# Sign Regulations in Bettendorf, Iowa

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bettendorf, Iowa (IA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/iowa/bettendorf
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-19
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/bettendorfia/latest/bettendorf_ia/0-0-0-25246)

## At a glance

Bettendorf, Iowa regulates 26 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Institutional Bulletins in the Agricultural Districts (A-1, A-2) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft per face, with a NCT 10 ft to front property line setback (Sec. 11-14-5A (code 006); 11-14-7A (006)). Most commercial signs in Bettendorf require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Districts (A-1, A-2) | 9 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) | 8 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-6, C-7) | 17 | 50 ft | Up to 672 sq ft per face | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-2 within 660 feet of a U.S. highway or interstate right-of-way) | 1 | Max 30 ft (measured from base of support structure to highest point, including face) | Up to 672 sq ft per face | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3) | 11 | 50 ft | Up to 672 sq ft per face | — |
| Downtown Master Plan Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Overlay Residential District | 8 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | No limit | No limit | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Agricultural Districts (A-1, A-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institutional Bulletin | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | NCT 10 ft to front property line | One per interior lot (corner lots: two, one oriented to each street) | Not closer than 10 ft to front property line and other buildable areas | — | 11-14-5A (code 006); 11-14-7A (006) |
| For Sale and For Lease | 15 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | No restriction | — | 11-14-5A (code 008); 11-14-7A (008) |
| Flags | 50 ft | No limit | — | — | No limit | No restriction | — | 11-14-5A (code 009); 11-14-7A (009) |
| House Numbers | 10 ft (in residential districts; used as general standard for this type) | 2 sq ft | — | — | One for each wall of each building | Buildable area on building | — | 11-14-5A (code 011); 11-14-7A (011) |
| Nameplate | 15 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling | No restrictions | — | 11-14-5A (code 016); 11-14-7A (016) |
| Parking Lot Instructional | 7 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | Buildable area | — | 11-14-5A (code 022); 11-14-7A (022) |
| Parking Entrance/Exit | 7 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | No restriction | — | 11-14-5A (code 023); 11-14-7A (023) |
| Subdivision (A-2 only) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | Buildable area | — | 11-14-5A (code 028); 11-14-7A (028) |

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-6, C-7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Same as awning; not to exceed 30 ft | As calculated; business maximum 300 sq ft; minimum 60 sq ft regardless of formula | — | — | Up to four per awning/business | Same as awning | — | 11-14-5C (code 001); 11-14-7A (001) |
| Institutional Bulletin | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | NCT 10 ft to front property line | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | Not closer than 10 ft to front property line and other buildable areas | — | 11-14-5C (code 006); 11-14-7A (006) |
| For Sale and For Lease | 15 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | No restriction | — | 11-14-5C (code 008); 11-14-7A (008) |
| Changeable Type or Marquee Sign (At/Behind Required Yard Line) | 20 ft when at or behind required yard line | Up to 300 sq ft per face (Exp or EPS message center max 50 sq ft within sign) | — | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥½ required yard distance, whichever is greater | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | Minimum 15 ft from property line or half the distance of the required yard, whichever is greater; or within the buildable area | — | 11-14-5C (code 014); 11-14-7A (014) |
| Changeable Type or Marquee Sign (Within Required Yard) | 15 ft when erected within the required yard | 60 sq ft per face (Exp or EPS message center max 50 sq ft within sign) | — | Within required yard context; otherwise ≥15 ft rule applies | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | Within the required yard; must also meet minimum setback rule (≥15 ft from property line or ≥½ required yard distance, whichever is greater) unless in required yard per table | — | 11-14-5C (code 014); 11-14-7A (014) |
| Off-Premises Advertising (C-3, C-6, C-7 permitted; C-2 only if within 660 ft of U.S. highway/interstate ROW) | Max 30 ft (measured from base of support structure to highest point, including face) | Up to 672 sq ft per face | — | Subject to principal use yard requirements for district | Citywide cap and one-for-one replacement/credit rules apply; number per lot not specifically stated | Permitted in C-3, C-6, C-7; permitted in C-2 only if within 660 ft of a U.S. highway or interstate right-of-way; subject to billboard yard requirements and buffers | — | 11-14-5C (code 018); 11-14-8 (Billboard Signs) |
| On-Premises Identification and Advertising (At/Behind Required Yard Line) | 20 ft when at or behind required yard line | As calculated by formula; business cap 300 sq ft (when ≥3 businesses on single lot) | — | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥½ required yard distance, whichever greater | One per business per street frontage | Minimum 15 ft from property line or half the distance of the required yard, whichever is greater; or within buildable area | — | 11-14-5C (code 020); 11-14-7A (020) |
| On-Premises Identification and Advertising (Within Required Setback) | 15 ft when erected within the required yard | 60 sq ft if located within a required setback | — | Within required yard context; otherwise ≥15 ft rule applies | One per business per street frontage | Within required yard; otherwise must meet minimum setback rule | — | 11-14-5C (code 020); 11-14-7A (020) |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flags | 50 ft | No limit | — | — | No limit | No restriction | — | 11-14-5D (code 009); 11-14-7A (009) |
| House Numbers | 10 ft (residential standard noted) | 2 sq ft | — | — | One for each wall of each building | Buildable area on building | — | 11-14-5D (code 011); 11-14-7A (011) |
| Changeable Type or Marquee Sign (At/Behind Required Yard Line) | 20 ft when at or behind required yard line | Up to 300 sq ft per face (Exp or EPS message center max 50 sq ft within sign) | — | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥½ required yard distance, whichever is greater | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | Minimum 15 ft from property line or half the distance of the required yard, whichever is greater; or within the buildable area | — | 11-14-5D (code 014); 11-14-7A (014) |
| Changeable Type or Marquee Sign (Within Required Yard) | 15 ft when erected within the required yard | 60 sq ft per face (Exp or EPS message center max 50 sq ft within sign) | — | Within required yard context; otherwise ≥15 ft rule applies | One per interior lot (corner lots: two) | Within the required yard; must also meet minimum setback rule unless specifically allowed | — | 11-14-5D (code 014); 11-14-7A (014) |
| Nameplate | 15 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling | No restrictions | — | 11-14-5D (code 016); 11-14-7A (016) |
| Off-Premises Advertising (Billboard - Industrial Districts) | Max 30 ft (measured from base of support structure to highest point, including face) | Up to 672 sq ft per face | — | Subject to principal use yard requirements of the district | Subject to citywide cap and one-for-one replacement/credit rules | Permitted in I-1, I-2, I-3; subject to principal use yard requirements | — | 11-14-5D (code 019); 11-14-8(B)-(M) |
| On-Premises Identification and Advertising (At/Behind Required Yard Line) | 20 ft when at or behind required yard line | As calculated by formula; business cap 300 sq ft (when ≥3 businesses on single lot) | — | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥½ required yard distance, whichever greater | One per business per street frontage | Minimum 15 ft from property line or half the distance of the required yard, whichever is greater; or within buildable area | — | 11-14-5D (code 020); 11-14-7A (020) |
| On-Premises Identification and Advertising (Within Required Setback) | 15 ft when erected within the required yard | 60 sq ft if located within a required setback | — | Within required yard context; otherwise ≥15 ft rule applies | One per business per street frontage | Within required yard; otherwise must meet minimum setback rule | — | 11-14-5D (code 020); 11-14-7A (020) |

