# Sign Regulations in Valley County, Nebraska

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Valley County, Nebraska (NE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nebraska/valley-county
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-16
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vhRCAJ6jZwPjTx0m36_C5aCQOXnf8jSQ/view?usp=sharing)

## At a glance

Valley County, Nebraska regulates 20 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Billboard (Off-Premise Advertising Sign)s in the Central Business District (C-1) zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall, 300 sq ft per sign face, and Horizontal dimension not greater than 30 ft; vertical dimension not greater than 10 ft wide, with a 200 ft from another billboard on the same side of the street; not within 100 ft of residential zoning district. setback from the right-of-way (Sec. Section 521.08(2)-(9)). Most commercial signs in Valley County require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 42 inches | 250 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (C-1) | 3 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per sign face | — |
| General Commercial District (C-2) | 3 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Industrial Zoning District | 3 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Agricultural Zoning District | 2 | 10 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning District | 2 | 10 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Rural Commercial / Industrial District (RCI) | 5 | Up to 50 ft (see formula); base 20 ft at 10 ft setback | 400 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | — | — | Minimum 5 feet from any right-of-way line (general rule). | — | Any zoning district, subject to general setbacks and sight-distance rules. | — | Section 521.03 (Temporary signs may be posted for no more than fifteen (15) days); Section 521.07(5), (6) |
| Temporary Sign (Special Event) | — | — | — | Minimum 5 feet from any right-of-way line. | — | Any zoning district, set back a minimum of 5 feet from any right-of-way line. | — | Section 521.05(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Construction/Model Homes) | — | — | — | Minimum 5 feet from any right-of-way line. | — | Any zoning district, set back a minimum of 5 feet from any right-of-way line. | — | Section 521.05(3) |
| Incidental Directional Sign (Traffic/Parking/Entrances) | 4 ft (if freestanding) | 4 sq ft per sign | — | Minimum 5 feet from any right-of-way line. | — | On private property; set back a minimum of 5 feet from any right-of-way line. | — | Section 521.05(1) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 42 inches | 250 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 feet from any right-of-way line unless more required for intersection visibility. | 1 per street entrance | At street entrance(s) into a subdivision. | — | Section 521.05(4) |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale / For Rent or Lease) | — | — | — | Minimum 15 feet from any street right-of-way line. | 1 per lot frontage | On the lot frontage. | — | Section 521.04(5) |
| Political Campaign Yard Sign | — | — | — | Minimum 15 feet from any street right-of-way line. | — | On private property (not placed in any public right-of-way). | — | Section 521.04(6) |
| Property Identification Sign (Name/Address/Occupant) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises. | — | Section 521.04(1) |

### Central Business District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard (Off-Premise Advertising Sign) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per sign face | Horizontal dimension not greater than 30 ft; vertical dimension not greater than 10 ft | Minimum 10 ft from any street or highway right-of-way; spacing: 200 ft from another billboard on the same side of the street; not within 100 ft of residential zoning district. | Max 2 back-to-back sign faces per structure; no double-deck faces | Only on lots with 100 ft or more of frontage on a street classified as an arterial street per Major Street Plan. | — | Section 521.08(2)-(9) |
| Projecting Sign (Over/In Right-of-Way Allowed) | — | — | — | Exempt from 5 ft right-of-way setback when placed over/in right-of-way in C-1; otherwise follow general setbacks. | — | May be placed upon, over or in a street or highway right-of-way in the Central Business District. | — | Section 521.07(2), 521.07(3), 521.07(5), 521.01 |
| Off-site Public Facility Directional/Identification Sign (Church/School/Hospital/Park/etc.) | 10 ft | 16 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from any street right-of-way line. | Not more than 1 sign per sign structure | Must be on private property; allowed only in agricultural, commercial, or industrial zoning districts (C-1 qualifies as commercial). | — | Section 521.05(5)(A)-(G) |

