# Sign Regulations in York, Nebraska

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

- **Jurisdiction:** York, Nebraska (NE)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nebraska/york
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ne/york/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ARTXIXSIRE)

## At a glance

York, Nebraska regulates 19 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Commercial-Professional District (C-P) zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 250 square feet, with a 5 feet front/street side and side yards setback (Sec. Sec. 11.). Most commercial signs in York require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District (A-L) | 5 | 12 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential District (R, R-2, R-3) | 5 | 12 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential-Professional District (R-P) | 5 | 12 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Mobile Home District (M-H), Mobile Home Park District (M-P) | 5 | 12 feet | 50 square feet per zoning lot | — |
| Commercial-Professional District (C-P) | 9 | 80 feet | 500 square feet | — |
| Central Business District (C-1) | 6 | 10 feet | 150 square feet total allocation; individual sign area: 15% of wall surface (only lowest 40' of wall) | — |
| General Commercial District (C-2), Highway Commercial District (C-3), Restricted Commercial District (C-4), Industrial District (I) | 9 | 25 feet | 500 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 4 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Commercial-Professional District (C-P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 20 feet | 250 square feet | — | 5 feet front/street side and side yards | 1 per frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 11. |
| Pole Sign | 80 feet | Subject to overall allocation | — | 5 feet front/street side and side yards | 1 per frontage | On premises within 2,400 feet of designated interstate | — | Sec. 11. |
| Wall Sign | — | Based on sign design program | — | — | No limit within size allocation | Building wall | — | Sec. 12. |
| Window Sign | — | Based on sign program (see master plan); not to exceed 40% of area | — | — | No limit within size allocation | Windows of business | — | Sec. 12. |
| Projecting Sign | — | One square foot per lineal foot of facade width up to 70 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting from building wall | — | Sec. 12. |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 25 feet | 500 square feet | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 8. |
| Portable Sign | 8 feet freestanding; 10 feet attached; 3 feet in right-of-way | 32 square feet per sign; aggregate max of 5% of all street façade or 60 square feet (whichever is less) | — | 5 feet from property line | — | On premises (5 feet from any property line); some types in the public right-of-way with limits | — | Sec. 13. |
| Driveway Sign | 8 feet (building mounted); 3 feet (freestanding); 6 feet (drive-through lane sign) | 3 sq ft per face; 15 sq ft for drive-through lane sign | — | — | 1 per driveway, 2 per drive-through | At driveway, drive-through | — | Sec. 6(8). |

### Central Business District (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | 0 feet front/side yard | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 11. |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 square feet total allocation; individual sign area: 15% of wall surface (only lowest 40' of wall) | — | — | No limit within size allocation | Building wall | — | Sec. 12. |
| Window Sign | — | 40% of window area, only lowest 40' of wall surface qualifies | — | — | — | Windows | — | Sec. 12. |
| Projecting Sign | — | One square foot per lineal foot of facade width up to 70 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting from building façade | — | Sec. 12. |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 sq ft total | — | — | — | On building, C-1 district | — | Sec. 12. |
| Portable Sign | 10 feet on building; 3 feet in right-of-way | 32 sq ft per sign; aggregate 5% of street façade or 60 sq ft, whichever is less | — | 5 feet from any property line | — | On premises; public right-of-way with restrictions | — | Sec. 13. |

