# Sign Regulations in West Des Moines, Iowa

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Des Moines, Iowa (IA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/iowa/west-des-moines
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-23
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/westdesmoinesia/latest/westdesmoines_ia/0-0-0-54593)

## At a glance

West Des Moines, Iowa regulates 59 sign types across 27 zoning districts. Lots Without Street Frontage – Off-Premises Identification Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at ≤4 ft tall, Face area implied by dimensions (4 ft tall x 2 ft wide), and ≤2 ft wide, with a ≥10 ft from public ROW or back of curb of private street setback (Sec. 9-18-17(D)). Most commercial signs in West Des Moines require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (27 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | ≤10 ft at minimum setback; taller allowed with added setback equal to height | Per sign ≤64 sq ft; aggregate per permit ≤100 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural/open space district (OS) | 4 | 35 ft | 675 sq ft | — |
| Residential estate district (RE), Residential single-family district (RS), Single-family residential district (R-1), Single-family commerce residential district (SF-CR), Residential district single-family Valley Junction (SF-VJ) | 4 | 8 ft (highest element) | 45 sq ft at minimum setback | — |
| Manufactured housing district (MH) | 3 | 8 ft | 45 sq ft at minimum setback | — |
| Residential medium-density district (RM) (single-family detached) | 3 | 8 ft | 45 sq ft at minimum setback | — |
| Residential medium-density district (RM) | 3 | 8 ft | Max 64 sq ft per frontage | — |
| Residential high-density district (RH) | 5 | 8 ft | Max 64 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood commercial district (NC), Convenience commercial district (CVC), Valley Junction commercial district (VJC), Office district (OF) | 5 | 8 ft | 45 sq ft at minimum setback; +15 sq ft with +10 ft setback for nonresidential uses | — |
| Community commercial district (CMC), Regional commercial district (RC), Support commercial district (SC), Warehouse retail district (WR) | 8 | 30 ft, or up to 60 ft if base elevation is below adjacent interstate pavement (engineer’s survey required); may increase to reach 30 ft above interstate pavement elevation but not exceed 60 ft | Up to 200 sq ft total sign area | — |
| Professional commerce park district (PCP), Business park district (BP) | 5 | 30–60 ft per criteria | Single-tenant 100 sq ft; multi-tenant 200 sq ft | — |
| Valley Junction historic business district (VJHB) | 4 | As needed to fit within 20 sq ft overall and design standards | Up to 20 sq ft (sign + structure) | — |
| Light industrial district (LI), Valley Junction light industrial district (VJLI) | 5 | ≤8 ft | 35 sq ft at minimum setback | — |
| General industrial district (GI) | 7 | 35 ft | 675 sq ft | — |
| Valley Junction commercial district (VJC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Regional commercial district (RC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Community commercial district (CMC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Support commercial district (SC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Warehouse retail district (WR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business park district (BP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Office district (OF) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Professional commerce park district (PCP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Valley Junction light industrial district (VJLI) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Neighborhood commercial district (NC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Convenience commercial district (CVC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned unit development district (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Specific Plan Development (SP) | 9 | Up to 8.5 ft | Up to 74 sq ft | — |
| Areas of special character | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 27 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial On-Premises Temporary Signs (No-Permit) | Up to 4 ft | Up to 6 sq ft per sign; additional allowances by district as noted | — | — | 1 per street frontage per parcel or tenant for ≤6 sq ft signs without permit; larger totals per above by district without permit when noncommercial. | On-premises | — | 9-18-10(A)-(C) |
| Temporary Commercial Signs – Short Term | ≤10 ft at minimum setback; taller allowed with added setback equal to height | Per sign ≤64 sq ft; aggregate per permit ≤100 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from public ROW; ≥20 ft from back of curb of private street/drive; for height >10 ft, increase setback equal to sign height | Per permit aggregate limits apply (no explicit count cap beyond aggregate). | On-premises (nonresidential districts; RH; RM not developed with SF detached) | — | 9-18-17(F)(2) |
| Temporary Commercial Signs – Long Term | ≤10 ft | 1 sign per frontage up to 32 sq ft; +32 sq ft per additional 100 ft frontage over 500 ft | — | ≥10 ft from public ROW; ≥20 ft from back of curb (private) | As above per frontage. | On-premises (nonresidential; RH; RM not SF detached) | — | 9-18-17(F)(3) |
| Sites With Active Development – Temporary Signs | ≤10 ft | ≤64 sq ft sign graphic area | — | ≥10 ft from property line | 1 per frontage | One per property frontage of a street (including interstates) | — | 9-18-17(F)(4) |
| Institutional Signs (All Zones) – Monument/Landscape/Bulletin/Directional/Wall | Monument 5 ft; Landscape 8 ft; Combination 10 ft; Bulletin Board 5 ft; Directional 4 ft | Monument 35 sq ft; Landscape 30 sq ft; Combination monument+bulletin 64 sq ft total (up to 14 sq ft changeable graphics); Bulletin Board 32 sq ft; Directional 8 sq ft | — | Monument/Landscape/Bulletin: ≥10 ft; Combination: ≥20 ft | One monument/landscape per vehicle entrance; one freestanding bulletin per frontage (if used, no other temporary signs on site). | On-premises institutional sites in any zone; bulletin may be freestanding, combined with monument/landscape, or wall-mounted (wall bulletin does not count against building signage) | — | 9-18-17(B); Table 9-18-4; 9-18-17(A) |
| Lots Without Street Frontage – Off-Premises Identification Sign | ≤4 ft | Face area implied by dimensions (4 ft tall x 2 ft wide) | ≤2 ft | ≥10 ft from public ROW or back of curb of private street | 1 per entrance to street | At entrance to street providing access to lot (within 15 ft of roadway and private access easement) | — | 9-18-17(D) |
| Wall Sign – General (Nonresidential) | Letter/logo/graphic max dimension 6 ft (with size increases for very large single uses as specified) | As computed by formula; per wall not to exceed 1.0 sq ft/lf of that wall | — | — | No numeric limit; constrained by total allowed area formula | On building facades/tenants facing a street | — | 9-18-16(A), 9-18-16(B)(3), 9-18-16(C)(1)-(4) |
| Wall Sign – Projecting/Blade | — | Up to 1 sq ft per linear ft of tenant/building frontage; max 20 sq ft | Projection ≤5 ft from wall; separation between faces ≤12 in | ≥5 ft from public ROW line/easement unless VJHB exception | 1 per building frontage per tenant | Perpendicular to wall on brackets/hangers | — | 9-18-16(B)(2) |

