# Sign Regulations in Caldwell, Idaho

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Caldwell, Idaho (ID)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/idaho/caldwell
- **Data last verified:** 2026-05-26
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/caldwellid/latest/caldwell_id/0-0-0-57485)

## At a glance

Caldwell, Idaho regulates 26 sign types across 21 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) zoning district are capped at Private/local road: 10 ft; Minor collector: 15 ft; Minor arterial: 15 ft; Major collector: 20 ft; Major arterial: 20 ft; Hwy/Interstate: 40 ft tall and Private/local road: 24 sq ft; Minor collector: 32 sq ft; Minor arterial: 32 sq ft; Major collector: 48 sq ft; Major arterial: 48 sq ft; Hwy 55/20-26/I-84 frontage: 60 sq ft, with a ≥3 ft from property line; maintain vision triangles. setback (Sec. 10-02-06-8(2)A, Table 10-02-06-8 (C-1 column) and notes). Most commercial signs in Caldwell require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (21 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | Commercial/industrial/special purpose: one banner up to 32 sq ft per property or storefront. | — |
| RS-1 Semi-Rural Residential - 1 (R-S-1) | 4 | 15 ft; must not exceed roofline height of the tallest building served | 60 sq ft per sign face | — |
| RS-2 Semi-Rural Residential - 2 (R-S-2) | 4 | 15 ft; not higher than tallest building roofline it serves | 60 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Residential (R-1) | 4 | 15 ft and not above roofline of tallest building it serves | 60 sq ft | — |
| Community Residential (R-2) | 4 | 15 ft; not above tallest served roofline | 60 sq ft | — |
| Urban Residential (R-3) | 4 | 15 ft (not over roofline of tallest building served) | 60 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) | 6 | 60 ft (max) | 672 sq ft (max) | — |
| Community Commercial (C-2) | 7 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (C-3) | 7 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Service Commercial (C-4) | 6 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use / Regional Commercial (H-C) | 6 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| General Industrial (M-1) | 6 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Heavy Industrial (M-2) | 6 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Industrial and Business Park (I-P) | 6 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Downtown City Center (D-CC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Central Business (D-CB) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Transition Neighborhood (T-N) | 4 | 15 ft; not higher than tallest building roofline it serves | 60 sq ft per entry sign | — |
| Airport District (A-D) | 6 | 50 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| College District (C-D) | 6 | 50 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Healthcare District (H-D) | 6 | 50 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| Public District (P-D) | 6 | 50 ft | 672 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 21 zones)

### Neighborhood Commercial (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | Private/local road: 10 ft; Minor collector: 15 ft; Minor arterial: 15 ft; Major collector: 20 ft; Major arterial: 20 ft; Hwy/Interstate: 40 ft | Private/local road: 24 sq ft; Minor collector: 32 sq ft; Minor arterial: 32 sq ft; Major collector: 48 sq ft; Major arterial: 48 sq ft; Hwy 55/20-26/I-84 frontage: 60 sq ft | — | ≥3 ft from property line; maintain vision triangles. | 1 per frontage (plus 1 extra if frontage >300 ft); additional 60% area signs at vehicular entrances for centers/parks | On private property; ≥3 ft setback; not in vision triangle. Not to exceed 25 ft height when adjacent to a residential neighborhood. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)A, Table 10-02-06-8 (C-1 column) and notes |
| Electronic Message Center (part of a Monument Sign) — Special Use Permit | As part of the parent monument allowance | EMC portion ≤25% of the permitted monument sign copy area | — | Per parent monument sign. | 1 EMC/changeable copy sign per property (via SUP) | On the monument sign at permitted locations and setbacks. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)B(1)-(2)(A); 10-02-06-2(2) |
| Building Signs (Wall / Hanging / Suspended / Projecting) | — | Aggregate building sign area ≤20% of the wall area where mounted | — | — | Multiple allowed up to 20% wall area | Affixed to building walls/facades of commercial uses. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)D |
| Awning Sign | — | Copy area on awning faces ≤20% of overall awning square footage; valance only for primary copy | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the awning valance (face/side content allowed within 20% copy area cap). | — | 10-02-06-8(2)E |
| Window Signs | — | ≤25% of the window area on each building facade | — | — | — | Inside or on surface of windows with street or alley frontage. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)F |
| Freeway-Oriented Pole Sign (Billboard) — I-84 Frontage | 60 ft (max) | 672 sq ft (max) | — | 30 ft min setback; 1,320 ft min separation. | Max 1 freeway-oriented pole sign per eligible parcel | Only on commercial/industrial/public/semi-public/institutional parcels located within 500 ft of the I-84 Interstate right-of-way. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)C |

