# Sign Regulations in Eldridge, Iowa

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Eldridge, Iowa (IA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/iowa/eldridge
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-15
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/eldridgeia/latest/eldridge_ia/0-0-0-13901)

## At a glance

Eldridge, Iowa regulates 35 sign types across 15 zoning districts. Political Signs (21)s in the Central Business District (C-2) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall, 32 sq ft, and 8 ft horizontal max wide, with a Not within 30 ft of corner street lot line intersection setback (Sec. §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 21; §37.07(U) 21 Political signs). Most commercial signs in Eldridge require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (15 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Suburban Agricultural District (SA) | 14 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential District (R-1) | 11 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Two-Family Residential District (R-2) | 11 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-Family Residential District (R-3) | 13 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Planned Residence Overlay District (PR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Office/Transitional District (O-T) | 12 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) | 16 | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — |
| Central Business District (C-2) | 18 | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — |
| General Commercial District (C-3) | 19 | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — |
| Highway-Oriented Commercial District (C-4) | 17 | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — |
| Commercial Industrial District (C/I) | 15 | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1) | 14 | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Industrial District (I-2) | 14 | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 300 sq ft (Board of Adjustment may allow up to 672 sq ft as a use on review in I‑2 only; extensions up to 100 sq ft may be allowed in addition to the increase in sign size) | — |
| Public and Municipal District (P/M) | 11 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft if at/behind required yard; 60 sq ft if within required yard | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | No limit | No limit | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 15 zones)

### Central Business District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (01) | Same as awning, not to exceed 30 ft | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — | — | Same as awning, up to 4 | Same as awning | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 01; §37.07(A) 01 Awning sign |
| Nonprofit Sign (02) | 10 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per organization | On public property | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 02; §37.07(B) 02 Nonprofit sign |
| Automobile Gas Station Sign - Tire Rack (03) | 10 ft | Area of tire rack | — | Within 15 ft of building | 2 | On tire rack within 15 ft of building | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 03; §37.07(C) 03 Auto gas station sign tire rack |
| House Numbers (11) | 10 ft (building); 4 ft (monument) | 48 sq ft (Commercial/Industrial context) | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 1 for each wall of each building; 1 monument per street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 the required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 11; §37.07(K) 11 House numbers |
| On-Premises Identification & Advertising (18) (C-2 height rules) | 20 ft (C‑2) | 300 sq ft if at or behind required yard line; 60 sq ft if within required yard | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 1/business/street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 required yard (whichever greater), or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 18; §37.07(R) 18 On-premises identification and advertising |
| Political Signs (21) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft horizontal max | Not within 30 ft of corner street lot line intersection | No restriction | No restriction, except no sign within 30 ft of a corner street lot line intersection | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 21; §37.07(U) 21 Political signs |
| Temporary Banner Signs (23) | 15 ft (with bottom height exception) | 30 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 2/business/street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 required yard (whichever greater), or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 23; §37.07(W) 23 Temporary banner sign |
| Tethered Floating Signs (17) | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 200 sq ft (includes sign + balloon/blimp) | — | Within buildable area; height < distance to nearest property line | 1 per business at a time | Anchor within buildable portion of lot | — | §37.07(Q) 17 Tethered floating signs |

### General Commercial District (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (01) | Same as awning, not to exceed 30 ft | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — | — | Same as awning, up to 4 | Same as awning | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 01; §37.07(A) 01 Awning sign |
| Nonprofit Sign (02) | 10 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per organization | On public property | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 02; §37.07(B) 02 Nonprofit sign |
| Automobile Gas Station Sign - Tire Rack (03) | 10 ft | Area of tire rack | — | Within 15 ft of building | 2 | On tire rack within 15 ft of building | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 03; §37.07(C) 03 Auto gas station sign tire rack |
| House Numbers (11) | 10 ft (building); 4 ft (monument) | 48 sq ft (Commercial/Industrial context) | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 1 for each wall of each building; 1 monument per street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 the required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 11; §37.07(K) 11 House numbers |
| On-Premises Identification & Advertising (18) (C-3 height rules) | 30 ft (at/behind required yard line); 20 ft (within required yard) | 300 sq ft if at or behind required yard line; 60 sq ft if within required yard | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 1/business/street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 required yard (whichever greater), or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 18; §37.07(R) 18 On-premises identification and advertising (C‑3 height clause) |
| Political Signs (21) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft horizontal max | Not within 30 ft of corner street lot line intersection | No restriction | No restriction, except no sign within 30 ft of a corner street lot line intersection | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 21; §37.07(U) 21 Political signs |
| Temporary Banner Signs (23) | 15 ft (with bottom height exception) | 30 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 2/business/street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 required yard (whichever greater), or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 23; §37.07(W) 23 Temporary banner sign |
| Tethered Floating Signs (17) | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 200 sq ft (includes sign + balloon/blimp) | — | Within buildable area; height < distance to nearest property line | 1 per business at a time | Anchor within buildable portion of lot | — | §37.07(Q) 17 Tethered floating signs |

