# Sign Regulations in Fargo, North Dakota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fargo, North Dakota (ND)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-dakota/fargo
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/nd/fargo/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=FARGO_MUNICIPAL_CODECIFANODA_CH20LADECO_ART20-13FASICO)

## At a glance

Fargo, North Dakota regulates 40 sign types across 18 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Portables in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and ≤64 sq ft; height ≤8 ft, with a ≥50 ft spacing between portable signs measured from curbline setback (Sec. §20-1309(M)). Most commercial signs in Fargo require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (18 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 8 ft | No temporary sign may exceed 100 sq ft in sign face area | — |
| Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) | 6 | Freestanding per step table; projecting/wall may not extend above roof/parapet | 200 sq ft | — |
| University Mixed Use (UMU) | 3 | Freestanding per step table; projecting/wall may not extend above roof/parapet | Not allowed in UMU (N/A in all roadway classes) | — |
| Single-dwelling Residential (SR); MR-1; MR-2; Agricultural (AG) | 4 | Freestanding per step table; projecting/wall may not extend above roof/parapet | Aggregate: 64 sq ft; Single sign: 8 sq ft maximum | — |
| Multi-dwelling Residential (MR) | 1 | — | MR-1/MR-2: Aggregate 64 sq ft; no single sign >8 sq ft. MR-3: see MR-3 zone entry | — |
| MR-3 | 3 | 8 ft | No single sign >64 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC); Neighborhood Office (NO) | 3 | ≤4 feet (all non-wall signage) | Not allowed in NC/NO (N/A in table) | — |
| General Industrial (GI) | 8 | Per off-premise step table: 0–25 ft setback=25 ft; 25–100 ft=35 ft; 100+ ft=50 ft; Adjacent to Interstate=60 ft (no setback required) | ≤672 sq ft (general); minimum ≥280 sq ft (except portable) | — |
| Limited Industrial (LI) | 8 | Per off-premise step table | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (GC) | 8 | Per off-premise step table | 300 sq ft | — |
| Limited Commercial (LC) | 8 | Per off-premise step table | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Office (GO) | 6 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Public and Institutional (P/I) | 6 | — | 300 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural (AG) | 2 | — | Aggregate: 64 sq ft; per-sign: 8 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic Overlay (H-O) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Hector International Airport Overlay (HIA-O) | 1 | No structure (including signs) may exceed the maximum height limits of the applicable HIA-O surface; up to 35 ft above ground allowed where not otherwise exceeding the surface limits | — | — |
| MHP | 3 | — | Not allowed in MHP (not listed among zones allowing EMC) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 18 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not extend above adjacent parapet or roof of supporting building | — | — | May not extend beyond setback or property line | — | On-premise; mounted to building wall | — | §20-1307(C)(1); §20-1303(O); §20-1303(C),(P) |
| Projecting Sign | May not extend above adjacent parapet or roof of supporting building | — | May project up to 6 feet from face of building | May not project into right-of-way unless specifically allowed (see §20-1303(M)) | — | On-premise; mounted to building | — | §20-1307(C)(2); §20-1303(O) |
| Freestanding Sign (general) | Height limited by distance-from-property-line steps (see Setback Requirements) | — | — | Max height by distance from property line: 0–25 ft setback: 25 ft tall; 25–100 ft setback: 35 ft tall; 100+ ft setback: 50 ft tall; Adjacent to Interstate: 60 ft tall (no setback from property line required) | See additional_requirements | Front or side yard only | — | §20-1307(C)(3)(a)-(d); §20-1307(D); §20-1307(E) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | May not project above, below, or beyond the face of the awning/canopy/marquee except as allowed | — | Horizontal projection beyond face of awning/canopy/marquee up to 12 inches allowed to accommodate letter thickness/electrical | — | — | Attached to awning, canopy, or marquee | — | §20-1307(C)(4)(a)-(b); §20-1303(O) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (EMC) - General Standards | — | See zone-specific EMC limits by roadway classification | — | — | See additional_requirements | On-premise only (zones allowing EMC) | — | §20-1307(J)(1)-(4) |
| Temporary Sign - High Impact | 8 ft | ≤64 sq ft; height ≤8 ft | — | Spacing 300 ft from portable or another high impact sign | — | Only allowed in GI, LI, LC, GC, DMU, and P/I; prohibited within 300 ft of any residential zoning district; prohibited in all other zones | — | §20-1309(L) |
| Temporary Sign - Portable | 8 ft | ≤64 sq ft; height ≤8 ft | — | ≥50 ft spacing between portable signs measured from curbline | Multi-tenant properties (GI, LI, GC, LC, DMU, P/I, MR-3) with 6+ businesses/condo units: max either 2 portable signs or 1 portable + 1 high impact; +1 portable for every additional 4 businesses/units beyond initial 6 | Allowed only in GI, LI, GC, LC, DMU, P/I, and MR-3 (with duration limits); prohibited in other zones | — | §20-1309(M) |
| Temporary Sign - Community-wide Event | 8 ft | ≤64 sq ft; height ≤8 ft | — | — | — | Deemed on-premise regardless of the location of the sign or event | — | §20-1309(N) |

