# Sign Regulations in Omaha, Nebraska

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Omaha, Nebraska (NE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nebraska/omaha
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OMMUCOCHGEORVOII_CH51SIAW)

## At a glance

Omaha, Nebraska regulates 141 sign types across 19 zoning districts. Temporary Sign (General, Non-Exempt)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at If banner attached to building: cannot exceed building height. If on another sign structure: must meet standards for that sign type. tall and ≤32 sq ft, with a Cannot be placed in public right-of-way. setback (Sec. Sec. 55-825(c).). Most commercial signs in Omaha require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (19 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 34 | Must comply with off-premises sign height limits in district (e.g., 55 ft +5 ft extensions in GC/DS/CH/GI/HI). | Must comply with size limits for off-premises signs in each applicable district (e.g., 300 or 672 sq ft plus 10% extensions, per GC/DS/CH/GI/HI). | — |
| Agricultural District (AG), Development Reserve District (DR) | 5 | 16 ft maximum wall sign height | Total permitted sign area: 40 sq ft per premises; max 40 sq ft per wall sign | — |
| Mobile Home Residential District (MH), Single-Family Residential District (Large Lot) (R1), Single-Family Residential District (Low-Density) (R2), Single-Family Residential District (Medium-Density) (R3), Single-Family Residential District (High-Density) (R4), Urban Family Residential District (R5) | 5 | 16 ft maximum wall sign height | Total permitted sign area 32 sq ft per premises; max 32 sq ft per wall sign | — |
| Low-Density Multiple-Family Residential District (R6) | 6 | 16 ft maximum wall sign height | Max 40 sq ft per wall sign; total permitted sign area 40 sq ft per premises | — |
| Medium-Density Multiple-Family Residential District (R7), High-Density Multiple-Family Residential District (R8) | 8 | 8 ft maximum height | 40 sq ft maximum per wall sign; total permitted sign area 40 sq ft per premises | — |
| Limited Office District (LO) | 8 | 20 ft maximum height | 40 sq ft per wall sign (also limited by 0.50 × frontage total sign area) | — |
| General Office District (GO) | 11 | 20 ft maximum height | 40 sq ft maximum; total permitted sign area 2 sq ft per unit, 40 sq ft per premises | — |
| Limited Commercial District (LC) | 11 | 25 ft | 50 sq ft per sign (business center identification option: up to 150 sq ft) | — |
| Community Commercial District (CC) | 12 | Up to 35 ft | Up to 150 sq ft per pole sign; overall max for business center ID = 300 sq ft (note (1)) | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (NBD) | 4 | 10 ft for all uses (ground/monument) | 32 sq ft maximum for main uses; 25 sq ft for surface parking | — |
| General Commercial District (GC) | 10 | 55 ft plus up to 5 ft additional for extensions beyond sign face | Up to 300 sq ft per center ID sign | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 4 | 12 ft | 75 sq ft maximum per sign | — |
| Downtown Service District (DS) | 3 | 55 ft plus 5 ft for extensions | 300 sq ft when within 150 ft of any agricultural or residential district; 672 sq ft when more than 150 ft away; plus 10% for extensions | — |
| Highway Commercial Services District (CH) | 6 | 55 ft +5 ft for extensions | 300 sq ft when within 150 ft of any agricultural or residential district; 672 sq ft when more than 150 ft away; plus 10% extensions | — |
| Limited Industrial District (LI) | 5 | 30 ft | Up to 300 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Industrial District (GI), Heavy Industrial District (HI) | 6 | 55 ft plus 5 ft extensions | 300 sq ft within 150 ft of agricultural or residential district; 672 sq ft beyond 150 ft; plus 10% extensions | — |
| Mixed Use District (MU) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Aviation District (AV) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD), Planned Unit Redevelopment District (PUR), Neighborhood Conservation District (NCE), Areas of Civic Importance District (ACI), Civic Place District (CP), Major Development District (MD), Environmental Resources District (ED), Floodplain/Floodway Districts (FP/FW), Industrial Gateway District (IG), Parking District (PK), Major Commercial Corridor District (MCC), Railroad District (RR), Transit Oriented Development District (TOD), Walkable Residential Neighborhood District (R-WRN) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 19 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs - Bulletin Board | — | 20 sq ft maximum sign area | — | Cannot be in a required sign setback. | — | Any zoning district, on premises for religious assembly or school uses. | — | Sec. 55-823(d)(1); definition of Bulletin board Sec. 55-822(j). |
| Exempt Signs - On-Premises Real Estate Sign (DR–R5 Districts) | — | 10 sq ft maximum sign area in DR through R5 districts | — | — | 1 per street frontage. | On premises that are for sale, for lease, or that have been sold/leased. | — | Sec. 55-823(d)(2). |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | ≤4 ft overall height | ≤4 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit. | At each entrance to or exit from multifamily residential, civic, commercial, office, industrial, transportation or parking uses. | — | Sec. 55-828(e). |
| Temporary Sign (General, Non-Exempt) | If banner attached to building: cannot exceed building height. If on another sign structure: must meet standards for that sign type. | ≤32 sq ft | — | Cannot be placed in public right-of-way. | 1 per lot or 1 per business in a common development. | Only in zoning districts where temporary signs are specified as allowed in the chapter; must not be in public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 55-825(c). |
| Yard Sign (Ancillary to Temporary Sign Permit) | — | ≤5 sq ft | — | Subject to all applicable sign setback requirements. | Max 2 per business, 1 per street frontage. | Driven into the ground on premises with a valid temporary sign permit. | — | Sec. 55-822(uu); Sec. 55-825(d)-(e). |
| Neighborhood Identification Ground/Monument Sign | ≤5 ft | ≤25 sq ft per sign | — | Must comply with vision clearance triangle; otherwise as approved. | Max 2 per entrance. | At an entrance to a neighborhood or residential development in any zoning district. | — | Sec. 55-823(g); bufferyards rule Sec. 55-823(e); vision clearance Sec. 55-823(f). |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign - General | — | General structural limits not specified here; see district-specific sections (GC, DS, CH, GI, HI). | — | No encroachment into required yards; specific separations from residential and civic uses as above. | Max 1 advertising sign per advertising sign location; locations must obey spacing rules. | Only in districts that permit off-premises advertising, subject to spacing and separation rules. | — | Sec. 55-826(a). |
| Electronic Off-Premises Advertising Sign | Must comply with off-premises sign height limits in district (e.g., 55 ft +5 ft extensions in GC/DS/CH/GI/HI). | Must comply with size limits for off-premises signs in each applicable district (e.g., 300 or 672 sq ft plus 10% extensions, per GC/DS/CH/GI/HI). | — | Residential and special-area setbacks as above; at least 100 ft from roadway at major street intersections; must also meet general off-premises yard setbacks. | Company cap: ≤8% of its conforming sign locations may be electronic off-premises signs. | Only in GC, DS, CH, GI, and HI districts (those that allow off-premises advertising). | — | Sec. 55-851–55-857; allowance by district Sec. 55-852; size/height cross-ref to GC, DS, CH, GI, HI advertising provisions. |