### Highway-Oriented Commercial District (C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (01) | Same as awning, not to exceed 30 ft | 300 sq ft each per frontage | — | — | Same as awning, up to 4 | Same as awning | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 01; §37.07(A) 01 Awning sign |
| Nonprofit Sign (02) | 10 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per organization | On public property | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 02; §37.07(B) 02 Nonprofit sign |
| Automobile Gas Station Sign - Tire Rack (03) | 10 ft | Area of tire rack | — | Within 15 ft of building | 2 | On tire rack within 15 ft of building | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 03; §37.07(C) 03 Auto gas station sign tire rack |
| House Numbers (11) | 10 ft (building); 4 ft (monument) | 48 sq ft (Commercial/Industrial context) | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 1 for each wall of each building; 1 monument per street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 the required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 11; §37.07(K) 11 House numbers |
| On-Premises Identification & Advertising (18) (C-4 height rules applied to C-4; for C-3 see separate entry below) | 30 ft (C‑4); see separate C‑3 entry for C‑3 heights | 300 sq ft if at or behind required yard line; 60 sq ft if within required yard | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 1/business/street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 required yard (whichever greater), or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 18; §37.07(R) 18 On-premises identification and advertising |
| Political Signs (21) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | 8 ft horizontal max | Not within 30 ft of corner street lot line intersection | No restriction | No restriction, except no sign within 30 ft of a corner street lot line intersection | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 21; §37.07(U) 21 Political signs |
| Temporary Banner Signs (23) | 15 ft (with bottom height exception) | 30 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from property line or 1/2 required yard, whichever greater; or within buildable area | 2/business/street frontage | ≥15 ft from property line or ≥1/2 required yard (whichever greater), or within buildable area | — | §37.05(3) Commercial Table item 23; §37.07(W) 23 Temporary banner sign |
| Tethered Floating Signs (17) | 100 ft to top of balloon/blimp | 200 sq ft (includes sign + balloon/blimp) | — | Within buildable area; height < distance to nearest property line | 1 per business at a time | Anchor within buildable portion of lot | — | §37.07(Q) 17 Tethered floating signs |

## Prohibited signs in Eldridge

- No sign may obstruct vision at street or driveway intersections for oncoming vehicles.
- No sign may block any required accessway or window.
- No sign may be attached to a tree or utility pole.
- All signs not authorized by the sign ordinance are prohibited.
- Signs on public property are prohibited except public service and safety signs or signs authorized by the governmental agency with control of the property.
- No display sign or outdoor advertising device may be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended, or relocated except in conformity with the ordinance.
- No sign category may be displayed in a greater number than listed in the applicable tables (corner lots may have two where one is allowed for interior lots).

## Signs exempt from permit in Eldridge

- Repainting, changing of parts, and preventive maintenance are not considered alterations.
- Public service and safety signs are allowed on public property.
- Signs on public property are allowed when authorized by the governmental agency having control of that property.
- Nonprofit signs do not require a permit in all districts.
- Flags do not require a permit in all districts.
- House number (address) signs do not require a permit in all districts.
- Church directional signs do not require a permit in all districts.
- Nameplates do not require a permit in all districts.
- Political signs do not require a permit in all districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Entryway signs require design and location approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council before construction.
- Off-premises advertising signs in C-3, C-4, and C/I districts are allowed only as a use on review; Board of Adjustment approval is required.
- In the I-2 district, the Board of Adjustment may allow off-premises advertising signs up to 672 square feet and may approve extensions as a use on review.
- Nonprofit signs on public property must be grouped at a location approved by the City Council or Park Board (if on park property) and must be ordered by the city or made of materials approved by the city.
- Church directional signs must be ordered by the city and made of materials approved by the city.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/iowa/eldridge