### General Commercial District (C-2), Highway Commercial District (C-3), Restricted Commercial District (C-4), Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | C-2: 20 ft; C-3/C-4/I: 20 ft | C-2: max 100 sq ft; C-3/C-4/I: max 250 sq ft | — | 5 feet front/street/side yard | 1 per frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 11. |
| Pole Sign | C-3/C-4/I: 80 feet; I: 80 feet; C-2/C-P: not permitted; C-4 pole per sign allocation | C-3/C-4/I: subject to allocation | — | 5 feet front/street/side yard | 1 per frontage | On premises, by frontage | — | Sec. 11. |
| Wall Sign | — | 400 sq ft | — | — | No limit within allocation | On building wall | — | Sec. 12. |
| Window Sign | — | Not to exceed 40% of window area, only lowest 40' of wall counts | — | — | — | Windows | — | Sec. 12. |
| Projecting Sign | — | 70 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Projecting perpendicular to building | — | Sec. 12. |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 25 feet | 500 square feet | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 8. |
| Portable Sign | 8 feet freestanding; 10 feet attached; 3 feet right-of-way | 32 sq ft per sign; aggregate 5% of street facade or 60 sq ft, whichever is less | — | 5 feet from any property line | — | On premises; min 5 ft from property line | — | Sec. 13. |
| Driveway Sign | 8 ft (building mounted), 3 ft (freestanding), 6 ft (drive-through) | 3 sq ft per face; 15 sq ft for drive-through lanes | — | — | 1 per driveway, 2 per drive-through | At driveway or drive-through | — | Sec. 6(8). |

## Prohibited signs in York

- It is unlawful to erect, move, alter, change, repair, place, suspend or permit any sign in violation of this zoning ordinance and this article.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Intermittent signs are prohibited.
- Moving signs are prohibited; no sign shall have any part that moves by any mechanical means.
- Signs emitting sound, smoke, or odors are prohibited.
- Signs attached or painted on trees, rocks, fences, or natural features are prohibited.
- Signs in the right-of-way are prohibited except for those placed by a public entity, approved banners on utility or light poles, projecting signs as allowed in this section, or other signs approved by the city.
- Signs or sign support structures that obstruct means of egress, including fire escapes, windows, doors, stairways, exits, walkways, utility access, or Fire Department connection are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with any required opening for ventilation are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures that resemble, imitate, simulate, or conflict with traffic control signs or devices (as included in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices), or which mislead or confuse drivers or create a traffic hazard, are prohibited.
- Signs not expressly allowed by this article are prohibited.
- Sign content that is indecent or immoral and harmful to minors is prohibited.
- Sign content that advertises unlawful activity is prohibited.
- Sign content that is obscene, fighting words, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, or true threats is prohibited.
- Sign content that presents a clear and present danger due to potential confusion with traffic control or public safety information (including use of words or symbols like 'Stop', 'Yield', 'Caution', 'Danger', etc., in a misleading way) is prohibited.
- Stacked billboard signs are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to construct or maintain any billboard in a manner that obstructs the view of street or railroad crossings, cannot withstand a pressure of at least 40 pounds per square foot of surface, is dangerous to the public by risk of falling or blowing down, increases danger by fire or fire insurance rates, or is nearer than five feet from a building unless attached.
- All signs must be constructed, located, and placed in accordance with local ordinances and state law.

## Signs exempt from permit in York

- Addresses of buildings are not considered signs and are not regulated.
- Permanent attached signs on residential property under four square feet in size (excluding portable signs) are exempt.
- Integral signs carved, extruded, or embedded into the building or made of permanent material as an integral part of the building (maximum four square feet) are exempt in all zoning districts.
- Signs not readable from the public right-of-way are exempt, including signs located entirely inside of a building and not visible from the building's exterior, signs readable only from within a parking area but not beyond the bounds of the lot or parcel or public right-of-way, and signs located on or within City park and recreation facilities.
- Governmental signs are exempt, including emergency and warning signs necessary for public safety or civil defense, traffic signs erected and maintained by an authorized public agency, signs required to be displayed by law, signs directing the public to points of interest, and signs showing the location of public facilities.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For projects with an overall site area greater than five acres, an applicant may submit a sign master plan detailing the size, location, and design of all signs on the site. The plan may adjust the strict application of these standards but must clarify the exact nature of the adjustments. The sign master plan must be approved by the city council after review and recommendation by the commission, following the same process as planned unit development district review.
- Billboards: No billboard shall be erected, altered, constructed, reconstructed or moved until an application and plans shall have been filed with the building official and approved as to size, location, and 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 8 zoning districts in York — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=York+NE&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-york

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