### Rural Commercial / Industrial District (RCI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign - Monument or Freestanding (Setback-based standards 10–50 ft) | Up to 50 ft (see formula); base 20 ft at 10 ft setback | Up to 300 sq ft (see formula); base 100 sq ft at 10 ft setback | — | Minimum 10 ft; greater setbacks allow larger height and area per formula. | Max 3 permanent business identification signs per premises | On-premise, oriented to State or Federal Highway; minimum setback from front lot line and right-of-way line of any State or Federal Highway is 10 ft. | — | Section 502.03(8)(A)1)–4) |
| Business Identification Sign - Monument or Freestanding (>50 ft Setback) | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — | Setback greater than 50 ft required for these maxima. | Max 3 permanent business identification signs per premises | On-premise, setback greater than 50 ft from the front lot line/right-of-way line of any State or Federal Highway. | — | Section 502.03(8)(A)2), 4) |
| Wall Sign (On-Premise Business Identification) | — | Counts toward premises total sign face area cap (see below). | — | Not specified for wall signs; subject to building and general setbacks and sight-distance rules. | Max 3 permanent business identification signs per premises (total, inclusive of wall and freestanding) | On building wall within the RCI premises. | — | Section 502.03(8)(A)1), 3) |
| Projecting Wall Sign (On-Premise Business Identification) | — | Counts toward premises total sign face area cap (see below). | — | Subject to general setbacks and sight-distance rules; projecting signs must comply with general Section 521.07(5) where applicable. | Max 3 permanent business identification signs per premises (total, inclusive of wall and freestanding) | Projected from building wall within the RCI premises. | — | Section 502.03(8)(A)1), 3) |
| Billboard (Off-Premise Advertising Sign) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft per sign face | — | Minimum 10 ft from front lot line/right-of-way; spacing: 1/4 mile from any other billboard; minimum 300 ft from neighboring residential dwelling, church, school or public use area. | — | On-premise in RCI; oriented to State or Federal Highway. | — | Section 502.03(8)(B)1)–7) |

## Prohibited signs in Valley County

- No sign may be erected, enlarged, or otherwise modified until a building permit has been issued, except as otherwise specified in Section 521.
- Nonconforming signs may not be enlarged, moved, lighted, or reconstructed unless brought into compliance with this ordinance; obsolete nonconforming signs may not be converted unless the conversion brings the sign into conformance.
- Temporary signs are limited to a maximum display period of 15 days, unless otherwise specified elsewhere in Section 521.
- No sign or sign structure shall be placed on private or public property without the consent of the property owner.
- Placing any sign in a street or highway right-of-way is prohibited, except in the Central Business District or as otherwise authorized by the City Council.
- No sign may be erected where it interferes with or obstructs the view of pedestrians or on-coming vehicular or railroad traffic, or could be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal, or device.
- Rotating beams, beacons, or flashing illumination resembling emergency vehicle lights are prohibited in connection with any sign.
- Any sign type not included among the types permitted in the ordinance is prohibited.
- Portable or movable signs are prohibited, except when used as temporary signs in accordance with this Section.
- Using a trailer, vehicle, semi-truck trailer, or other movable vehicle as a sign structure is prohibited, except when used as a temporary sign in accordance with this Section.
- No sign shall be located within any sight distance triangle as defined in Section 510.
- Signs must be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any right-of-way line, except as otherwise specified (e.g., certain projecting sign exceptions).

## Signs exempt from permit in Valley County

- Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet 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 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, and integral decorative or architectural features of a building, except trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
- One (1) real estate sign per lot frontage indicating 'for sale', 'for rent', or 'for lease', set back at least fifteen (15) feet from any street right-of-way line.
- Political campaign yard signs, provided they are not placed in any public right-of-way and are set back at least fifteen (15) feet from any street right-of-way line.
- Window signs placed inside a window that promote an on-site activity and are visible from the exterior.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan requirement is specified in the provided text.
- A building permit is required before any sign is erected, enlarged, or modified, unless the sign falls under an exemption in Section 521.
- City Council authorization is required to place signs in a street or highway right-of-way (except in the Central Business District).
- City Council authorization is required to place off-site public facility identification/directional signs on public property or in a public right-of-way.

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

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