### Community commercial district (CMC), Regional commercial district (RC), Support commercial district (SC), Warehouse retail district (WR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Access Identification and Directional Signs | 4 ft | ≤16 sq ft (4 ft by 4 ft) | 4 ft | ≥10 ft public ROW; ≥20 ft private curb | No numeric limit | On-site | — | 9-18-15(D)(1); Table 9-18-2 (RC/CMC/SC/WR) |
| Ground Directory Sign (Pedestrian-scale) | — | ≤20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Within 50 ft of entrance | — | 9-18-15(D)(2); Table 9-18-2 |
| Interstate Sign (Single-Tenant) | 30 ft, or up to 60 ft if base elevation is below adjacent interstate pavement (engineer’s survey required); may increase to reach 30 ft above interstate pavement elevation but not exceed 60 ft | 100 sq ft per face (double-sided allowed) | Structure max width 12 ft | ≥10 ft from interstate ROW; ≤100 ft from interstate ROW along frontage; ≥100 ft from adjacent property lines | 1 per parcel (2 if >900 ft frontage, 500 ft separation) | On private parcels adjacent to interstate with ≥300 ft interstate frontage; within 10–100 ft of interstate ROW, parallel and adjacent to frontage; ≥100 ft from property line of adjacent parcels | — | 9-18-15(D)(3) |
| Interstate Sign (Multi-Tenant) | Same as above | Up to 200 sq ft total sign area | Structure ≤12 ft width | As above | As above | Same eligibility and placement as above | — | 9-18-15(D)(3)(d)-(f) |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft at minimum setback; may increase to 7 ft with +10 ft setback (nonresidential) | 35 sq ft at minimum setback; for nonresidential uses may increase to 64 sq ft with +10 ft additional setback | — | ≥10 ft public ROW; ≥20 ft private curb | As above | At street frontages | — | 9-18-15(D)(5) |
| Landscape Sign | 8 ft | 45 sq ft at minimum setback; +15 sq ft with +10 ft setback (nonresidential) | — | ≥10 ft public ROW; ≥20 ft private curb | As above | In lieu of monument | — | 9-18-15(D)(4) |
| Project Directory Sign (Ground) | ≤8 ft | ≤35 sq ft | — | — | — | At entrances of multiple building complexes as site map (not advertising) | — | 9-18-15(D)(6); Table 9-18-2 |
| Wall Signs (Commercial) | 6 ft letter/logo (unless large-use exception) | Per formula | — | — | By formula | On building facades | — | Table 9-18-3 (RC/CMC/SC/WR); 9-18-14(C)(2)(f)-(g); 9-18-16 |

