# Sign Regulations in Carson City, Nevada

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Carson City, Nevada (NV)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/nevada/carson-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NV/Carson_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT18_APPENDIXCADEST_DIV4SI)

## At a glance

Carson City, Nevada regulates 14 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Bed and Breakfast Inn Identification Signs in the Single Family Residential District (SF5A, SF2A, SF1A, SF21, SF12, SF6), Manufactured Home District (MH6, MH12, MH1A) zoning district are capped at Outside Historic District: reviewed individually. Historic District: 3 ft (for freestanding sign). tall and Outside Historic District: reviewed individually; must be small and for identification only. In Historic District: max 3 sq ft. (Sec. 1.7.4, Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN). Most commercial signs in Carson City 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 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Single Family Residential District (SF5A, SF2A, SF1A, SF21, SF12, SF6), Manufactured Home District (MH6, MH12, MH1A) | 2 | Outside Historic District: reviewed individually. Historic District: 3 ft (for freestanding sign). | Outside Historic District: reviewed individually; must be small and for identification only. In Historic District: max 3 sq ft. | — |
| Historic District | 1 | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 3 sq ft | — |
| Retail Commercial District (RC), General Commercial District (GC), Tourist Commercial District (TC) | 1 | 6 ft | — | — |
| Limited Industrial District (LI), General Industrial District (GI), Airport Industrial Park District (AIP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Commercial District (DC) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Retail Commercial District (RC), General Commercial District (GC), Limited Industrial District (LI), General Industrial District (GI) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Industrial District (GI) | 2 | Varies by zoning district regulations or 10 ft for all other medical marijuana uses | 32 sq ft | — |
| Office District, Commercial District, Multi-Family District, Public District, Industrial District, Institutional District, Downtown Business District, Multi-Family Duplex District (MFD), Multi-Family Apartment/Multi-Family District (MFA, MHFA), Public Neighborhood/Public Community/Public Regional District (PN, PC, PR), Residential Office District (RO), General Office District (GO), Neighborhood Business District (NB), Retail Commercial District (RC), General Commercial District (GC), Tourist Commercial District (TC), Downtown Commercial District (DC), Limited Industrial District (LI), General Industrial District (GI), Airport Industrial Park District (AIP) | 3 | 6 ft | — | — |
| Agricultural District (A), Conservation Reserve District (CR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mobile Home Park District (MHP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public District (P), Public Neighborhood/Public Community/Public Regional District (PN, PC, PR) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Single Family Residential District (SF5A, SF2A, SF1A, SF21, SF12, SF6), Manufactured Home District (MH6, MH12, MH1A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Child Care Facility Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On site at the child care facility | — | 1.6.4, Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn Identification Sign | Outside Historic District: reviewed individually. Historic District: 3 ft (for freestanding sign). | Outside Historic District: reviewed individually; must be small and for identification only. In Historic District: max 3 sq ft. | — | — | Historic District: 1 per B&B | On the building, a fence, or freestanding | — | 1.7.4, Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN |

### General Industrial District (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medical Marijuana Dispensary/Retail Marijuana Store Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | 1.20.1.h(1), 1.20.2, Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN |
| Medical Marijuana Dispensary/Retail Marijuana Store Sign (Freestanding Sign) | Varies by zoning district regulations or 10 ft for all other medical marijuana uses | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | 1.20.1.h(2)-(4), Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN |

### Office District, Commercial District, Multi-Family District, Public District, Industrial District, Institutional District, Downtown Business District, Multi-Family Duplex District (MFD), Multi-Family Apartment/Multi-Family District (MFA, MHFA), Public Neighborhood/Public Community/Public Regional District (PN, PC, PR), Residential Office District (RO), General Office District (GO), Neighborhood Business District (NB), Retail Commercial District (RC), General Commercial District (GC), Tourist Commercial District (TC), Downtown Commercial District (DC), Limited Industrial District (LI), General Industrial District (GI), Airport Industrial Park District (AIP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Vendor Cart Sign | — | — | 3 ft (height) x 5 ft (width) (limit of cart size, effectively sign size) | — | — | Affixed to street vendor cart at permitted location | — | 1.11.2,1.11.6, Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN |
| Personal Storage Facility Monument Sign (Abutting Residential) | 6 ft | — | — | — | — | At personal storage facility abutting residential zones | — | 1.10.6.d, Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN |
| Metal Storage Container Identification/Prohibited Advertising | — | — | — | — | Varies per business size and need, Director discretion | Directly on metal storage container (side/rear of primary structure) | — | 1.10.9, Division 1 LAND USE AND SITE DESIGN |

## Prohibited signs in Carson City

- Signs for child care facilities in residential zoning districts may not 'advertise or promote' the facility; only identification is permitted.
- Signs for bed and breakfast inns may not 'advertise or promote' the business; only identification is permitted.
- Backlighting is prohibited for bed and breakfast inn signs within the historic district.
- The business (adult merchandise retail establishment) does not advertise or hold itself out to the public in any way as being an adult merchandise retail establishment by signs or other means.
- No product, picture, or graphic representation related to adult merchandise retail establishments shall be displayed so as to be visible from the street or exterior of the building.
- The outdoor display or sale of any marijuana establishment merchandise or product is prohibited.
- Medical Marijuana Establishment and Marijuana Establishment merchandise and products must not be visible when viewed from outside the building.
- All signage for Medical Marijuana Establishments and Marijuana Establishments must be discreet, professional, and consistent with traditional signage for pharmacies and medical offices.
- Advertising is prohibited on the exterior of all metal storage containers.

## Signs exempt from permit in Carson City

- Child care facility signs in residential zoning districts are exempt from compliance with Division 4 (Signs) of the development standards; limited identification is permitted.
- Bed and breakfast inn signs are exempt from compliance with Division 4 (Signs) of the development standards; limited identification is permitted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A detailed site plan designating the proposed Adult Merchandise Retail Establishment area is required at the time of business license request.
- A site plan is required for guest building development indicating the primary structure, distances, utilities, access, zoning, and other outbuildings.
- For temporary lighting, the application shall include a site plan showing the entire site and location of proposed luminaires for Director approval.
- A photometric plan is required for projects with building size of 50,000 square feet or larger and may be required at the discretion of the Director for lighting impacts.
- If elevations of buildings are proposed for accent illumination, drawings and a photometric plan showing details and aiming points must be submitted.
- Submission of a sign plan may be required by Division 4 (Signs), which is referenced as the principal regulatory section for sign regulations in other sections (though not included in this Division 1).

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

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