# Sign Regulations in Fairfield, Idaho

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

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

## At a glance

Fairfield, Idaho regulates 20 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Zone, Light Industrial Zone zoning district are capped at 12 ft, measured from grade to top of sign tall and 25 sq ft per side for complex; or 48 sq ft (or 25 sq ft per side) along Highway 20, with a No more than 6 feet beyond property line; bottom not lower than 8 feet above public right of way setback (Sec. 8-9-5.C.1, 8-9-5.C.2, 8-9-10.E). Most commercial signs in Fairfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial Zone, Light Industrial Zone | 5 | 12 ft, measured from grade to top of sign | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zone | 3 | — | 8 sq ft per side | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 10 ft above real roofline | 40 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Commercial Zone, Light Industrial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Shall not extend above the roofline of the building | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per building frontage; second wall sign on non-address street for buildings at intersections (max 10 sq ft); one wall sign per business in a building complex | Attached to or erected against building wall or facade, parallel to building wall, extending not more than 1 ft therefrom. | — | 8-9-3, 8-9-5.B, 8-9-5.C.1, 8-9-10.A |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft, measured from grade to top of sign | 25 sq ft per side for complex; or 48 sq ft (or 25 sq ft per side) along Highway 20 | — | No more than 6 feet beyond property line; bottom not lower than 8 feet above public right of way | One per building complex | On private property; may encroach only within public right of way as specified; along Highway 20, size is 48 sq ft or 25 sq ft per side | — | 8-9-5.C.1, 8-9-5.C.2, 8-9-10.E |
| Wall Sign (Intersection Second Frontage) | Shall not extend above the roofline | 10 sq ft | — | — | One | Nonaddress side for buildings at intersection of two city streets | — | 8-9-5.B |
| Directional Sign (Commercial/Industrial Zone Only) | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On premises, not in public right of way | — | 8-9-7.G |
| Warning Sign (Commercial/Industrial Zone Only) | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On premises | — | 8-9-7.G |

### Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation/Professional Sign | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | One per premises | On premises | — | 8-9-5.A |
| Freestanding Home Occupation/Professional Sign (Soldier Road) | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | One freestanding sign per premises | Along Soldier Road | — | 8-9-5.A |
| Owner or Occupant Identification/For Rent Sign | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | One per premises | On premises | — | 8-9-7.F |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation/Professional Sign | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | One per premises | On premises | — | 8-9-5.A |
| Freestanding Home Occupation/Professional Sign (Soldier Road) | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | One per premises | Along Soldier Road | — | 8-9-5.A |
| Off Site Sign (Nonilluminated) | — | 10 sq ft per side (32 sq ft per side along Highway 20 on vacant lots) | — | — | One per offsite location | Off premises, not for Main Street uses | — | 8-9-6.A, 8-9-8.E.1 |
| Construction Sign | — | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | One per construction site | On premises | — | 8-9-7.D.1 |
| Real Estate Sign (Single Lot) | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | One per lot | On premises | — | 8-9-7.C.1 |
| Real Estate Sign (Multiple Lots) | — | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | One per property | On premises | — | 8-9-7.C.2 |
| Real Estate Sign (Farm or Ranch) | — | 20 sq ft per side | — | — | One | On premises | — | 8-9-7.C.3 |
| Flag | 10 ft above real roofline | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | 8-9-7.E |

## Prohibited signs in Fairfield

- No person shall erect, construct, alter, maintain, or use any sign except as provided for in this chapter.
- No sign, including temporary signs, shall be placed in any public right of way, except for public signs such as traffic control and directional signs.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct the free and clear vision of vehicular traffic and pedestrians, or at any location where, by reason of similarity of position, shape, color, words or symbols, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- Neon signs on the outside of a building are prohibited unless neon tubes are used for indirect illumination of lettering and are not themselves visible.
- Billboards are prohibited in any zone.
- No banners or portable signs may be used as permanent signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairfield

- All signs erected in a public right of way by a public agency controlling or directing traffic.
- Political signs pertaining to a specific election displayed within any district, provided they shall be removed within five days after the election.
- One unlighted real estate sign in any zone not to exceed four square feet of sign area per side, provided such sign is located on the premises and shall not occupy any portion of the public right of way.
- One unlighted real estate sign advertising two or more lots for sale not to exceed twenty square feet in area per side, provided such sign is located on the premises and shall be removed upon the sale of the last lot.
- One unlighted real estate sign advertising the sale or lease of a farm or ranch, twenty square feet per side, provided such sign is located on the premises.
- Temporary off site real estate signs announcing an open house which shall be removed immediately at the conclusion of the event.
- One unlighted construction sign announcing the construction of a building or project, with sign area not to exceed twenty square feet per side, provided the sign shall be removed upon occupancy of the building or sale of the land for which the sign was intended.
- Construction signs shall not be erected until a building permit is approved.
- Flags, either official or historical, of any state or nation. The pole height shall not exceed ten feet above the real roofline, and the flag shall not exceed forty square feet.
- One owner identification or occupant identification sign, for rent, in the residential zone which shall not exceed two square feet per side.
- Warning signs in commercial and light industrial zones, such as 'no parking', and directional signs such as 'entrance', not to exceed two square feet per side.
- Temporary signs, banners, or pennants announcing community events, yard sales, farmers' markets, and conventions, which shall be removed immediately at the conclusion of the event, provided such signs do not obstruct the free and clear vision of vehicular traffic, parking, and pedestrian crossing, and are not placed on Soldier Road between Willow Avenue and Camas Avenue.
- Murals, provided no words or commercial images are used for the intent of advertising. Murals shall be artistic and nostalgic in nature and shall follow the theme of the city's architecture.
- Signs for charitable, service and other nonprofit organizations. Signs shall not be more than four square feet per side.
- All city signage is exempt.
- All signage required by law is exempt, to include, but not limited to: handicap parking, fire lane, crosswalk and school zone signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for sign permits must be accompanied by a site plan drawn to scale showing dimensions, lighting, colors, clearances, location, language, images, and setbacks to property lines, as well as other architectural features or design elements of the sign.
- Design review may be required, whereby the planning administrator, planning and zoning commission, or city council review sign design to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
- A special use permit (requiring city council review and approval) is required for off site signs and for signs that include flashing, revolving, moving intermittent, or oscillating parts or attachments, regardless of zoning district.

## Full detail

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

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