# Sign Regulations in Dickinson, North Dakota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dickinson, North Dakota (ND)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-dakota/dickinson
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ND/Dickinson/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH62ZO_ARTXSI)

## At a glance

Dickinson, North Dakota regulates 13 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Nonresidential zoning district, Nonresidential zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts, Mixed-use zoning district, Overlay zoning district zoning district are capped at 10 ft (Up to 20 ft if adjacent to I-94 w/ extra setback; up to 15 ft adjacent to state highways/arterials w/ extra setback) tall and 100 sq ft per ground sign (may combine into 200 sq ft if multiple allowed, single face max 100 sq ft), with a 5 ft min from property line/right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 62-627(3)b). Most commercial signs in Dickinson 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 | 5 | 10 ft max; monument signs can increase height 1 ft per 1 ft of additional setback from right-of-way, up to 20 ft by I-94, or up to 15 ft by state highways/arterials/collectors/local roads. | 200 sq ft (aggregate per premises or unit; minimum 20 sq ft) | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 3 | 8 ft | 50 sq ft (combined, no more than 2 signs per entrance) | — |
| Nonresidential zoning district, Nonresidential zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts, Mixed-use zoning district, Overlay zoning district | 7 | 20 ft (pole); Up to 40 ft if within 100 ft of I-94 ROW. Pylon sign: 30 ft (50 ft by I-94) | 200 sq ft per sign (max face 100 sq ft); pylon signs allow 20% more | — |
| Planned Unit Development Districts (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Corridor Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| DC District, LC District, MH District, GI District, LI District, GC District, CC District | 2 | 50 ft (if along I-94); 40 ft elsewhere | 672 sq ft per face (min 280 sq ft) | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Not above roofline, cornice line, parapet, or highest point of building façade | 200 sq ft (aggregate per premises or unit; minimum 20 sq ft) | — | — | — | Exterior of a building, not above roofline/cornice/parapet. | — | Sec. 62-627(1) |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft max; monument signs can increase height 1 ft per 1 ft of additional setback from right-of-way, up to 20 ft by I-94, or up to 15 ft by state highways/arterials/collectors/local roads. | — | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line or right-of-way | — | Set back a minimum of 5 ft from right-of-way/property line. | — | Sec. 62-627(3)a |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | Maximum five | On a flagpole | — | Sec. 62-627(5) |
| Window Sign | — | Cannot exceed 50% of total window surface area facing public street or parking lot | — | — | — | Window (facing public street or parking lot) | — | Sec. 62-627(6) |
| On-site Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | — | As authorized | On-site; location authorized by local government | — | Sec. 62-627(7) |

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Residential Dwelling) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On residential property | — | Sec. 62-627(3)c.1 |
| Ground Sign (Residential Support Use) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property of support use | — | Sec. 62-627(3)c.2 |
| Ground Sign (Residential Entry Sign - Subdivision/Entry) | — | 50 sq ft (combined, no more than 2 signs per entrance) | — | — | 2 per entrance | At subdivision/multifamily entrance | — | Sec. 62-627(3)c.3 |

### Nonresidential zoning district, Nonresidential zoning districts, Commercial zoning districts, Industrial zoning districts, Mixed-use zoning district, Overlay zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft (Up to 20 ft if adjacent to I-94 w/ extra setback; up to 15 ft adjacent to state highways/arterials w/ extra setback) | 100 sq ft per ground sign (may combine into 200 sq ft if multiple allowed, single face max 100 sq ft) | — | 5 ft min from property line/right-of-way | 1 per less than 600 ft street frontage; 1 additional per 600 ft of frontage | Set back min 5 ft from ROW/property line | — | Sec. 62-627(3)b |
| Pole Sign | 20 ft (pole); Up to 40 ft if within 100 ft of I-94 ROW. Pylon sign: 30 ft (50 ft by I-94) | 200 sq ft per sign (max face 100 sq ft); pylon signs allow 20% more | — | 5 ft min from property line/right-of-way | 1 per less than 600 ft street frontage; 1 additional per 600 ft of frontage | Set back minimum 5 ft from property line or ROW; not within vision-clearance area. | — | Sec. 62-627(4) |
| Canopy Sign | Not above canopy roofline | See Building Sign limits | — | — | — | On canopy structure | — | Sec. 62-627(2) |
| Building Sign | Not above roofline/cornice/parapet/facade top | 200 sq ft (aggregate per premises/unit); min 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Exterior of building | — | Sec. 62-627(1), 62-629(a)(2) |
| Window Sign | — | Cannot exceed 50% of window area facing public street/parking lot | — | — | — | Within window facing street/lot | — | Sec. 62-627(6) |
| On-site Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | — | As authorized | On premises as approved by local government | — | Sec. 62-627(7) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | 5 | On a flagpole | — | Sec. 62-627(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Dickinson