### General Office District (GO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Owner Identification Wall Sign (Office, Commercial, Parking Structures in GO) | Up to height of wall | Up to 10% of street facade (no explicit sq ft cap beyond that). | — | — | Limited by 0.75 × frontage total area. | On office, commercial, or parking structure facades in GO. | — | Sec. 55-834(b) Table 55-834(2) Office, commercial and parking structures; Sec. 55-834(3). |
| Projecting Sign (Office, Commercial, Parking Structures in GO) | 20 ft maximum height | 25 sq ft maximum area per projecting sign | — | As per Sec. 55-824(b). | No explicit numeric cap; limited by area and spacing. | Attached projecting from office/commercial/parking structure walls in GO. | — | Table 55-834(2) Office, commercial and parking structures projecting signs; Sec. 55-824(b). |
| Owner Identification Ground/Monument Sign (Office, Commercial, Parking Structures in GO) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft maximum per sign (150 sq ft maximum for business center identification signs) | — | Standard: Front ≥12 ft, Other ≥6 ft; spacing for center ID as above. | No explicit numeric cap; constrained by total area and center ID spacing rules. | Detached ground/monument sign on GO office/commercial/parking premises. | — | Table 55-834(2) Office, commercial and parking structures; Sec. 55-834(d); Sec. 55-824(d). |
| Electronic Information Wall Sign (Office, Commercial, Parking Structures in GO) | Up to wall height | Within 10% of street facade and total permitted area 0.75 × frontage. | — | — | Within total sign area cap. | On-premises, attached to office/commercial/parking structure walls in GO. | — | Table 55-834(1) Office, commercial and parking structures electronic information “Yes”; Table 55-834(2)-(3). |
| Owner Identification Wall Sign (Civic Use in GO) | Up to wall height | 10% of street facade (no explicit sq ft cap); total sign area cap 60 sq ft per premises | — | — | Within 60 sq ft total sign area. | On civic buildings in GO. | — | Table 55-834(2) Civic; Table 55-834(3). |
| Owner Identification Ground/Monument Sign (Civic Use in GO) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft maximum | — | Front ≥12 ft; Other ≥6 ft. | Within 60 sq ft total sign area. | Detached civic sign on GO civic premises. | — | Table 55-834(2) Civic detached signs; Sec. 55-824(d). |
| Owner Identification Ground/Monument Sign (Multiple-Family Residential in GO) | 16 ft | 20 sq ft maximum | — | Front ≥12 ft; Other ≥6 ft. | Within total permitted sign area. | Detached sign on multiple-family premises in GO. | — | Table 55-834(2) Multiple-family residential detached signs; Sec. 55-824(d). |
| Owner Identification Ground/Monument Sign (Surface Parking in GO) | 10 ft | 25 sq ft maximum | — | Front ≥12 ft; Other ≥6 ft. | Total sign area 25 sq ft per premises. | Detached sign at surface parking use in GO. | — | Table 55-834(2) Surface parking; Table 55-834(3). |

