 600+ ft. | 1 per street frontage plus 1 additional for any frontage over 600 ft. | — | 10-6-5.I; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |

### Mixed Use Zoning District,Mixed Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | First floor awnings only | — | — | — | 1 per awning | On first-floor awnings only | — | 10-6-5.C; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Canopy Sign | First floor or detached canopies only | — | — | — | 1 per attached canopy, 1 per detached canopy per street frontage | On canopies (attached or detached) | — | 10-6-5.D; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Blade Sign | Below second story | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant per entrance | At tenant building entrance | — | 10-6-5.E; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Changeable Copy Wall Sign | 30 ft. or top of wall, whichever is less | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per sign wall | On sign wall | — | 10-6-5.F; 10-6-6 Table 6.1 |
| Yard Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per property | — | — | 10-6-2.B |
| Flag | Flag structures may extend up to 5 ft. over max district height | — | — | — | — | Affixed to permanent flagpole or building | — | 10-6-2.C |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted on window; internal or external | — | 10-6-2.D; 10-6-11.E |

## Prohibited signs in Blackfoot

- Signs that cause visual obstruction or interfere with motor vehicle traffic or a traffic-control device, including any sign that obstructs clear vision in any direction from any street intersection or driveway.
- Signs employing a lighting or control mechanism that causes radio, radar, or television interference.
- Signs that obstruct any fire escape, window, door, or opening used or required as a means of egress or ingress, or for emergency purposes, or that interferes with any openings required for light or ventilation.
- Signs in rights-of-way or on other public property unless specifically permitted or provided for in this chapter.
- Animated or moving signs except for scoreboards for athletic events, time and temperature devices, electronic message signs used by the City or other public agency to address a health or safety matter or public service announcement, or permitted electronic message signs.
- Inflatable signs such as balloons and inflatable figures, or other similar moving, fluttering, or revolving devices.
- Pennants and windsocks, unless approved with a temporary sign permit.
- Feather flags and similar devices, unless approved with a temporary sign permit.
- Neon or LED lighting not within the lettering or logo of a sign shall be subject to section 10-6-4 and provisions regarding outdoor lighting.
- Portable signs, except as authorized in section 10-6-4.
- Signs on parked vehicles or trailers unless such vehicle/trailer is operational and legally parked, not located on top of a vehicle (except delivery vehicles), and not an electronic message sign.
- Roof signs or any portion of a sign or sign cabinet or frame extending above the parapet or roof eave, except for historic signs on historic landmarks.
- Signs attached to utility poles or other poles or structures, except bus stop signs, within public rights-of-way.
- Off-premises signs, except transit-stop signs.
- Inoperable, unsafe, malfunctioning, unrepaired, or dilapidated signs.
- Unused or abandoned signs, including any pole, post, or structure supporting such sign.
- No signs, except traffic signs, shall exceed a height of 36 inches above the grade of the lower roadway within a sight distance triangle.
- Sign supports not complying with sight distance requirements shall not be located within a sight distance triangle.
- It is unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish, equip, use or maintain any sign or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of this chapter.
- Signs placed in the right-of-way contrary to this chapter are a violation and may be removed by the City without notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Blackfoot

- Public signs, subject only to consistency with design standards to the extent practicable and not expressly prohibited.
- Yard signs (limited to two per property at any one time, with size and height limits by zone).
- Flags fixed to permanent flagpoles or buildings (excluding feather flags), with area and height limits by district.
- Window signs as long as signage does not cover more than 25% of a window opening, or 50% of any one window panel if multiple panels.
- Signs located inside a building, provided interior indication within six feet of any window does not include flashing or moving lights (including video monitors and electronic message signs).
- Integral signs (e.g., inscriptions carved into stone as part of a building, such as cornerstones), not exceeding 12 square feet.
- Signs containing noncommercial speech are permitted anywhere that advertising or business signs are permitted, subject to the same regulations.
- Temporary signs allowed on City property are exempt from approval for use of public spaces.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be displayed in the City limits until the City has issued a permit for it unless it is exempt from a permit according to section 10-6-2.
- All permanent and temporary signs not exempt from a permit shall not be erected, displayed, altered, relocated, or replaced until the City has issued a sign permit.
- When a sign permit is requested for a parcel where nonconforming, illegal, or prohibited signs exist, no sign permit shall be issued until all such signs are removed or brought into conformance.
- All sign face changes including repairs and/or sign face replacements (except for changing or replacing text on changeable copy signs) require a permit.
- Any sign or sign structure projecting over a pedestrian area or public right-of-way requires engineered plans stamped by an Idaho licensed structural engineer.
- Minimum submittal requirements and sign permit applications are available in the administrative manual.
- Fees for permits and installations are established and can be revised by City Council.
- Signs and sign support structures shall conform to the requirements of this chapter and all other applicable provisions of this Code.
- Downtown signs require a certificate of compliance with downtown sign design standards before a City permit is issued. All sign and face changes in the downtown area (except changeable copy or handbill display changes) require a new permit and certificate.
- Sign variances (to vary standards for size, height, illumination, number, etc.) are considered by the planning and zoning commission at a public hearing; prohibited signs are not eligible for variances.
- Signs approved under master sign plans under prior codes but not yet installed may be installed up to one year from adoption of the current development code.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 10 zoning districts in Blackfoot — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Blackfoot+ID&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-blackfoot

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