# Sign Regulations in Decorah, Iowa

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Decorah, Iowa (IA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/iowa/decorah
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IA/Decorah/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT15BUCO_CH15.20SICO)

## At a glance

Decorah, Iowa regulates 7 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 feet above grade level tall and 32 square feet (Sec. 17.16.110.A). Most commercial signs in Decorah require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 4 feet above grade level | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts, R-1, R-2, R-3 | 3 | No greater than the peak of the roof of the residence or 15 feet, whichever is less | 32 square feet | — |
| R-4 | 3 | No greater than the peak of the roof of the residence or 15 feet, whichever is less | 32 square feet | — |
| M Industrial Districts (M-1, M-2, M-3), M-1, M-2, M-3 | 2 | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| C Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5), C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, Central Business District (C-3) | 2 | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Hospital Medical District (H-M) | 2 | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| A-1 Agricultural District | 2 | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Junk Dealers | 1 | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet above grade level | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 17.16.110.A |
| Public Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by or upon the order of public officers in performance of public duty | — | 17.16.110.B |
| Integral Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Made integral to the structure to which attached | — | 17.16.110.C |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Behind a window, within a building, oriented to be viewed from street or sidewalk | — | 17.16.110.D |
| Institutional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises of institution—school, library, public building, religious institution, etc. | — | 17.16.110.E |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One | Attached flat against dwelling | — | 17.16.090.C.8-9 |

### Residential Districts, R-1, R-2, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling | Attached flat against dwelling | — | 17.16.090.C.8-9 |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 17.16.110.A |
| Satellite-Receiving Antenna | No greater than the peak of the roof of the residence or 15 feet, whichever is less | — | — | Not within 5 feet of lot lines in allowed yards | — | Mounted on ground in rear or non-adjacent side yard, or on roof (not extending above roof peak and not on front or side of house) | — | 17.16.150.B–F |

### R-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling | Attached flat against dwelling | — | 17.16.090.C.8-9 |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 17.16.110.A |
| Satellite-Receiving Antenna | No greater than the peak of the roof of the residence or 15 feet, whichever is less | — | — | Not within 5 feet of lot lines in allowed yards | — | Mounted on ground in rear or non-adjacent side yard, or on roof (not extending above roof peak and not on front or side of house) | — | 17.16.150.B–F |

## Prohibited signs in Decorah

- No sign shall be erected, placed, maintained, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered which does not comply with all of the regulations established by this title (17.16.130.A).
- Obsolete signs are prohibited: signs that advertise an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted on the premises (17.16.120.A).
- Banners, balloons, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similarly moving devices (unless allowed specifically by exception) are prohibited, whether or not part of a sign (17.16.120.B).
- Commercial portable signs that are not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground are prohibited, except as allowed by sidewalk display regulations (17.16.120.C).
- Off-premises signs located on public property which is being used for public purposes are prohibited (17.16.120.D).
- Flashing, blinking, or rotating lights are prohibited on both permanent and temporary signs (17.16.120.E).
- Signs with any part that moves by mechanical or electronic means are prohibited (17.16.120.F).
- Off-premises painted wall signs for commercial purposes are prohibited (17.16.120.G).
- Electronic message signs or centers, digital billboards, or other digital display signs on or off premises are prohibited (17.16.120.H).

## Signs exempt from permit in Decorah

- Temporary signs: One non-illuminated sign per street frontage, not exceeding thirty-two square feet, not higher than four feet above grade, not constituting a safety or traffic hazard, and removed within seven days following the completion of the event (17.16.110.A).
- Public signs: Signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by or upon the order of a public officer in the performance of public duty, such as safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, traffic signs, memorial plaques, signs of historical interest, and similar signs (17.16.110.B).
- Integral signs: Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, and similar signs when carved into stone, concrete, or other building material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent construction and made integral to the structure (17.16.110.C).
- Window signs: Signs displayed up to ten feet behind a window or within a building oriented to be viewed from the street or sidewalk, provided illuminated window signs are only allowed in districts permitting illuminated, digital, or electronic signs (17.16.110.D).
- Institutional signs: On-premises signs for institutions such as religious institutions, schools, libraries, public buildings, community centers, and similar, when carved into stone, concrete or other permanent material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type of construction (17.16.110.E).
- A sign permit is not required for repainting a sign without changing permanent wording, composition, or colors, or for nonstructural repairs (17.16.130.E).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit, approved by the zoning administrator, is required before the erection, construction, alteration, placing, or locating of all signs conforming with this title (17.16.130.D).
- A copy of plans and specifications shall be submitted to the zoning administrator for each sign regulated by this title. Such plans shall show sufficient details about size, location, materials, and other data as may be required for the zoning administrator to determine compliance (17.16.130.F).
- Any person aggrieved by the zoning administrator’s decision regarding a sign permit may appeal to the board of adjustment (17.16.130.G).

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

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