- Any sign painted on or attached to rocks, trees, or other natural objects.
- Any sign or sign structure that resembles or conflicts with traffic control signs or devices, that misleads or confuses persons traveling on public streets, or that creates a traffic hazard.
- Any sign on or overhanging public property or public right-of-way, unless specifically authorized by the appropriate public agency.
- Any sign that creates a safety hazard by obstructing the clear view of pedestrians or vehicles, or which obscures official signs or signals.
- Abandoned signs. Any abandoned sign must be removed within six months of date of abandonment. Removal shall include removal of abandoned structural components.
- Any sign that is not clean or in substantial good repair, or is not affixed to a sound structure.
- Any sign advertising activities that are illegal under federal, State, or local laws and regulations.
- Awning signs.
- Roof signs.
- Animated signs that move or change messages and/or displays more than once every one second.
- Electronic message signs that move or change messages and/or displays more than once every one second.
- Moving signs that move or change messages and/or displays more than once every one second.
- Marquee signs that are not constructed of some durable material such as metal, glass or plastic.
- Banners as wall signs.
- Residential signs within the DC District.
- Any sign erected or intended for the specific purpose or with the intended effect of hiding or covering from view of the public an adjacent or nearby sign.
- Any sign using or employing flashing, blinking, or moving lights or lighting elements.
- Any sign using or employing neon lights; provided, however, that neon tubing or LED tubing that maintains a constant light and does not have a flashing, blinking, or moving effect shall be permitted.
- Any sign using or employing audio speakers, laser lights, strobe lights, searchlights, beacons, or any similar upward or outward oriented lighting or sound elements.
- Any sign that creates or has the potential to create a public safety hazard.
- Any obscene or indecent sign that, in whole or in part, shows sexually oriented devices, specified anatomical areas, or specified sexual activities as provided in Chapter 30, Article III.
- Any sign within the vision-clearance area.
- Any sign or advertising device not expressly permitted under this chapter is prohibited.
- Billboard signs, digital billboard signs, and other off-premises signs are not prohibited under this Code, but shall be permitted only in compliance with Section 62-628.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dickinson

- Bulletin boards, provided that they have a maximum sign area of 20 square feet and are not located in the required building setback.
- Temporary signs posted on property that is actively marketed for sale or rent with an area of less than ten square feet.
- Official signs authorized by a government or governmental subdivision which give traffic, directional, or warning information.
- Decorations for display on private property or public property.
- On-premises temporary signs placed within a parcel of property upon which construction activities of any type are being performed with a maximum sign area of ten square feet in residential districts and 32 square feet in other districts. Such signs must be removed within one week after the completion of the construction project.
- Works of graphic art painted or applied to building walls which contain no advertising or business identification messages.
- Residential signs under two square feet.
- Neighborhood or subdivision identification signs under 50 square feet.
- Street numbers.
- 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.
- Building markers.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any nonresidential development with three or more tenants shall submit a sign plan, which includes: (1) A summary table listing the location, sign type and area of any existing and proposed signs; (2) A fully dimensioned and scaled elevation drawing of any proposed sign, showing sign type, height, structure and sign area; (3) For building signs, an elevation of the building, showing placement of any sign; (4) If the sign is to be electrically lighted, additional information regarding the Testing Laboratory or the ETL number, and the name and address of the electrical contractor as required by the Community Development Director; (5) Information regarding the type of construction, sign supports and electrical details, Fawned load calculations and footer details as required by the Building Code.

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

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