### General Industrial (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aggregate On-Premise Signage Allowance | — | — | — | — | — | On-premise | — | §20-1307(A)(5); §20-1307(B) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Interstate) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Interstate | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (GI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Principal Arterial) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Principal Arterial | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (GI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Minor Arterial) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Minor Arterial | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (GI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Collector) | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Collector | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (GI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Local) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Local street | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (GI) |
| Off-Premise Sign (Static) | Per off-premise step table: 0–25 ft setback=25 ft; 25–100 ft=35 ft; 100+ ft=50 ft; Adjacent to Interstate=60 ft (no setback required) | ≤672 sq ft (general); minimum ≥280 sq ft (except portable) | — | As stated in max_height; spacing per §20-1308(C) | Limited by spacing requirements | GI zones where off-premise signs are allowed per §20-1308 | — | §20-1308(A)(1),(3)-(4),(B),(C),(E) |
| Digital Billboard (Off-Premise) | Per off-premise step table | ≤672 sq ft (in GI generally); measurement/spacing as off-premise; minimum ≥280 sq ft | — | As stated in max_height; spacing per §20-1308(C) | Limited by spacing requirements | GI | — | §20-1308(A)-(E) |

### Limited Industrial (LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aggregate On-Premise Signage Allowance | — | — | — | — | — | On-premise | — | §20-1307(A)(5); §20-1307(B)(3) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Interstate) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Interstate | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (LI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Principal Arterial) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Principal Arterial | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (LI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Minor Arterial) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Minor Arterial | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (LI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Collector) | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Collector | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (LI) |
| Electronic Messaging Center (Local) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Facing Local | — | §20-1307(J)(1) table (LI) |
| Off-Premise Sign (Static) | Per off-premise step table | ≤300 sq ft generally; up to 672 sq ft if abutting interstate and within 150 ft of interstate ROW and oriented to interstate; minimum ≥280 sq ft | — | As stated in max_height; spacing per §20-1308(C) | — | LI | — | §20-1308(A)(1),(3)-(4),(B),(C) |
| Digital Billboard (Off-Premise) | Per off-premise step table | ≤300 sq ft generally; up to 672 sq ft on principal arterial (subject to 44-sign overall cap citywide) or abutting interstate within 150 ft and oriented to interstate | — | As stated in max_height; spacing per §20-1308(C) | — | LI | — | §20-1308(A)-(E) |

