# Sign Regulations in Dubuque, Iowa

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dubuque, Iowa (IA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/iowa/dubuque
- **Data last verified:** 2024-12-06
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/View/1828/Unified-Development-Code)

## At a glance

Dubuque, Iowa regulates 70 sign types across 22 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Projecting)s in the C-1-Neighborhood Commercial District zoning district are capped at Below eave or parapet tall and 25 sq ft per sign, with a up to 60 inches with permit. setback from the right-of-way (Sec. 15-11.5). Most commercial signs in Dubuque require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (22 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones (also applies to county island overlays: AG-C, AG/RROD, C-1-C, C-2-C, C-3-C, C-4-C, CR-C, CS-C, HI-C, LI-C, MHI-C, OC-C, OR-C, OS-C, R-1-C, R-2-C, R-3-C; and: PC, PO, POS, PR) | 13 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| AG Agriculture | 11 | 60 inches (5 ft) | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-1 Residential | 11 | 60 inches (5 ft) | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-2 Residential | 11 | 60 inches (5 ft) | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-2A Residential | 11 | 60 inches (5 ft) | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-3 Residential | 11 | 60 inches (5 ft) | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-4 Residential | 11 | 60 inches (5 ft) | 32 sq ft per sign | — |
| OR Office Residential | 14 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — |
| OS Office Service | 13 | 25 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — |
| OC Office Commercial | 10 | 25 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — |
| C-1-Neighborhood Commercial District | 18 | 12 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — |
| C-2 Neighborhood Shopping Center District | 11 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| C-2A Mixed Use Neighborhood District | 11 | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| C-3 General Commercial District | 12 | 50 ft | 750 sq ft per sign; reduced to 300 sq ft if within 200 ft of a historic district and not abutting a state or federal highway | — |
| C-4 Downtown Commercial District | 10 | 50 ft | 750 sq ft per sign; reduced to 300 sq ft if within 200 ft of a historic district and not abutting a state or federal highway | — |
| C-5 Business District | 19 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — |
| CS Commercial Service and Wholesale District | 10 | 50 ft | 750 sq ft per sign; reduced to 300 sq ft if within 200 ft of a historic district and not abutting a state or federal highway | — |
| CR Commercial Recreation District | 10 | 50 ft | 750 sq ft per sign; reduced to 300 sq ft if within 200 ft of a historic district and not abutting a state or federal highway | — |
| ID Institutional District | 18 | 12 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — |
| LI Industrial District | 9 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| HI Industrial District | 9 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| MHI Industrial District | 9 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 22 zones)

### C-1-Neighborhood Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Projecting) | Below eave or parapet | 25 sq ft per sign | — | Projection over right-of-way: up to 60 inches with permit. | 1 per business per street frontage | Projecting from building along street frontage | — | 15-11.5 |
| Identification Sign (Wall) | Below eave or parapet | 40 sq ft per sign | — | Projection over ROW: 0. | — | Wall-mounted | — | 15-11.5 |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 10 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | Projection over ROW: 0. | Not specified | On-premises circulation/operations. | — | 15-11.5 |
| Projecting Sign (All Applications) | Below eave or parapet | 6 sq ft per sign | — | Projection up to 60 in with permit; otherwise 0. | Not specified | Projecting from building | — | 15-11.5; 15-18 |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Shall not project over any lot line; not in ROW; maintain visibility triangle clearance per Section 3-5. | No more than four temporary sign permits per zoning lot per calendar year. | On the lot where the activity occurs; shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or within any required visibility triangle. | — | 15-10(1)-(7) |
| Political Sign (Exempt) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way; not within visibility triangle. | — | Not in the public right-of-way; not in a visibility triangle. | — | 15-9(C) |
| Real Estate Sign (Exempt) - Residential Property | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way; maintain visibility triangle clearance. | — | On-premises only; not in right-of-way; not in visibility triangle. | — | 15-9(E) |
| Real Estate Sign (Exempt) - Commercial/Agricultural/Industrial Property or Subdivisions | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way; maintain visibility triangle clearance. | — | On-premises only; not in right-of-way; not in visibility triangle. | — | 15-9(E) |