### Community Commercial District (CC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign (Commercial in CC) - Standard Option | 25 ft standard pole sign height | 75 sq ft per pole sign (or 150 sq ft when used as business center identification sign) | — | Standard: Front ≥12 ft; Other 35 ft (for taller/larger variant). | 1 per street frontage (2 allowed if frontage ≥200 ft and signs ≥100 ft apart). | Detached pole sign on commercial premises in CC. | — | Table 55-836(2) Commercial pole; note (1); Sec. 55-836(b)(1)-(2). |
| Pole Sign (Commercial in CC) - Business Center Identification Option | Up to 35 ft | Up to 150 sq ft per pole sign; overall max for business center ID = 300 sq ft (note (1)) | — | Front ≥12 ft; Other 35 ft. | Limited by spacing (≥300 ft from other center IDs, ≥100 ft from other detached signs). | At business centers in CC, identifying center. | — | Table 55-836(2) Commercial pole row & note (1); Sec. 55-836(d). |
| Owner Identification Ground/Monument Sign (Commercial in CC) | 25 ft | 75 sq ft per sign (300 sq ft maximum when used as business center identification) | — | Front ≥12 ft; Other ≥6 ft. | Within total sign area; spacing for center ID as above. | Detached ground/monument sign on CC commercial premises. | — | Table 55-836(2) Commercial ground/monument; note (1); Sec. 55-836(d); Sec. 55-824(d). |
| Owner Identification Pole and Ground/Monument Signs (Office and Parking Structures in CC) | Pole: 25 or 35 ft; Ground: 25 ft | Pole: 75 or 150 sq ft (300 sq ft max for center ID); Ground: 75 sq ft (300 sq ft max for center ID) | — | Pole: Front ≥12 ft, Other 35 ft; Ground: Front ≥12 ft, Other 6 ft. | Subject to frontage and spacing rules. | Detached signs on office/parking structure premises in CC. | — | Table 55-836(2) Office and parking structures; note (1); Sec. 55-836(b)(1)-(2), (d). |
| Owner Identification Signs (Civic in CC) | Wall: to wall height; Projecting: 25 sq ft/24 ft; Pole: 35 ft; Ground: 25 ft | Wall: 10% of facade; Pole: 50 sq ft; Ground: 40 sq ft | — | Pole: Front ≥12 ft, Other ≥6 ft; Ground: Front ≥12 ft, Other ≥6 ft. | Within 1.0 × frontage total area. | On civic premises in CC. | — | Table 55-836(2) Civic; Table 55-836(3). |
| Owner Identification Signs (Residential in CC) | Wall 20 ft; pole 20 ft; ground 10 ft | Total sign area 40 sq ft per premises; wall max 40 sq ft; pole & ground each max 20 sq ft | — | Pole/Ground: Front ≥12 ft, Other ≥6 ft. | Within 40 sq ft total sign area. | On residential premises in CC. | — | Table 55-836(2) Residential; Table 55-836(3). |
| Owner Identification Signs (Surface Parking in CC) | Pole 20 ft; ground 10 ft | Total sign area 25 sq ft per premises; pole 25 sq ft; ground 25 sq ft | — | Front ≥12 ft; Other ≥6 ft. | Within 25 sq ft total sign area. | At surface parking uses in CC. | — | Table 55-836(2) Surface parking; Table 55-836(3). |
| Other Permitted Uses (Non-listed uses in CC) - Attached and Detached Signs | Wall: up to 30 ft; Projecting: 32 sq ft at 24 ft height; Pole: 30 ft; Ground: 10 ft | Wall: up to 40% of SWA; Projecting: 32 sq ft; Pole: 100 sq ft; Ground: 75 sq ft | — | Pole/Ground: Front ≥12 ft; Other ≥6 ft. | Within 1.5 × frontage total sign area. | All other permitted nonresidential, non-residential-mapped uses in CC. | — | Table 55-836(2) Other permitted uses; Table 55-836(3). |