### Community Commercial (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | Private/local: 15 ft; Minor collector: 20 ft; Minor arterial: 20 ft; Major collector: 25 ft; Major arterial: 25 ft; Hwy/Interstate: 40 ft | Private/local: 24 sq ft; Minor collector: 32 sq ft; Minor arterial: 32 sq ft; Major collector: 48 sq ft; Major arterial: 60 sq ft; Hwy/Interstate frontage: 100 sq ft | — | ≥3 ft; clear of vision triangles. | 1 per frontage (+1 if frontage >300 ft); entrance signs at 60% area allowed | On private property; not within vision triangles; ≤25 ft height when adjacent to a residential neighborhood. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)A, Table 10-02-06-8 (C-2 & C-3 column) notes 1-3 |
| Electronic Message Center (part of Monument) — Special Use Permit | — | EMC area ≤25% of the permitted monument copy area | — | Per parent monument. | 1 EMC/changeable copy sign per parcel (via SUP) | Same as parent monument. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)B(1)-(2)(B) |
| Building Signs (Wall/Hanging/Suspended/Projecting) | — | ≤20% of wall area per elevation used | — | — | Multiple allowed up to 20% wall area | On building walls. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)D |
| Awning Sign | — | Copy area ≤20% of awning area; valance height ≤18 in | — | — | 1 per frontage | Awning valance; content may be on face/sides within 20% limit. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)E |
| Window Signs | — | ≤25% of window area per facade | — | — | — | Windows facing street or alley. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)F |
| Freeway-Oriented Pole Sign (Billboard) — I-84 Frontage | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — | 30 ft min; 1,320 ft separation. | 1 per eligible parcel | Parcel within 500 ft of I-84 ROW. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)C |
| Vehicle Small Flags (Auto Sales/Rental Lots) | No more than 2 ft above vehicle height as displayed at grade | ≤1 sq ft per flag | — | — | 1 per displayed vehicle | Attached to displayed vehicles on the lot. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)G |

### General Commercial (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | Private/local: 15 ft; Minor collector: 25 ft; Minor arterial: 20 ft; Major collector: 25 ft; Major arterial: 25 ft; Hwy/Interstate: 40 ft | Private/local: 24 sq ft; Minor collector: 32 sq ft; Minor arterial: 32 sq ft; Major collector: 48 sq ft; Major arterial: 60 sq ft; Hwy/Interstate frontage: 100 sq ft | — | ≥3 ft; clear vision triangles. | 1 per frontage (+1 if >300 ft); extra at entrances (60% area) | On private property; not in vision triangles; ≤25 ft high when adjacent to a residential neighborhood. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)A, Table 10-02-06-8 (C-2 & C-3) |
| Electronic Message Center (part of Monument) — Special Use Permit | — | ≤25% of permitted monument copy area | — | Per monument sign. | 1 EMC/changeable copy per site (via SUP) | On the monument sign. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)B |
| Building Signs (Wall/Hanging/Suspended/Projecting) | — | ≤20% of wall area | — | — | Multiple up to 20% wall area | On building walls. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)D |
| Awning Sign | — | Copy ≤20% of awning area; valance ≤18 in | — | — | 1 per frontage | Awnings on street frontages. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)E |
| Window Signs | — | ≤25% of window area per facade | — | — | — | Windows on street or alley frontage. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)F |
| Freeway-Oriented Pole Sign (Billboard) — I-84 Frontage | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — | 30 ft min; 1,320 ft min separation | 1 per eligible parcel | Parcel within 500 ft of I-84 ROW. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)C |
| Vehicle Small Flags (Auto Sales/Rental Lots) | ≤2 ft above vehicle height at grade display | ≤1 sq ft per flag | — | — | 1 per vehicle | Attached to vehicles on display. | — | 10-02-06-8(2)G |