## Prohibited signs in Bettendorf

- No sign may be placed so as to obstruct vision at street intersections or driveway intersections for oncoming vehicles.
- No sign may block any required accessway.
- No sign may be attached to a tree or utility pole.
- All signs not authorized by this chapter are prohibited.
- Except for public service and safety signs authorized by the governmental agency having control, no signs are permitted on public property.
- Sign lighting must not cause glare or impair the vision of drivers; maximum luminance is 5,000 nits during daylight and 200 nits between dusk and dawn, measured at the sign face at maximum brightness.
- Upon confirmation of a luminance violation by the zoning administrator, the sign’s luminance must be permanently reduced to comply, regardless of the stated maximum allowable levels.
- Electronically-changing copy may not change faster than once every eight seconds; flashing is prohibited; video is prohibited.
- No display sign or outdoor advertising device may be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended, or relocated except in conformity with this title; repainting/changing parts/maintenance exceeding 50% of the original cost is considered an alteration.
- Any obsolete sign that does not advertise a bona fide business or product must be removed within 10 days after written notification from the zoning administrator.
- Any sign found unsafe, insecure, a menace to the public, or maintained in violation must be removed or altered to comply within 10 days after notice; signs posing immediate peril may be removed without notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bettendorf

- Public service and safety signs are permitted on public property when authorized by the governmental agency having control.
- Alphanumeric scrolling messages are allowed on electronic programmable signs, except for off-premises advertising signs.
- Political signs are permitted in all districts and do not require additional permits.
- Flags do not require permits across agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial districts.
- House number signs do not require permits across agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial districts.
- Nameplate signs do not require permits across agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or general sign plan requirement is stated in the provided text.
- A sign permit, when required, must be obtained from the zoning administrator; building department approval may also be required where applicable.
- Any person aggrieved by approval or disapproval of a sign permit may appeal to the Board of Adjustment (Section 11-15-12D).
- Appeals of zoning administrator decisions regarding luminance (11-14-3G) may be presented to the Board of Adjustment.
- Institutional bulletin signs require a special use permit in any residentially-zoned location or bordering a residentially-zoned location.
- Billboard signs require a building permit and submission of documentation: 24-hour maintenance contact, proof of lease for the site, proof of lease/deed for the removed sign (credit), and a list/map of all billboard locations owned or managed; applications may be approved conditionally pending removal of an existing billboard.
- New billboard signs require removal of an existing billboard sign; conversion of a static billboard to a digital display requires removal of an additional existing billboard and reduces the total number of billboard signs allowed by one.
- A variance of dimensional standards or a conditional use granted for placement of a new billboard sign does not waive the requirement to remove an existing sign to place the new billboard.

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

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