# Sign Regulations in Spirit Lake, Idaho

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

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

## At a glance

Spirit Lake, Idaho regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Portable Sign (Sidewalk Sign)s in the Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 4 ft height x 3 ft width, and 3 ft wide (Sec. 8-5-9 (A), (J)). Most commercial signs in Spirit Lake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 4 | 10 ft above curb level | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts | 9 | 30 inches above building | 50 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Sign (Multi-Family Residences and Rooming Houses) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per building/project | On the building | — | 8-5-8 (A) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupations) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per home occupation | Mounted on the building | — | 8-5-8 (B) |
| Pole Sign or Monument Sign (Institutional, Public Service or Utility Facilities) | 10 ft above curb level | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per facility | On the lot | — | 8-5-8 (C) |
| Monument Sign (Entrances to Subdivisions) | — | — | — | — | One per entrance | At each entrance to a subdivision | — | 8-5-8 (D) |

### Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot street frontage | On lot street frontage; may not project over the property lines | — | 8-5-9 (A), (B), (C), (I) |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | — | One per lot street frontage | On lot street frontage | — | 8-5-9 (A), (B), (C), (I) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | 8-5-9 (A), (B), (H), (I) |
| Projecting Sign | 30 inches above building | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per business per lot street frontage | Projecting from building on lot street frontage | — | 8-5-9 (A), (D), (E), (G), (I) |
| Suspended Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per business per lot street frontage | Hanging from canopy, eave, awning, or similar projection | — | 8-5-9 (A), (D), (F), (I) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to or part of an awning | — | 8-5-9 (A), (B), (I) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to or part of a canopy | — | 8-5-9 (A), (B), (I) |
| Portable Sign (Sidewalk Sign) | 4 ft | 4 ft height x 3 ft width | 3 ft | — | 1 per 100 ft of building frontage or one per building if frontage is less than 100 ft | On public sidewalk, directly in front of the business served | — | 8-5-9 (A), (J) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | On premises upon which construction occurs | — | 8-5-6 (A) |
| Street Banner | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8-5-6 (B) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of gross window or door area | — | — | — | Painted on a window or door or within an enclosed building and visible from exterior | — | 8-5-6 (C), 8-5-3 Definitions |
| Directional, Warning, Street, Building Identification, Traffic Control, Informational, Utility Location Identification or Temporary Special Event Sign (Government) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8-5-6 (D) |
| Public Utility Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8-5-6 (E) |
| Property for Sale or Lease Sign (Residential Zoning Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage on the property for sale/lease | — | 8-5-6 (H)(1) |
| Property for Sale or Lease Sign (Commercial and Industrial Zoning District) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage on the property for sale/lease | — | 8-5-6 (H)(2) |
| Community Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At entrance to city | — | 8-5-6 (I) |

## Prohibited signs in Spirit Lake

- No off premises signs are permitted, except temporary signs as defined in section 8-5-3.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- All nonexempt signs must be located within property lines of property owned by or licensed or leased to the applicant.
- Placement of signs at intersections must conform to visibility regulations adopted by governmental entities with jurisdiction.
- All permitted signs must be installed, maintained, and repaired in conformance with the adopted building codes.
- Nonconforming signs may not be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended, or relocated, except in conformity with code.
- If a nonconforming sign suffers more than 75% appraised damage or deterioration, it must be brought into conformance or removed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Spirit Lake

- Construction signs identifying architects, engineers, contractors and firms involved in construction (not advertising any product). One sign, not exceeding 32 square feet, confined to the construction premises, removed within 60 days of occupancy.
- Street banners advertising a public event, erected as approved by the city clerk (or designee), removed within 5 days after event termination.
- Window signs.
- Directional, warning, street, building identification, traffic control, informational, utility location identification, or temporary special event signs displayed by or on behalf of federal, state, county, or city government.
- Public utility signs identifying underground utilities' locations or warning of hazardous utilities.
- Parking lot entry, exit, directional or parking signs that do not advertise or identify entities.
- City owned entrance, welcome, and identification signs.
- Property for sale or lease signs: one sign per street frontage, not to exceed 6 sq ft in residential and 12 sq ft in commercial/industrial districts.
- Community signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application requires a site plan showing location and setbacks of the sign support relative to property lines and any sign projection into rights of way or over public travelways.
- Permit applications for signs over eight feet (8') in height must include plans prepared and stamped by an Idaho licensed engineer.
- Exceptions to the sign code are heard by the planning and zoning commission and processed according to city variance procedures.

## Full detail

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

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