## Prohibited signs in Caldwell

- Pole signs, except freeway-oriented pole signs permitted under the code
- Roof and roof-supported signs
- Wall signs that extend above the parapet wall
- Temporary signs placed within landscaped areas on commercial, industrial, public, semi-public, or institutional properties, or otherwise placed into the ground
- Any sign that blocks the ADA-required minimum sidewalk width
- Mechanically moving signs or displays with actual motion (e.g., searchlights, beacons, strobe lights, streamers, spinners, pennant strings, scintillating lights, similar lights)
- Dynamic signage including moving, revolving, intermittent, oscillating, animated, or flashing signs
- Inflatable signs and other permanent inflated objects (balloons only allowed for temporary non-commercial residential special occasions)
- Signs that imitate or may be confused with traffic control signs/signals/devices or emergency vehicle lights
- Simulated traffic signs or signs that obstruct authorized traffic signs/signals, sight-distance triangles, or extend into the public right-of-way
- Signs within street or highway rights-of-way, except authorized public signs (subject to immediate removal)
- Posters, handbills, and similar signs tacked, pasted, taped, or affixed to trees, poles, fences, hydrants, bridges, or similar structures (except private property warning signs)
- Display of items for sale within any landscape area or required parking area
- Signs attached to trailers or vehicles that are permanently parked along public highways/streets or within the right-of-way
- Highly reflective or fluorescent signs unless required by the Fire Department
- Signs on benches and shelters, except those installed/approved by public transit or city authority through the permitting process (illegally attached signage removed)
- Dilapidated, deteriorated, or unsightly signs
- Abandoned signs
- Rotating signs
- Sandwich board/A-frame/wheeled signs, except where specifically allowed elsewhere in the code
- Pennant strings, streamers, spinners, propellers, search lights, and other similar mechanically moving signs
- Any sign in violation of the sign chapter
- Any sign in violation of local, state, or federal law over which the city has jurisdiction
- Any sign without a required permit/approval or with an expired permit/approval

## Signs exempt from permit in Caldwell

- Public regulation and information signs (may be permitted in the public right-of-way upon City Traffic Commission authorization)
- Curb addresses and private street numbers (may be permitted in the public right-of-way upon authorization)
- Signs erected by public service companies for safety purposes (may be permitted in the public right-of-way upon authorization)
- Public signs by government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, identification, and informational signs for public facilities (may be permitted in the public right-of-way upon authorization)
- Official notices issued by any court, public agency, or officer (may be permitted in the public right-of-way upon authorization)
- Signs required by local, state, or federal law (may be permitted in the public right-of-way upon authorization)
- Security and warning signs on private property (e.g., no trespassing, no hunting, no soliciting, safety warnings) (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Flags of any country, state, or unit of local government (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Flagpoles (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Internal traffic directional signs less than 3 square feet (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Holiday decorations and signs of a decorative nature incidental to national, local, or religious holidays (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Signs being carried by people (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Handicap parking space signs per federal law (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Private drive signs not exceeding 2 square feet in area (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)
- Any sign deemed appropriate by the Director consistent with the section (not permitted within or over the public right-of-way; must meet vision triangle rules)

## 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 21 zoning districts in Caldwell — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Caldwell+ID&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-caldwell

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