# Sign Regulations in Dover, Idaho

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

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

## At a glance

Dover, Idaho regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 24 square feet per sign (Sec. 12-11-8 TABLE A, Note 1 and 2). Most commercial signs in Dover require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agriculture/Rural, Suburban, Residential | 6 | 5 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| Commercial | 9 | 6 feet | 24 square feet per sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 35 feet (flagpole) | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Agriculture/Rural, Suburban, Residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-8 TABLE A (Development signs); 12-11-7 |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 5 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Not in public right of way. | — | 12-11-4F; 12-11-8 TABLE A (Freestanding); Note 6 |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential - Suburban, Residential zones only) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Residential only. Not in public right of way. | — | 12-11-8 TABLE A, Note 8 |
| Neighborhood Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-8 TABLE A |
| Small Sign | 5 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-4F; 12-11-8 TABLE A |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Up to 3 per lot/parcel (Note 7) | — | — | 12-11-4G; 12-11-8 TABLE A Note 7 |

### Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-8 TABLE A, Note 3 |
| Development Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-8 TABLE A |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet per sign | — | — | Combined sign area of all signs may not exceed 120 sq ft (Note 2) | — | — | 12-11-8 TABLE A, Note 1 and 2 |
| Projecting/Suspended Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per use/occupancy with access from canopy/arcade | Attached to buildings with canopies or arcades. Not to project into public right of way. Minimum clearance of 8 ft from adjacent grade. | — | 12-11-8 TABLE A, Note 5 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | — | Not in public right of way. | — | 12-11-4E; 12-11-8 TABLE A Note 9 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Up to 3 per lot/parcel | — | — | 12-11-4G; 12-11-8 TABLE A Note 7 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed inside window frame. | — | 12-11-4J; 12-11-8 TABLE A, Note 4 |
| Wall Sign | — | Not defined by size, but window/wall/affixed is permitted. Individual wall signs not exceeding 4 sq ft are permit-exempt (12-11-4H); larger require permit. | — | — | — | Affixed parallel to building wall, not above roof/parapet. | — | 12-11-4H; 12-11-8 TABLE A (Window, wall, affixed); 12-11-2 Definition |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wayfinding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Public or private property as permitted. | — | 12-11-4I; 12-11-2 Definition |
| Directional/Institutional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At or near public right of way and on private property. | — | 12-11-4B; 12-11-2 Definition |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Location as required by law or ordinance. | — | 12-11-4C; 12-11-2 Definition |
| Addressing Numbers/Mailboxes | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to mailbox, building, or as addressing method. | — | 12-11-4A |
| Flagpole | 35 feet (flagpole) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-4D |

## Prohibited signs in Dover

- All signs not expressly permitted by section 12-11-8, table A of this chapter, are prohibited.
- Signs that mimic or simulate traffic control signs or public notices placed by the city or other public agencies.
- Signs that obstruct or interfere with vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
- Oscillating, flashing, rotating, flickering or blinking lights unless otherwise specifically permitted by this title.
- Signs on public property or attached to trees, utility poles, public benches or streetlights, unless authorized by the city or specifically permitted within this title.
- No sign shall be placed in a public right of way, except traffic control or regulatory signs placed by public agencies.
- No sign shall be placed on a tree, utility pole or fence.
- No sign shall be placed on a vehicle or trailer parked in a visible location for the primary purpose of displaying the sign.
- No sign shall be placed where it creates a traffic safety hazard by obstructing vision at an intersection or driveway or obscures traffic control signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dover

- No permit shall be required for addressing numbers/mailboxes.
- No permit shall be required for directional or institutional signs that do not advertise a business, including signs identifying publicly accessible facilities, parking lot entrance and exit signs, and those of similar nature.
- No permit shall be required for governmental signs for the control of traffic or other regulatory purposes, or signs of public service companies indicating danger, erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of public duty.
- No permit shall be required for flagpoles that do not exceed a height of thirty five feet (35').
- No permit shall be required for sandwich board signs not exceeding six (6) square feet for each side.
- No permit shall be required for small signs, as defined, which shall not be illuminated, animated or contain reader boards.
- No permit shall be required for temporary signs, as defined, not in excess of six (6) square feet and not permanently installed.
- No permit shall be required for wall signs not exceeding four (4) square feet.
- No permit shall be required for wayfinding signs.
- No permit shall be required for window signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applicable signs, subject to a building permit, shall accompany construction quality stamped plans by an engineer certified in the state to do such work. The plan shall illustrate how the proposed sign is engineered to comply with minimum design criteria, and must be approved by the city engineer or designee.
- Applications for sign permits must include, among other items, a site plan depicting the locations of proposed signage, setbacks from property lines, proposed landscaped areas, and existing remaining signage.
- Construction quality plans of the sign and supporting structures stamped by an engineer certified in the state are required, unless the sign clearly does not require engineering.
- The location, type and size of proposed signs shall be included in materials required for special use permit applications.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Dover, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Dover+ID&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-dover

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