# Sign Regulations in Lewiston, Idaho

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lewiston, Idaho (ID)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/idaho/lewiston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ID/Lewiston/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CHAPTER30SICO)

## At a glance

Lewiston, Idaho regulates 53 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Ground Monument Sign (Residential - Churches, Semi-public, Subdivision, Multifamily, Manufactured Home Park)s in the Residential Zone (F-2, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, BASPAB, NHN, NHS, PD) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 30-12(c)(6)). Most commercial signs in Lewiston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zone (F-2, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, BASPAB, NHN, NHS, PD) | 8 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zone (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, M-1, M-2, PD, P, A) | 10 | 40 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Local Commercial (C-1) | 6 | 6 ft (12 ft allowed if sign width ≤33% of sign height) | 33% of total window area | — |
| Central Commercial (C-5) | 10 | 40 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use Zone (BASPAA, MXD-NL, NHMU, PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Billboard Overlay Zone | 1 | 40 ft (measured from centerline of adjacent street) | 378 sq ft | — |
| District (Historic District, as defined in Chapter 19.5) | 4 | — | — | — |
| Public Right-of-Way | 4 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (as defined in section 37-145) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Residential Zone (F-2, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, BASPAB, NHN, NHS, PD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Residential - General) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Anywhere on the property; not in clear vision area or area to be dedicated as public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 30-12(a)(1), (c)(3) |
| Window Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | In one window on the property. | — | Sec. 30-12(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Next to one door on the property. | — | Sec. 30-12(a)(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential - Sale, Lease, or Rent) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property offered for sale, lease, or rent. | — | Sec. 30-12(a)(3) |
| Bench Sign (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | Not visible from the public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 30-12(a)(4), (c)(4) |
| Wall Sign (Residential - Other) | — | 6 sq ft per dwelling unit | — | — | No more than 2 signs per lot street frontage | Anywhere on the property except clear vision areas or public right-of-way to be dedicated. | — | Sec. 30-12(b), (c)(1), (c)(5) |
| Ground Monument Sign (Residential - Churches, Semi-public, Subdivision, Multifamily, Manufactured Home Park) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | One per entrance to allowed use; not within clear vision area or area to be dedicated as public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 30-12(c)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential - Churches, Semi-public, Subdivision, Multifamily, Manufactured Home Park) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | One per entrance to allowed use; not within clear vision area or area to be dedicated as public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 30-12(c)(6), (8) |

### Commercial Zone (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, M-1, M-2, PD, P, A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Commercial General) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property | — | Sec. 30-13(a)(1) |
| Window Sign (Commercial General) | — | Up to 50% of total window area incl. glass doors | — | — | — | On windows of building | — | Sec. 30-13(a)(2) |
| Bench Sign (Commercial General) | 4 ft | 14 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property; must not obstruct free and clear vision of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, including clear vision areas | — | Sec. 30-13(a)(3) |
| Wall Sign (Commercial General) | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 30-13(c)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial General) | 40 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 500 ft street frontage | Not in required side or rear yard; may project out to public right-of-way with required ground clearance | — | Sec. 30-13(c)(2) |
| Ground Monument Sign (Commercial General) | 6 ft (12 ft allowed if sign width ≤33% of height) | — | — | — | 1 per 500 ft street frontage | Not in required side or rear yard | — | Sec. 30-13(c)(3) |
| Roof Sign (Commercial General) | ½ building height or 10 ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | — | On building roof | — | Sec. 30-13(c)(4) |
| Projecting Sign (Commercial General) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Cannot project over public right-of-way; at least 15 feet above vehicle access routes. | — | Sec. 30-13(c)(5) |

