# Sign Regulations in Auburn, Nebraska

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Auburn, Nebraska (NE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nebraska/auburn
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Auburn, Nebraska regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Wall, Projecting, or Freestanding Sign (Bed and Breakfast, all AGR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)s in the AGR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 zoning district are capped at 10 ft (wall/projecting sign); 4 ft (freestanding/pole sign) tall and 3 sq ft, with a Minimum 5 ft from any property line setback (Sec. § 152.111(A)(3)). Most commercial signs in Auburn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AGR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 6 | 10 ft (wall/projecting sign); 4 ft (freestanding/pole sign) | 20 sq ft | — |
| MR-4M | 2 | — | 10 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Central Commercial District (C-1) | 2 | — | 3 x lineal ft of separate frontage (max 400 sq ft/face) | — |
| C-R Commercial Residential District (C-R) | 2 | — | 3 x lineal feet of building frontage (max 400 sq ft/face) | — |
| M Industrial District (M) | 1 | — | 1 sq ft per lineal ft of street frontage (per frontage) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 10 ft | 75 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### AGR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Affixed flat to principal building wall | — | § 152.111(A)(1) |
| Wall Sign or Ground Sign (Multiple-family dwellings only, R-2, R-3, MR-4M) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 (per type as described) | On-premise | — | § 152.111(A)(2)(a) |
| Wall Sign or Ground Sign (Manager's or Custodian's Quarters, R-2, R-3, MR-4M) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premise | — | § 152.111(A)(2)(b) |
| Wall, Projecting, or Freestanding Sign (Bed and Breakfast, all AGR, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 10 ft (wall/projecting sign); 4 ft (freestanding/pole sign) | 3 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line | 1 | No closer than 5 ft from property line. Wall/projecting sign: affixed to building, not above 10 ft from grade. Freestanding/pole sign: up to 4 ft high. | — | § 152.111(A)(3) |
| For Sale / For Rent Business Sign | 10 ft (when building mounted); 4 ft (ground sign) | 4 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line | 1 per lot | Minimum 5 ft from any property line; may be affixed to building or ground | — | § 152.111(A)(4) |
| Church/Public Institution Bulletin Board or Sign | 10 ft (building mounted); 6 ft (ground sign) | 20 sq ft | — | 8 ft from side/rear lot line; front: at least half the required front yard | 1 per street side | One per street side on site with principal building. Ground sign: permanently anchored. Not closer than 8 ft from any side or rear property line. Front yard: not closer to street than 1/2 required front yard. | — | § 152.111(A)(5) |

### C-1 Central Commercial District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Marquee Sign | — | 3 x lineal ft of separate frontage (max 400 sq ft/face) | — | Max extension 6 ft into front yard. See elevation and proximity requirement for driveways/intersections. | Max 2 per business | Flat against face of building or front edge of marquee; cannot extend more than 6 ft from building line into front yard | — | § 152.111(B) |
| Pole Sign | — | — | — | Same as Wall/Marquee sign re: 3 ft from drive/50 ft from intersection rule | 1 per lot or per 25 feet of street frontage (max 2 per business) | In front yard | — | § 152.111(B)(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Promotion Sign | — | 75 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 152.111(E)(1) |
| Temporary Construction Project Sign (Residential) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per construction site | Construction site | — | § 152.111(E)(2) |
| Temporary Construction Project Sign (Other Districts) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per construction site | Construction site | — | § 152.111(E)(2) |
| Banner, Mobile, or Temporary Sign (C-1 and C-R only) | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of commercial establishments (C-1 and C-R only) | — | § 152.111(E)(3) |
| For Sale / For Rent Sign (C-1, C-R, M) | 10 ft (building); 4 ft (ground) | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from any property line | 1 per lot or structure | At least 5 ft from any property line; may be affixed to building or on ground | — | § 152.111(E)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Auburn

- It shall be unlawful to erect, move, alter, change, repair, place, suspend or attach any sign in violation of the sign ordinance.
- It shall be unlawful to fasten, paste, place, post, paint or attach any sign, handbill, poster, advertisement or notice on any curbstone, lamp post, telephone, telegraph or electric light pole, tree or bridge.
- It shall be unlawful to paste, place, paint or attach any sign on any building, street or property of the city except for property addresses painted or stamped on the curbing directly in front of the property.
- It is unlawful to post, tack or fasten any sign, poster, advertisement or banner to the poles, structures, fixtures or equipment of the city electrical system without written permission from the Manager.
- No sign, signboard, poster or rigid canopy may be erected or maintained over any street, sidewalk, alley or on other public property without a permit.
- No sign, canopy, poster or signboard shall be located in a manner to obstruct the view of any traffic light, sign or signal.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained which is not securely fastened or so constructed as to pose a hazard by being dislodged by ordinary winds or falling.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, located or placed in violation of local ordinances or the laws of the state.
- Advertising painted or placed on a structure is subject to the sign ordinance if permanent.
- No sign may project over any alley, road, street or highway right-of-way unless allowed by a specific permit.
- No sign shall constitute or be located in a manner that constitutes a traffic hazard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Auburn

- Property owners or occupants may paint or stamp the address of the property upon the curbing directly in front of the building.
- For sale signs as indicated in § 152.111 are excluded from permit and fee requirements.
- Street name signs, of a type in use throughout the city, are required and permitted by subdividers at all intersections.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the erection, construction or alteration of any sign in the city and the planning area (with limited exemptions, e.g., for-sale signs).
- Applications by non-owners for sign permits must include owner authorization or proof of right (such as a lease).
- No signboard may be erected or painted until an application is acted upon and granted.
- Permits for signs, canopies, posters and signboards over public rights-of-way must be issued by the City Clerk, subject to approval by the City Council.
- The Uniform Sign Code is adopted by reference and contains structural standards for all signs.

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

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