### C-5 Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-5 Business Identification Sign (Freestanding) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 | Freestanding within specified C-5 street frontages | — | 15-11.10 (C-5 Business District table) |
| Ground Monument Identification (Main Street frontage between 8th and 10th Streets only) | 10 ft | 18 sq ft per sign | 5.5 ft | — | 1 per business along Main Street frontage between 8th and 10th Streets | Along Main Street frontage between 8th and 10th Streets | — | 15-11.10 (C-5 Business District table) |
| Projecting Wall Sign | Below eave or parapet | 25 sq ft per sign | — | Projection up to 60 in with permit. | 1 per business per street frontage | Projecting from building | — | C-5 Business District table; 15-18 |
| Freestanding Canopy Sign (Wall-mounted on canopy fascia) | On canopy fascia | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per canopy | On canopy fascia | — | 15-11.10 (C-5 Business District table) |
| Wall Nameplate (All Applications) | Below eave or parapet | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Wall-mounted | — | 15-11.10 (C-5 Business District table) |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 10 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Not specified | On-premises circulation/operations. | — | 15-11.10 (C-5 Business District table) |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Shall not project over any lot line; not in ROW; maintain visibility triangle clearance per Section 3-5. | No more than four temporary sign permits per zoning lot per calendar year. | On the lot where the activity occurs; shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or within any required visibility triangle. | — | 15-10(1)-(7) |
| Real Estate Sign (Exempt) - Residential Property | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way; maintain visibility triangle clearance. | — | On-premises only; not in right-of-way; not in visibility triangle. | — | 15-9(E) |

### ID Institutional District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ID Institutional Identification Signs (Freestanding) | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — | Projection over ROW: 0. | Up to 2 per street frontage or 1 per building (whichever is less restrictive) | Freestanding on-premises | — | 15-11.13 |
| Directory (Wall) | Below eave or parapet | 10 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per building entrance | Wall-mounted at building entrance | — | 15-11.13 |
| Nameplate (All Applications) | Below eave or parapet | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Wall-mounted | — | 15-11.13 |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 10 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | Projection over ROW: 0. | Not specified | On-premises circulation/operations. | — | 15-11.13 |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Shall not project over any lot line; not in ROW; maintain visibility triangle clearance per Section 3-5. | No more than four temporary sign permits per zoning lot per calendar year. | On the lot where the activity occurs; shall not be placed in the public right-of-way or within any required visibility triangle. | — | 15-10(1)-(7) |
| Political Sign (Exempt) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way; not within visibility triangle. | — | Not in the public right-of-way; not in a visibility triangle. | — | 15-9(C) |
| Real Estate Sign (Exempt) - Residential Property | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way; maintain visibility triangle clearance. | — | On-premises only; not in right-of-way; not in visibility triangle. | — | 15-9(E) |
| Real Estate Sign (Exempt) - Commercial/Agricultural/Industrial Property or Subdivisions | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Not in the public right-of-way; maintain visibility triangle clearance. | — | On-premises only; not in right-of-way; not in visibility triangle. | — | 15-9(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Dubuque

- Any sign prohibited by state or federal regulation.
- Any sign within a required visibility triangle (Section 3-5).
- Any sign that contains the words “danger” or “stop,” or imitates/confuses with official traffic control signs.
- Any sign or lighting that casts direct light or glare onto property in a residential or office residential district.
- Any portable sign, including signs displayed on stored vehicles, except temporary political signs exempted in Section 15-9.
- Any sign that obstructs the reasonable visibility of a sign maintained by a public authority or otherwise distracts from such sign.
- Any sign attached to utility poles, signs, trees, or other appurtenances located in the public right-of-way.
- Roof signs (as defined), except certain on-premise roof signs in C-3 constructed prior to March 18, 1985, which are treated as allowed wall-mounted signs subject to conditions.
- Flashing signs (as defined).
- Parapet, roof, and canopy sign placements shown as prohibited (e.g., signs mounted on roofs or above the top of parapet; signs projecting above or below canopy fascia) per Section 15-8.J and illustrations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dubuque

- Holiday or special event decorations.
- Nameplates of 2 square feet or less; in residential districts or on residential structures, only name and address may appear.
- Political signs no larger than 32 square feet, not placed in any public right-of-way or visibility triangle.
- Government signs.
- On-premise real estate signs: residential property signs not over 12 square feet and 6 feet high; commercial/agricultural/industrial/subdivision signs not over 32 square feet and 12 feet high; none placed in right-of-way or visibility triangle.
- Non-illuminated window signs.
- Illuminated window signs not exceeding 20 square feet.
- Commemorative signs.
- Construction signs not exceeding 32 square feet.
- Official flags of nations, states, or political subdivisions.
- Painted ghost wall signs.

## Sign permit fees & timelines in Dubuque

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Work for which a sign permit is required that was started before obtaining the permit | A penalty fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The penalty fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required by this Code. | — |
| Other | 20 calendar days (starts when Filing of a completed application for a sign permit) | — |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for Dubuque is available in PermitPal (free account)._

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

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