### Specific Plan Development (SP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development/Tenant Identification Monument Sign (Galleria PUD #68) – Option 1 (20–30 ft setback) | Up to 7.5 ft | Up to 65 sq ft (structure + sign) | — | ≥20 ft from public ROW or ≥30 ft from curb of private street (Stagecoach Dr north of Mills Civic Pkwy) | Max 13 development/tenant ID signs within Galleria (including existing), per concept locations | Within Galleria boundaries at designated locations; generally consistent with concept plan | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(A)-(E)(1)-(3) |
| Development/Tenant Identification Monument Sign (Galleria) – Option 2 (10–19/15–29 ft setback) | Up to 6.5 ft | Up to 55 sq ft (structure + sign) | — | 10–19 ft from public ROW or 15–29 ft from curb of private street | Counted within max 13 total | As above | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(E)(1) |
| Development/Tenant Identification Monument – Special Corner (NW corner of Mills Civic Pkwy & Stagecoach Dr N) | Up to 8.5 ft | Up to 74 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft from Mills Civic Pkwy ROW and ≥30 ft from back of curb of private Street (Stagecoach Dr N) | 1 (part of total) | Designated corner | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(E)(1) Exception |
| Residential Identification Signs (Parcels F, G, H – Galleria) | — | Per Code standards for designated zoning of the parcel | — | — | 1 per vehicle access | At each vehicle access drive into each residential development | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(G) |
| Wall Signage – Parcel A (Buildings A-2 and A-3) – Allocation | — | Per formula | — | — | By area allocation | Parcel A buildings A-2 and A-3 | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(H)(1) |
| Wall Signage – Parcel K (Buildings K-1, K-2, K-3) – Allocation Option A | — | Per formula | — | — | By area allocation | Parcel K buildings | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(H)(2) |
| Wall Signage – Parcel K – Allocation Option B (if lots separated) | — | Per formula | — | — | By area allocation | Parcel K buildings | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(H)(2) |
| Small Buildings (<1,000 sq ft) – Longest Wall for Allocation (All PUD Parcels) | — | Per wall formula | — | — | By formula | Any PUD parcel in Galleria | — | PUD #68 (Galleria) 068-08(H)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in West Des Moines

