# Sign Regulations in Nebraska City, Nebraska

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nebraska City, Nebraska (NE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nebraska/nebraska-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-01-24
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ne/nebraska_city/codes/zoning_and_subdivision_regulations?nodeId=Article%205%20-%20Supplemental%20Regulations)

## At a glance

Nebraska City, Nebraska regulates 4 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Billboards in the C-3 General Commercial District zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 300 square feet, with a Minimum front yard from any street or highway right-of-way shall be in accordance with the front yard requirements of the applicable zoning district. setback (Sec. Section 521.10, Page 27). Most commercial signs in Nebraska City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| C-2 Central Business District | 2 | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| R/O Residential/Office Zoning District | 1 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| C-3 General Commercial District | 1 | 20 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Industrial Zoning District | 1 | 20 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| AG Agriculture District | 1 | 20 feet | 300 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | No more than three (3) business signs shall be permitted on any lot in a commercial, or industrial zoning district. | — | — | Section 521.09, Page 25-26 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — | No closer than five (5) feet to a lot line, except in the C-2 Business District. | — | No closer than five (5) feet to a lot line, except in the C-2 Business District. | — | Section 521.09, Page 26 |
| Electronic Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 521.09, Page 26 |

### C-2 Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | No more than three (3) business signs shall be permitted on any lot. | — | — | Section 521.09, Page 25-26 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — | May be placed on the lot line/right-of-way line. | — | May be placed on the lot line/right-of-way line. | — | Section 521.09, Page 26 |

### C-3 General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 20 feet | 300 square feet | — | Minimum front yard from any street or highway right-of-way shall be in accordance with the front yard requirements of the applicable zoning district. | A maximum of two (2) signs back-to-back shall be permitted per sign structure. | Permitted on a lot with 100 feet or more of frontage on an arterial street. | — | Section 521.10, Page 27 |

## Prohibited signs in Nebraska City

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged, or otherwise modified until a Sign Permit has been issued.
- No sign or sign structure shall be placed on private property or public property without the consent of the owner of such property.
- No sign or sign structure, other than official street or highway signs, shall be placed upon, over or in any street or highway right-of-way, except in the C-2 Central Business District or as otherwise authorized by the city council.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected at any location where it will interfere with, obstruct the view of pedestrians or on-coming vehicular or railroad traffic, or be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device.
- No rotating beam, beacon or flashing illumination resembling any emergency vehicle lights shall be used in connection with any sign.
- Any sign without previously submitting a sign permit to the office of the city clerk-treasurer.
- Any sign which is not included under the types of signs permitted in this ordinance.
- Any portable or movable sign, except as a temporary sign in accordance with the regulations set forth in this section.
- A billboard and an on-site business sign on the same lot.
- Any trailer, vehicle, semi-truck trailer or other movable vehicle shall not be used as a structure for any sign, except as a temporary sign in accordance with the regulations in this section.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nebraska City

- Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, address numbers, names of occupants or premises, or other identification of the premises not denoting any business activity.
- Flags and insignia of any governmental unit, civic, educational or religious organization, except where displayed in connection with a business promotion.
- Legal notices, identification, informational, warning, no trespassing, directional or other similar signs erected, or required to be erected by any governmental unit, and informational or directional signs allowed by the city council to be placed in any public right-of-way.
- Memorial plaques, historical markers, integral decorative or architectural features of a building, except trademarks, moving parts or moving lights.
- One (1) real estate sign for each lot of frontage indicating 'for sale' or 'for rent or lease', provided any such sign shall be set back at least five (5) feet from any street right-of-way line.
- Political campaign signs shall be limited to sixteen (16) square feet or less in all other areas. Campaign signs are allowed on private property with the consent of the property owner, but are prohibited on public property, including the rights-of-way.
- Window signs, including pictures, symbols, writing or a combination thereof designed to promote an on-site activity that is placed inside a window and is visible from the exterior.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The construction of a billboard in any zoning district shall be subject to the provisions of Section 521.07 of this ordinance and will require a conditional use permit and a sign permit before construction.

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

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