# Sign Regulations in Winterset, Iowa

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Winterset, Iowa (IA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/iowa/winterset
- **Data last verified:** 2024-12-13
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://www.winterset.gov/DocumentCenter/View/709/PDF-Winterset-Municipal-Code?bidId=)

## At a glance

Winterset, Iowa regulates 6 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Nameplates in the Residential zoning district are capped at Not specified tall, 2, and Not specified wide (Sec. 4.12081. 2.A). Most commercial signs in Winterset require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential | 4 | Not specified | 24 | No |
| Commercial/Transition | 2 | Not specified | Not specified | No |
| I-Industrial | 1 | Not specified | Not specified | No |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | Not specified | 2 | Not specified | — | — | Not specified | No | 4.12081. 2.A |
| For Lease/Sale | Not specified | 4 | Not specified | — | — | Not specified | No | 4.12081. 2.B |
| Identification | Not specified | 24 | Not specified | — | — | On premises | No | 4.12081. 2.D |
| Business Sign | Not specified | 2 | Not specified | — | — | Attached to the house | No | 4.12081. 2.F |

### Commercial/Transition

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | — | Not specified | No | 4.12081. 3.1 |
| Painted Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | — | Painted on a building | No | 4.12081. 3.6 |

### I-Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | — | Not specified | No | 4.12081. 4.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Winterset

- Signs shall not be permitted within the public right-of-way or public easements.
- Flashing or rotating signs resembling emergency vehicles shall not be permitted in any district.
- Any signs not permanently affixed to buildings or permanently anchored in the ground shall not be permitted in any zoning district.
- No signs shall be permitted to obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intending to provide light, air or access to any building or structure.
- Upon notification by the Zoning Administrator that a sign is rotted, unsafe or unsightly, the owner of said sign or owner of the property upon which the sign is located shall remove or repair the sign.
- The owner, lessee or manager of any sign anchored in the ground and/or the owner of the land on which the sign is located shall keep grass or weeds and other growth cut and debris and rubbish cleaned up and removed from the ground surrounding the sign.
- Except as may be expressly provided by these regulations, no advertising signs shall be erected or maintained other than on the premises of the business or other activity involved.
- No sign shall project above the highest point of a roof.
- Signs painted on a building shall be governed by the square footage limitations specified above. Such signs shall be maintained in good condition and shall be repainted, removed, or painted out when, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, such sign is not so maintained.
- Where a sign is illuminated, the source of light shall not be visible from any public right-of-way, and such light shall be directed away from any RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
- No sign shall project more than one (1) foot perpendicular from the building face.
- Sign lighting shall not be directed toward a public right-of-way or any RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
- No sign shall project higher than six (6) feet above the height of the building.
- No advertising sign may be erected within one hundred (100) feet of an adjoining RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
- No advertising sign may be erected within one hundred (100) feet of a RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
- Business identification signs on the same premises may be located up to thirty (30) feet from a Residential District boundary.
- Business signs located in Residential zones as Non-Conforming or Home Occupations shall not be located in the front yard.
- Signs shall be attached to the house and shall not be illuminated and not larger than two (2) square feet in surface area.
- For corner lots, the "frontage" used to determine allowable sign area shall be the least dimension along a street, but an equivalent sign area shall be allowed facing the intersecting street.
- Rear signs on businesses shall be governed by the same restrictions as those pertaining to frontage.
- Advertising signs shall be on premises and limited to one sign for a business location of 100 foot frontage or less; one additional sign for each additional 100 feet of frontage; or, a minimum of one sign per individual business.
- Advertising sign shall be limited to one (1) sign for a business premise of one hundred (100) foot frontage or less and one (1) additional sign for each additional frontage of one hundred (100) feet. Such structures shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in length.
- No sign shall be erected in any RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT except:

## Signs exempt from permit in Winterset

- Political signs may be permitted for a period of not more than forty-five (45) days before and seven (7) days after an election.
- Signs for service clubs and semi-public institutions are permitted within the public right-of-way, provided that they are not more than 500 feet from the corporate limits and further provided that they do not exceed three square feet in area. These signs are for the purpose of displaying the emblem of the club or institution and information on time and location of meetings.
- A temporary sign not exceeding four (4) square feet in surface area identifying an engineer, architect, contractor, or product engaged in or used in the construction of a building may be erected upon issuance of the building permit. A temporary sign shall be removed prior to the occupancy of the building. Such sign shall not be illuminated except for signs required by State or Federal law.
- Directional non-illuminated signs on premises not exceeding two (2) square feet in surface area displaying directional information for churches, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, clubs, libraries or similar uses excluding office or commercial establishments, provided that each such use shall be limited to one such sign per thoroughfare approach.
- Any advertising device in existence on the effective date of this Code which does not conform to the provisions of this Chapter shall be either brought into conformity with this Chapter or removed from the premises within five (5) years after January 1, 1992. Any advertising device in existence on the effective date of this Code which on that date does conform to the provisions of this Chapter but which later does not conform to this Chapter shall be either brought into conformity with this Chapter or removed from the premises. Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to order either the sign owner or the owner of the premises upon which the sign is located forthwith either to conform a nonconforming advertising device to this Chapter or to remove the advertising device from the premises

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Winterset, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Winterset+IA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-winterset

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