# Sign Regulations in Ketchum, Idaho

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ketchum, Idaho (ID)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/idaho/ketchum
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ID/Ketchum/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.10SMPUPL_8.10.110POSIREAS)

## At a glance

Ketchum, Idaho regulates 16 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the CC, T, T-3000, T-4000, LI-1, LI-2, LI-3 zoning district are capped at 12' from highest point to adjacent grade tall and 20 sq. ft. per side, with a 25' clear zone as described setback (Sec. 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix; 17.127.040 D). Most commercial signs in Ketchum require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CC, T, T-3000, T-4000, LI-1, LI-2, LI-3 | 9 | 12' from highest point to adjacent grade | 60 sq. ft. | — |
| AF, RU, Residential Districts | 2 | 5' from highest point to adjacent grade | 18 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 4 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### CC, T, T-3000, T-4000, LI-1, LI-2, LI-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 1' or 80% of the height of the face or valance, whichever is less. Min. 8' clearance to grade for lowest portion | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | Calculated as part of total signage per business | Street fronting face of the awning | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix; 17.127.040 D |
| Freestanding Sign | 12' from highest point to adjacent grade | 20 sq. ft. per side | — | 25' clear zone as described | 1 per building street frontage | — | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix; 17.127.040 D |
| Marquee Sign | Not above lowest portion of flat roof, top of parapet, or above eaves line/fascia or highest marquee point | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Street fronting face of the marquee | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix; 17.127.040 D |
| Projecting Sign | Top of sign below second floor windows, minimum 8' clearance to grade for bottom | — | — | — | 1 per storefront entrance | — | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix; 17.127.040 D |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3'6" from grade | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business | Within property frontage, proximate to building entrance; must allow at least 5' for pedestrian travel. | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix |
| Temporary Sign | Not above second story; at least 8' from grade to bottom of sign | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | No more than 2 per business at a time | On private property, may not encroach into right-of-way | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix |
| Wall Sign | Not above lowest portion of flat roof, parapet, or eaves/fascia | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to 2 per commercial use (parallel to street frontage with direct access) | — | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix; see notes |
| Wall Sign (Alley Access) | Not above lowest portion of flat roof, parapet, or eaves/fascia | 18 sq. ft. | — | — | One parallel and one perpendicular sign per use with direct alley access | Alley frontage where there is no street frontage and direct customer access is from alley | — | 17.127.040.C.1; Note 3 |

### AF, RU, Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5' from highest point to adjacent grade | 18 sq. ft. | — | 25' clear zone as described | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance; max 6 sq. ft. total signable area | — | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix |
| Wall Sign | Not above lowest portion of flat roof, top of parapet, or above eaves line/fascia | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance; max 6 sq. ft. total signable area | — | — | 17.127.050, Sign specifications matrix |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Gas Filled Light Tube (Neon or Facsimile) | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business | Displayed from inside the building | — | 17.127.020.C.8; 17.127.040 D.3 |
| Interior Sign (Visible from Exterior) | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Inside building, visible from exterior | — | 17.127.020.C.9 |
| Freestanding Sign (Exempt) | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | 17.127.020.C.10 |
| Signs by Government/Public Agency | — | — | — | — | — | Public right-of-way or private property as specified | — | 17.127.020.C.1,2 |
| Merchandise Displayed in Windows | — | — | — | — | — | Windows | — | 17.127.020.C.5 |
| Holiday Decorations | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.127.020.C.6 |
| Incidental Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.127.020.C.7 |

## Prohibited signs in Ketchum

- It is unlawful to erect or display any sign without complying with the applicable terms and provisions of this section.
- Signs located within any public street, right-of-way, or other public property, except as allowed in this title, are prohibited.
- Signs with intermittent or flashing illumination, animated or moving signs, and video/television/computer displays visible from any public street, right-of-way, or other public property are prohibited.
- Any sign located so as to conflict with the clear visibility of public devices controlling public traffic or to impair the safety of a moving vehicle by distracting the vision of the driver is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited, except historic signs or replicas of historic signs as allowed in this title.
- Signs with a translucent plastic or other translucent material background which are internally lit or backlit are prohibited.
- Signs emitting sound are prohibited.
- Any inflatable object used for promotional or sign purposes is prohibited.
- LED lighting in conjunction with signage when the source is visible is prohibited, except when used with holiday decorations.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Sign types not specifically allowable as set forth within this section are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ketchum

- Signs erected by a government or public agency in the public right-of-way, including, but not limited to, posting or display of an official notice by a public agency, advertising on public transit vehicles, and public utility signs for directional, warning or information purposes, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs and notices required by a public agency to be posted on private property according to local and state code are exempt from permit requirements.
- Any sign inside a building not visible from the exterior of the building is exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs affixed to the body or window of licensed, registered vehicles used for normal day to day operations of businesses are exempt from permit requirements, except those placed to advertise or direct people to business or activity or to sell the vehicle.
- Merchandise displayed in windows is exempt from permit requirements.
- Holiday decorations that are temporarily displayed on traditionally accepted, civic, patriotic and/or religious holidays, provided they are safe, do not constitute a fire hazard, and comply with chapter 17.132, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- One gas filled light tube (neon or facsimile) per business, not exceeding four square feet and displayed from the inside of the building, is exempt from permit requirements.
- Interior signs, visible from the exterior, not exceeding four square feet per sign, are exempt from permit requirements.
- One freestanding sign per lot, not exceeding four square feet, provided there are no other signs on the lot or structure, is exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan must be submitted at the time of design review application for any new construction for all hotels, commercial, industrial, multi-family residential and mixed use projects.
- Master signage plans for new construction must include directional, tenant, advisory, and technical information and show integration with building architecture.
- Following approval of a master signage plan, separate sign permits are required for all new signs before installation.
- Existing multi-tenant buildings and institutional/commercial buildings must submit a master signage plan when any tenant applies for new signage, unless the new signage remains consistent with existing signage for the building.
- A new business in a multi-tenant building must comply with a previously approved sign plan, unless a new sign plan for all tenants is submitted and approved.
- Applications for historic sign replicas and preservation of landmark signs must follow the procedures identified for general sign permits, and are reviewed by the Ketchum City Council.

## Full detail

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

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