# Sign Regulations in Kearney, Nebraska

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kearney, Nebraska (NE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nebraska/kearney
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ne/kearney/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH50SIRE)

## At a glance

Kearney, Nebraska regulates 15 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 ft. (AG; varies for other zones) tall and 32 sq. ft. (see table for other zones), with a 10 ft. (AG, RR-1, etc.), 2 ft. (UC, C-1, etc.), 0 ft. (CBD) setback (Sec. 50-119, 50-123, 50-124). Most commercial signs in Kearney require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 15 ft. (AG; varies for other zones) | AG 100 sq. ft.; RR/Res 32 sq. ft.; UC/C-O/MU 50 sq. ft.; C-1 150 sq. ft.; C-2 200 sq. ft.; CBD 150 sq. ft.; C-3/BP/M-1/M-2 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Agricultural District (AG) | 3 | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Rural Residential District (RR-1, RR-2) | 3 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-M) | 3 | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Urban Corridor (UC), Office and Commercial Overlay District (C-O), Mixed Use District (MU) | 3 | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1) | 4 | 30 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Community Commercial District (C-2) | 4 | 45 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 3 | 15 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Regional Commercial District (C-3) | 4 | 45 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Park District (BP) | 4 | 30 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| Limited Industrial District (M-1) | 5 | 45 ft. | 700 sq. ft. | — |
| General Industrial District (M-2) | 5 | 45 ft. | 700 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft. (AG; varies for other zones) | 32 sq. ft. (see table for other zones) | — | Front yard: 25 ft. (AG), 5 ft. (RR-1, R-1, etc.), 2 ft. (UC, C-1, etc.), 0 ft. (CBD); Side Yard: 10 ft. (AG, RR-1, etc.), 2 ft. (UC, C-1, etc.), 0 ft. (CBD) | 1 per premise unless otherwise specified by zone | Detached, on-premise | — | 50-119, 50-123, 50-124 |
| Monument Sign | 15 ft. (AG), 6 ft. (RR-1, R-1, UC, etc.; see table) | 32 sq. ft. (see table for other zones) | — | See Ground Sign | See Ground Sign | Detached, on-premise | — | 50-124.A |
| Wall Sign | — | AG 100 sq. ft.; RR/Res 32 sq. ft.; UC/C-O/MU 50 sq. ft.; C-1 150 sq. ft.; C-2 200 sq. ft.; CBD 150 sq. ft.; C-3/BP/M-1/M-2 300 sq. ft. | — | — | Varies; limited by sign budget | Attached, parallel to wall, cannot extend >18 inches, not above roofline | — | 50-124.B, 50-123 |
| Access Point Sign (NRU) | 3 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | See additional requirements | At driveway/access point, and at internal decision points. | — | 50-124.C.1.a |
| Access Point Sign (RU, arterial/collector) | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | See additional requirements | Entrance for residential subdivision at each major access on arterial or collector. | — | 50-124.C.1.b |
| Commercial Center Identification Sign | — | Must comply with regulations for attached & detached signs (varies by zone) | — | — | Per regulations for attached/detached signs. | Wall, painted wall, or detached. | — | 50-124.C.2 |
| Electronic Information Sign | — | Counts against sign budget; must fit permitted area | — | Min 2 ft from property line. | 1 per premise | On-premise; min 2 ft from property line; not within vision clearance triangle (75 ft triangle at intersection); not within 175 ft of res use structure unless not in direct view. | — | 50-124.C.3 |
| Numeric Display Sign | — | 25 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft min; not in vision triangle. | — | Min 2 ft from property line; not in vision clearance triangle (75 ft ref). | — | 50-124.C.4 |

### Limited Industrial District (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | Front: 2 ft.; Side: 2 ft. | 1 per 300 ft. street frontage, max 2 | Detached, on-premise | — | Table 50-4, Table 50-3 |
| Monument Sign | 25 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | Front: 2 ft.; Side: 2 ft. | 1 per 300 ft. street frontage, max 2 | Detached, on-premise | — | Table 50-4 |
| Pole Sign | 45 ft. | — | — | Front: 2 ft.; Side: 2 ft. | 1 per 300 ft. street frontage, max 2 | Detached, on-premise | — | Table 50-4 |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq. ft. | — | — | Limited by sign budget | Affixed to wall. | — | Table 50-5, Table 50-1, Table 50-3 |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 45 ft. | 700 sq. ft. | — | — | Counts as a detached sign per allowance | Within 200 ft of I-80 or 100 ft of Hwys 30, 44, 10. | — | 50-129 |

