# Sign Regulations in Kootenai, Idaho

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kootenai, Idaho (ID)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/idaho/kootenai
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Kootenai, Idaho regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument/Ground Sign (Nonresidential)s in the Agriculture Zone, Residential Zones, Neighborhood-Office Zone zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a 5 ft behind back of sidewalk/property line (8-15-8B) setback (Sec. 8-15-5(A)1b). Most commercial signs in Kootenai require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agriculture Zone, Residential Zones, Neighborhood-Office Zone | 11 | 35 ft (flagpole) | 60 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones | 13 | 35 ft (flagpole) | 150 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood-Office Overlay | 8 | 35 ft (flagpole) | 60 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Commercial District | 9 | 35 ft (flagpole) | 60 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Agriculture Zone, Residential Zones, Neighborhood-Office Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small Sign | 5 ft | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per lot (except up to two warning signs per 500 linear feet) | — | — | 8-15-4(A) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per legal approach | One per legal approach | — | 8-15-4(D) |
| Flag | 35 ft (flagpole) | 60 sq ft | — | — | Three per lot without permit | — | — | 8-15-4(E) |
| Physical Address Sign (Freestanding) | 4 - 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Adjacent to driveway and roadway (when building is >75 ft from road or not visible) | — | 8-15-4(G)2 |
| Window Sign | Lettering max 8 in | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Affixed/painted/etched onto window, visible from public way | — | 8-15-4(H) |
| Building Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 10% of front building facade area (aggregate for all building signs) | — | — | — | On building; see standards for specific types | — | 8-15-5(A)1 |
| Freestanding Monument/Ground Sign (Nonresidential) | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — | General setback for freestanding signs applies: 5 ft behind back of sidewalk/property line (8-15-8B) | 1 per street frontage with >=100 ft, with approved approach | Lots with >= 100 ft street frontage; one per street frontage with approved approach. | — | 8-15-5(A)1b |
| Residential Neighborhood Identification Sign/Monument Sign | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | One per public/private street entrance on collector/arterial street | — | 8-15-5(A)2 |

### Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small Sign | 5 ft | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per lot (except up to two warning signs per 500 linear feet) | — | — | 8-15-4(A) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per legal approach | One per legal approach | — | 8-15-4(D) |
| Flag | 35 ft (flagpole) | 60 sq ft | — | — | Three per lot without permit | — | — | 8-15-4(E) |
| Physical Address Sign (Freestanding) | 4 - 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Adjacent to driveway and roadway (when building is >75 ft from road or not visible) | — | 8-15-4(G)2 |
| Window Sign | Lettering max 8 in | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Affixed/painted/etched onto window, visible from public way | — | 8-15-4(H) |
| Freestanding Sign (Less Than 150 ft Frontage) | 20 ft | 85 sq ft | — | General setback for freestanding signs: 5 ft behind back of sidewalk/property line (8-15-8B) | 1 per 150 ft, max 3 per lot | One per 150 ft street frontage or per 30,000 sq ft lot area; max 3 freestanding per lot | — | 8-15-5(B)2 |
| Freestanding Sign (150 to 300 ft Frontage) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — | General setback for freestanding signs: 5 ft behind back of sidewalk/property line (8-15-8B) | 1 per 150 ft, max 3 per lot | One per 150 ft street frontage or per 30,000 sq ft lot area; max 3 freestanding per lot | — | 8-15-5(B)2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Greater Than 300 ft Frontage) | 30 ft | 150 sq ft | — | General setback for freestanding signs: 5 ft behind back of sidewalk/property line (8-15-8B) | 1 per 150 ft, max 3 per lot | One per 150 ft street frontage or per 30,000 sq ft lot area; max 3 freestanding per lot | — | 8-15-5(B)2 |

### Downtown Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small Sign | 5 ft | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per lot (except up to two warning signs per 500 linear feet) | — | — | 8-15-4(A) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per legal approach | One per legal approach | — | 8-15-4(D) |
| Flag | 35 ft (flagpole) | 60 sq ft | — | — | Three per lot without permit | — | — | 8-15-4(E) |
| Danger/Hazard Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 8-15-4(F) |
| Physical Address Sign (on Building) | — | — | — | — | — | On building, visible from road | — | 8-15-4(G)1 |
| Physical Address Sign (Freestanding) | 4 - 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Adjacent to driveway and roadway (when building is >75 ft from road or not visible) | — | 8-15-4(G)2 |
| Window Sign | Lettering max 8 in | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Affixed/painted/etched onto window, visible from public way | — | 8-15-4(H) |
| Building Sign | — | 10% of front building facade area (aggregate for all building signs) | — | — | — | On building; see standards for specific types | — | 8-15-5(B)1 |

## Prohibited signs in Kootenai

- Any sign constructed after the effective date without a sign permit approved by the city, excepting those signs expressly identified as authorized without a sign permit.
- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
- Signs which simulate or imitate the size, lettering, illumination or design of any traffic control device in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse the public.
- Privately owned signs or supporting structures located on, extending into, encroaching upon, or overhanging publicly owned property or a public right of way (such as a street, sidewalk or waterway).
- Signs which blink, flash or are animated by lighting in such a way as to have the appearance of traffic safety signs/lights or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance.
- Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property in a position visible to traffic on a public road, waterway or parking area for a period longer than six days in a sixty day period, except for signs meeting specific conditions (primary purpose not displaying sign, signs are integral/painted/magnetic/decals, vehicle is operable, registered, and in use).
- Revolving signs.
- Off-premises commercial signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kootenai

- Small signs (not exceeding five square feet in area and five feet in height, not illuminated, limited to one per lot except for up to two warning signs in 500 feet of frontage) do not require a sign permit.
- Governmental signs required by legal authority do not require a sign permit.
- Public or private street name signs identifying the official street name, as authorized/approved by the city, conforming to MUTCD and adopted standards do not require a sign permit.
- Directional signs (one per legal approach, not exceeding two square feet, with up to 25% area for identification/logos) do not require a sign permit.
- Flags do not require a sign permit, but groupings of more than three flags on a single lot require a permit; flagpoles may not exceed thirty five feet and flags may not exceed sixty square feet.
- Danger/hazard signs devoted exclusively to warning of dangerous conditions or hazards (not exceeding five square feet in area, unless otherwise required by law) do not require a permit.
- Physical street address signs (numbers on buildings or on freestanding signs under specific area/height limitations) do not require a sign permit.
- Window signs (aggregate not exceeding 25% of window area, with lettering not exceeding eight inches in height) do not require a sign permit.
- Banners used on private property for no more than thirty days in any calendar year do not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for sign permits must include a site plan drawn to scale depicting the lot, building footprint, facade(s), right of way/street frontages, ingress/egress, and locations of all existing and proposed signs.
- A graphic depiction drawn to scale of dimensions and design for all existing and proposed signs is required with the permit application.
- Construction plans drawn to scale, specifying dimensions, materials, construction details, and registered design professional seal/signature if required by building code, are required for proposed new signs.
- A permit is required for all signs except those expressly authorized without a permit.
- No sign shall be structurally altered, enlarged, or relocated except in conformity with code provisions and only upon applying for and securing a permit, unless expressly authorized without a permit.

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

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