### Central Commercial (C-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (C-5) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property | — | Sec. 30-14(a)(1) |
| Window Sign (C-5) | — | 33% of total window area | — | — | 1 | On windows of building | — | Sec. 30-14(a)(2), (c)(1)d |
| Bench Sign (C-5) | 4 ft | 14 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property; must not obstruct free and clear vision of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, including clear vision areas | — | Sec. 30-14(a)(3) |
| Wall Sign (C-5) | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Sec. 30-14(c)(1)a, b, d |
| Freestanding Sign (C-5) | 40 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 500 ft street frontage | Not in required side or rear yard; may project out to public right-of-way with required ground clearance, but not over public right-of-way, alleys, or driveways. | — | Sec. 30-14(c)(2) |
| Ground Monument Sign (C-5) | 6 ft (12 ft if width ≤33% of height) | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Not in required side or rear yard | — | Sec. 30-14(c)(3) |
| Roof Sign (C-5) | ½ height of building or 10 ft, whichever is less | — | — | — | — | On building roof | — | Sec. 30-14(c)(4)b |
| Projecting Sign (C-5) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | May project over public right-of-way up to 2/3 of building to curb distance but not closer than 2 ft to curb; up to 3 ft over alley. | — | Sec. 30-14(c)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Lewiston

- No sign shall be placed, erected, affixed, attached, or otherwise established or displayed without a permit, unless otherwise exempted by this chapter.
- A person may only place signs on property owned or controlled by such person, unless the property owner's consent is obtained.
- Signs shall not be internally illuminated or animated unless specifically authorized by this chapter.
- No sign shall interfere with any component of a building's exiting system, such as doors, windows, and fire escapes.
- Signs are prohibited in all zoning districts unless authorized under this chapter and placed pursuant to a valid sign permit when required.
- Signs that block free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape are prohibited.
- Signs that do not provide sufficient horizontal or vertical clearance from any communication line or energized electrical powerline as required by the laws of the State of Idaho are prohibited.
- Signs attached to streetlights located on public property or in the public right-of-way are prohibited unless expressly authorized in this chapter.
- Signs that may be misconstrued as a traffic control device are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct any traffic or street sign or signal are prohibited.
- Graffiti is prohibited.
- Signs that pose a threat to public safety are prohibited.
- Signs that do not comply with the requirements set forth in this chapter are prohibited.
- Signs erected or maintained that, by use of lights or illumination, create a hazardous condition to motorists, pedestrians, or the general public are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lewiston

- Numerals that identify the address of the property, as required by chapter 31 of this Code and the Lewiston Fire Department; no permit required.
- Government signs, as defined in the ordinance, are authorized without a sign permit in every zoning district when erected, maintained, or posted in accordance with the law.
- Traffic control devices on private or public property that comply with the adopted Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; no permit required.
- Official notices or advertisements posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance of official duties; no permit required (must be removed after their purpose is accomplished or as required by law).
- Wall art displays without electrical or mechanical components; must not project more than six (6) inches from the wall; no permit required.
- Signs authorized in Sec. 30-8 (address signs), Sec. 30-9 (government/traffic/official notices/wall art displays), and Sec. 30-10 (temporary signs as listed) do not count toward any limitation on the number or area of signs allowed on private property.
- Specified temporary signs as authorized in section 30-10 (small signs on event days, construction/real estate signs, and election signs as detailed) do not require a sign permit.
- Bench signs located in residential zones that are not visible from the public right-of-way do not require permits.
- Signs for temporary vendors in all commercial zones as per Sec 30-19 (up to 32 square feet, not illuminated/animated, not in the ROW) do not require a sign permit.
- Maintenance, change of sign copy, and minor repairs that do not include structural modification or change in sign area or height do not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit application may include a request for multiple signs located on a single lot.
- A certificate of appropriateness (and a sign permit) is required before placing, constructing, altering, or relocating a sign in a historic district, except for replacing sign copy, maintenance not altering structure or colors, or temporary signs.
- An applicant for a sign permit may request a waiver from the requirements of this chapter by filing an application with the department to be considered at a public hearing by the planning and zoning commission.
- If a waiver (variance) is sought, the planning and zoning commission holds a meeting, and the process includes hearing, written decision, and possible appeal.
- Within all residential/commercial zones, a property owner must secure a sign permit before placing any sign on the owner's property except for those signs explicitly exempted or authorized without a permit per the ordinance.
- For signs projecting or encroaching into the public right-of-way (e.g., projecting signs, marquee signs), an encroachment permit is required.
- For billboards, plan sets approved and stamped by an engineer or architect licensed in the State of Idaho are required as part of the application.

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

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