### General Industrial District (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | Front: 2 ft.; Side: 2 ft. | 1 per 300 ft. street frontage, max 2 | Detached, on-premise | — | Table 50-4, Table 50-3 |
| Monument Sign | 25 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | — | Front: 2 ft.; Side: 2 ft. | 1 per 300 ft. street frontage, max 2 | Detached, on-premise | — | Table 50-4 |
| Pole Sign | 45 ft. | — | — | Front: 2 ft.; Side: 2 ft. | 1 per 300 ft. street frontage, max 2 | Detached | — | Table 50-4, Table 50-3 |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq. ft. | — | — | Limited by sign budget | Affixed to wall. | — | Table 50-5, Table 50-1, Table 50-3 |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 45 ft. | 700 sq. ft. | — | — | Counts as a detached sign | Within 200 ft of I-80 or 100 ft of Hwys 30, 44, 10. | — | 50-129 |

## Prohibited signs in Kearney

- Signs are prohibited in any public right-of-way or public property, including streets, sidewalks, parks, and public facilities, unless otherwise stated or approved by the City of Kearney.
- No sign shall interfere with any driveway or access way or any means of ingress or egress to any building.
- Signs shall not be located within the vision clearance triangle at intersections, and must not obstruct the view of drivers.
- The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts: Abandoned or Obsolete Signs (present for 6 months), Balloon Signs, Blinking Signs, Flashing Signs, Moving Signs, Off-Premise Signs on Public Property (unless approved by the City), Off-Premise Permanent Signs on Private Property (with exceptions for Outdoor Advertising Signs), Roof Signs, Signs with exposed raceways or pan-channels, and Snipe or Bandit Signs.
- All signs must maintain minimum clearances and projections as described in the Construction Sign Code.
- Lighting must not be directed onto adjoining properties or public streets and must comply with Outdoor Lighting provisions; sign illumination must not impair vehicular or pedestrian circulation.
- All signs must be erected, reinstalled, altered, repaired, relocated, permitted, and inspected according to applicable codes and regulations.
- Unlawful Vehicle Signs are prohibited as defined: signs exceeding 20 sq. ft. on vehicles used for advertising unless the vehicle is in normal business use.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kearney

- City of Kearney Special Event Sign (with specific event and signage approval from the City).
- Historic Markers.
- Integral Signs.
- Public Signs (signs of a noncommercial nature in the public interest, erected by order of public officers, including safety, traffic, and institutional signs).
- Seasonal Decorations pertaining to recognized national holidays and observances.
- Signs not visible from a public right-of-way, private way, court, or property other than where installed.
- Signs located entirely inside the premises of a building or enclosed space, except Window Signs.
- Signs on a vehicle, except Unlawful Vehicle Signs.
- Signs protected by Federal or State law.
- Traffic Control Device Signs as described in MUTCD.
- Works of graphic art painted or applied to building walls that contain no logos, advertising, or business identification messages.
- No exempt signs may be erected within the vision clearance triangle, must be at least 2 feet from the property line, and must meet all other applicable building codes.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan may be submitted for: multiple-tenant commercial, office, employment, or multi-family residential uses; multiple-building complexes over 8 acres; stand-alone office/employment buildings over 100,000 sq. ft.; entertainment/recreation uses; hospitals; schools; hotels and lodging with at least 125 rooms and restaurant/conference facilities; regional retail malls; religious assemblies over 1.5 acres.
- A Master Sign Plan is required for developments or uses meeting the above conditions if the owner seeks flexibility or deviation from standard sign regulations.
- The Master Sign Plan process is administrative; requests exceeding its scope require following the Planned Development procedure for additional signage considerations.
- After approval of a Master Sign Plan, a sign permit is required for each sign or group of signs.
- Outdoor Advertising Signs are not allowed in a Master Sign Plan.
- Minor amendments to a Master Sign Plan may be approved administratively.
- Noncompliance with an approved Master Sign Plan will result in written notification and a requirement to bring signage into compliance.

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

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