## Prohibited signs in Omaha

- Each sign or part of a sign erected within the zoning jurisdiction of the city must comply with the provisions of this chapter and of chapter 51 of this Code.
- In cases of conflict between this chapter and other Code sections or state or federal regulations, the more restrictive regulations shall apply.
- Signs painted on or attached to rocks, trees or other natural objects are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs or sign structures which resemble or conflict with traffic-control signs or devices, which mislead or confuse persons traveling on public streets, or which create a traffic hazard are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs on public property are prohibited unless specifically authorized by the appropriate public agency.
- Signs which create a safety hazard by obstructing the clear view of pedestrians or vehicles, or which obscure official signs or signals, are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Portable signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- On‑premises abandoned signs are prohibited; the face of an abandoned on‑premises sign must be removed within 30 days of the date of abandonment and replaced with a blank face, and the abandoned on‑premises sign must be removed within 12 months of the date of abandonment.
- No sign other than on‑premises directional signs permitted under subsection 55‑828(e) shall be placed within any required bufferyard, except bufferyards adjacent to intervening major streets.
- Except as specifically allowed, no sign may project into or be placed within a vision clearance area defined by a triangle with legs of 20 feet from the point at which the curbs or edges of two intersecting streets, private ways or courts or an intersecting street, private way, or court and driveway meet.
- Signs with a minimum clearance of ten feet to grade may only project into a vision clearance area where otherwise permitted.
- Signs with a maximum height of three feet may be placed in a vision clearance area only where otherwise permitted, only if they do not block or inhibit visibility from any street or driveway onto an intersecting street or driveway, and only if they are no greater than three feet above the grade of any intersecting street, drive or sidewalk.
- Lighting for signs must be positioned so that light is not directed onto an adjoining property or onto a public street or highway.
- Temporary signs shall not be placed in the public right‑of‑way.
- Temporary signs are not allowed to be attached to a pole or poles away from a building, including ‘feather’ banners.
- All temporary signs and yard signs must be kept in good repair at all times.
- Outdoor advertising companies are limited to their current number of off‑premises advertising sign locations, faces, and square footage as of the effective date of Ordinance No. 38320; any new non‑electronic off‑premises advertising sign requires removal of at least an equal amount of square footage of existing sign area.
- Advertising signs shall not resemble an official marker erected by a governmental agency and shall not obstruct any traffic signal or sign from clear view.
- Advertising signs may only be illuminated by indirect and internal lighting; they may not contain or be illuminated by flashing lights and must have lighting shielded to direct light away from streets and surrounding property and not cause glare or impair vision.
- Advertising signs shall not revolve or rotate, except that slow and continuous motion or rotation within a portion of the sign face comprising less than 38 percent of the sign area is allowed.
- Advertising signs shall not be installed upon the roof of any building.
- Off‑premises advertising signs that contain no sign copy on all faces for a continuous period of six months are considered abandoned and must be removed within ten days of the date of abandonment.
- Wall signs may not cover in whole or in part any wall opening or major architectural feature of the building, may not extend beyond the corner of the wall to which they are attached (except for necessary attachment to another wall sign), and may not extend beyond the building's roof line.
- Projecting signs must minimize visible support structure and may not expose guy wires, cables, turnbuckles, angle iron, or other similar external support structure.
- Window signs may not occupy more than 40 percent of the total area of the window in which they are displayed.
- It is unlawful for the owner of a property to allow any violation of the sign and street graphics article to occur on such property; the owner is responsible for ensuring compliance and may be criminally prosecuted for violations.
- Electronic off‑premises signs are prohibited outside the specific zoning districts GC, DS, CH, GI and HI and must comply with all spacing, setback, brightness, image, transition, noise, size, and height standards; signs not meeting these standards are prohibited.
- Electronic off‑premises signs must not contain any motion, animation, scrolling of text, or sequential displays designed to appear as motion, and may not use specialized transitions or special effects between images.
- Electronic off‑premises signs must not contain audio speakers or sound broadcast devices.
- Electronic off‑premises signs must be supported by a single pole and cannot be attached to buildings or other structures.
- Electronic information signs are not allowed as a part of any electronic off‑premises sign.
- An outdoor advertising company, including subsidiaries or related entities or persons, cannot submit more than one application for an electronic off‑premises sign per day.
- If an electronic off‑premises sign violates the applicable regulations and the violation is not cured after notice and a 30‑day cure period, the penalty is revocation of the permit and removal of the sign.
- Within any zoning district, all on‑premises signage must comply fully with the provisions of this chapter by March 4, 2002, unless otherwise provided.