- Any type of sign not specifically listed in this chapter is prohibited.
- Animated signs.
- Off-premises signs, except billboards as provided by this chapter.
- Spinners, balloons, pennants and streamers, except as permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
- Flashing or moving lights.
- Structurally or otherwise unsafe or dilapidated signs.
- Pole signs, except where allowed through specific district regulations.
- Portable signs, including signs on wheels, trailers, and truck beds, except as permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
- Roof signs visible from adjacent roadways, properties or ground level.
- Signs with dynamic elements or movement, except as permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
- Signs containing obscenity or pornography.
- Vehicle signs functioning primarily as a sign; violation if conspicuously parked for more than 3 hours without other apparent reasons.
- Abandoned signs.
- Unlawful signs.
- Signwalkers, sign spinners, sign holders, human billboards, or similar human advertisements.
- Signs that obstruct vision, are in the vision triangle on private property, or erected so as to obstruct free and clear vision at intersections or access points.
- Signs at any location where position, shape or color may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- Signs which make use of words such as "STOP", "LOOK", "DANGER" or similar in a manner that misleads or confuses the motoring public.
- Signs on City property not installed by agents of the City, except as permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
- All sign illumination must be static in color and intensity; blinking, rotating, cycling, flashing, moving, hanging, or reflecting lights are prohibited.
- No sign may be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress/egress from any door, window or fire escape; no sign may be attached to a standpipe or fire extinguisher; no sign may obstruct or interfere with any opening required for ventilation.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Des Moines

- Any sign required by the International Fire Code or the International Building Code.
- Warning and regulatory signs approved by the Director of Development Services.
- In all zoning districts, on-premises temporary NONCOMMERCIAL signs under 6 square feet and less than 4 feet in height are allowed without a permit (limited to one per street frontage per parcel/tenant).
- In all zoning districts, temporary on-premises COMMERCIAL signs under 6 square feet and less than 4 feet in height are allowed without a permit (limited to one per street frontage per parcel/tenant).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before erecting, altering or relocating any sign unless specifically noted otherwise (application must include plans/specs, location plan, and structural calculations).
- Access identification and directional signs: no permit required, but a layout plan and design must be submitted to the City for review and approval; City may limit quantity to prevent visual clutter.
- Landscape signs: a plan for the proposal must be submitted to the City; if not previously approved in a site plan, an amendment to the approved site plan may be required if the change is significant.
- Architectural lighting and any lighted building elements must be identified on the site plan building plans; if not approved as part of architecture during site plan review, they are treated as signage and count toward wall sign calculations.
- Ground directory signs: no permit required if set back more than 100 feet from a street or not visible from the public street; otherwise a sign permit is required and the sign counts toward monument/landscape sign allowances.
- Building directory signs: no permit required if set back more than 100 feet from a street or not visible from the street; otherwise a sign permit is required and the sign counts toward allowable wall signage.
- Project directory signs may be required at the discretion of the City's Fire Marshal; no sign permit required.
- Murals: if determined to be a mural (noncommercial), submit a minor modification proposal to the Planning Division for private property; for public property, review and recommendation by the Arts Advisory Commission.
- Institutional uses: landmarks, statues, murals, or non-commercial symbols must be presented to the City Council for approval as part of a site plan.
- Residential subdivision monument or landscape signs require a recorded easement and documentation outlining long-term maintenance and removal/repair responsibilities.
- Valley Junction Historic Business District: awnings or projecting signs over the public right-of-way require a hold harmless agreement, indemnification of the City, and proof of insurance (per section 7-1-1).
- Billboards along interstates and primary highways must provide IDOT approval documentation prior to City review; new billboard structures or structural alterations require a building permit.
- PUD or Specific Plan areas may have specific sign regulations adopted by ordinance; if not specified, underlying zoning sign regulations apply.
- Areas of Special Character may be designated by City Council ordinance and have special sign regulations that supersede general standards.
- Variance requests from sign standards must be filed with the Board of Adjustment; appeal procedures are available to the Board of Adjustment and then District Court.

## 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 27 zoning districts in West Des Moines — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=West+Des+Moines+IA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-west-des-moines

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