## Signs exempt from permit in Omaha

- Bulletin boards for religious assembly or school uses are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter, provided they have a maximum sign area of 20 square feet and are not located in a required sign setback.
- On‑premises real estate signs are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter, with a maximum sign area of 10 square feet in DR through R5 districts and 32 square feet in any other district, provided only one such sign is permitted along any street frontage and real estate signs for single‑family detached, single‑family attached, two‑family, and duplex residential uses do not exceed ten square feet; signs announcing a sale cease being exempt ten days after closing, and signs announcing a lease cease being exempt ten days after the tenant(s) take possession of all property offered for lease.
- Official signs authorized by a government or governmental subdivision which give traffic, directional, or warning information are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter.
- Historic or commemorative plaques, and building names and cornerstones carved into a masonry surface, are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter.
- Seasonal decorations for display on private or public property are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter.
- On‑premises construction signs are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter, with sign areas less than or equal to 16 square feet in DR through R5 districts and 32 square feet in any other district, provided only one such sign is permitted along any street frontage; in DR through R5 districts, construction signs may be up to 32 square feet for subdivisions with at least 12 housing units, and may remain for a period not to exceed one year.
- Political signs are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter, provided they are installed no more than two months prior to the election to which they pertain and are removed within seven days after that election.
- Temporary signs for special community events are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter, provided they have a maximum area of 32 square feet and remain for no more than 30 days during any six‑month period.
- Murals that are works of graphic art painted or applied to building walls which contain no advertising or identification messages are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter.
- Street numbers are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter.
- Advertising signs at bus stops designated by Metro Area Transit are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter; signs mounted on benches may not exceed 15 square feet, and signs in bus shelters must be in a manner approved by the city council and shall not exceed four feet by six feet (24 square feet).
- Signs which are not visible from a public right‑of‑way, private way, or court, or from a property other than that on which the sign is installed, are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of the sign chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Within overlay districts, each development plan submitted for approval may include specific sign regulations more restrictive than those of the underlying district; once approved, the planning department issues sign permits based on those more restrictive regulations.
- For conditional uses and special permit uses, in approving such uses within a zoning district, the planning board and/or the city council may impose sign and graphics regulations that are more restrictive than the base zoning district standards as part of the approval process.
- In MU (Mixed Use) districts, sign regulations for each development must be established through an approved special use permit pursuant to section 55‑884 or an approved development plan; no sign may be located in any MU district prior to approval of such special use permit or development plan.
- In AV (Aviation) districts, sign regulations for each development must be established by a comprehensive sign plan approved by the planning director before signs are installed.
- An alternate takedown plan for electronic off‑premises signs (as a substitute for the standard takedown ratios) may be approved via conditional use permit upon review and recommendation by the planning director; the plan must specify which faces will be removed and where electronic off‑premises signs will be erected and must meet the intent of providing greater takedowns in more sensitive districts and locations.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nebraska/omaha