## Prohibited signs in Fargo

- Obscene or indecent signs (signs showing specified anatomical areas or sexual activities) are prohibited.
- Signs involving the use of a live animal are prohibited.
- Beacon signs (light signals or summons, flashing or steady) are prohibited.
- Extending signs that project above a parapet, building roof line, canopy, or awning are prohibited.
- Flashing or strobing signs (illumination alternating between fully illuminated and non-illuminated) are prohibited.
- Posting handbills without consent is prohibited (per FMC §10-0312).
- Non-mounted signs (portable signs, tent signs, or strings of light bulbs not permanently mounted to a rigid background) are prohibited.
- Roof signs (erected upon or above a roof or parapet) are prohibited.
- Rotating or revolving signs are prohibited.
- Signs designed to create an optical illusion of movement (including reversible perspective patterns) are prohibited.
- Snipe signs (attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or other objects with content not applicable to the premises) are prohibited.
- Signs similar to official traffic or street signs or that obscure such signs are prohibited.
- Signs that emit sound, odor, smoke, fire, or similar emissions are prohibited.
- Swinging signs that move due to wind because of their suspension are prohibited.
- Unauthorized signs on public property (curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other public surfaces) are prohibited unless specifically authorized.
- Unsafe signs (structurally inadequate, electrical hazard, or too close to high-voltage conductors) are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs used as stationary advertising devices on parked vehicles or trailers for more than 24 consecutive hours are prohibited (logos on vehicles are allowed unless used as stationary advertising).
- Video signs that display moving images (motion pictures, video, LEDs or similar) like televised images are prohibited.
- All signs must be permanent in nature except those expressly allowed as temporary signs under §20-1309.
- Except as otherwise authorized in the sign code, all signs must be located on the same parcel as the associated use.
- Except as authorized in the sign code, in the DMU district, or by approval within a PUD, no sign or supporting structure may be located upon or over any public right-of-way.
- Obsolete or abandoned signs (identifying businesses, goods, or services no longer provided on the premises) must be removed within 30 days after the business ceases.
- Illumination limits: light must be shaded/shielded to prevent glare onto nearby residential areas between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM; lighting must not create a traffic hazard; no exposed reflective bulbs or incandescent lamps exceeding 40 watts on the exterior surface of a sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fargo

- Exempt from all regulation (no permit, size, location, or number limits): indoor signs not visible from public right-of-way.
- Exempt from all regulation: window signs (including on doors).
- Exempt from all regulation: athletic field signs oriented to spectators and not to the motoring public.
- Exempt from all regulation: signs used in cultural events (e.g., street fairs) not oriented to attract the motoring public.
- Exempt from all regulation: integral signs made as an integral part of a structure (e.g., carved in stone/metal).
- Exempt from all regulation: temporary low-wattage lighting displays for festivals/holidays that do not cause distracting or disabling glare.
- Exempt from all regulation: handbills/placards/posters allowed under FMC §10-0312.
- Exempt from all regulation: architectural pendant signs used to denote a streetscape or location.
- Exempt from all regulation: utility signs placed by a utility as part of normal facility operation/maintenance.
- Exempt from all regulation: safety or other official public duty signs erected by/for government (including traffic, transit, legal notices, memorials, historical plaques) and safety signs placed by agencies/utilities/contractors in ROW.
- Exempt from permit requirement: signs used solely for noncommercial messages, provided they do not exceed dimensional limits applicable to commercial signs at that location.
- Exempt from permit requirement: temporary signs per §20-1309 (except portable signs, high-impact signs, and community-wide event signs).
- Exempt from permit requirement: home occupation signs per §20-0403.C.6.
- Exempt from permit requirement: directional signs up to 6 sq ft (and horizontal on-pavement directions), limited to name/logo, arrow, and distance, non-advertising; do not count against aggregate sign area; treated as on-premise even if off-site when meeting the definition.
- Exempt from permit requirement: nameplates up to 1 sq ft with only resident/building/agent names and similar info.
- Exempt from permit requirement: flush-mounted rear entrance signs up to 16 sq ft containing only establishment name and directions; do not count against aggregate sign area.
- Exempt from permit requirement: menu signs at drive-through/drive-in and other signs not legible from the public right-of-way or beyond lot boundaries; do not count against aggregate sign area.
- Exempt from permit requirement: warning/instructional signs (e.g., No Soliciting/No Trespassing/Beware of Dog) up to 1.5 sq ft.
- Exempt from permit requirement: signage on city-approved transit courtesy benches under agreement with the city and proper city permits.
- Exempt from permit requirement: permanent development signage included in an approved subdivision amenity plan per §20-0907 (identification only; no commercial advertising).
- Exempt from permit requirement: replacement of a sign face with a new face of identical dimensions, with prior submittal of basic information to the Building Official.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Iconic signs require a Conditional Use Permit under §20-0909; approval is based on cultural significance/placemaking criteria in §20-1307(C)(5) and runs with the land.
- In the Historic Overlay (H-O) District, no sign permit (including murals) may be issued without a Certificate of Appropriateness per §20-0912.
- Permanent development signage is allowed only when included in a subdivision amenity plan approved under §20-0907; such signage is for development identification only and does not require a separate sign permit.
- Signs over public right-of-way are generally prohibited but may be allowed in the DMU district or as approved within a Planned Unit Development (PUD) through the PUD plan process under §20-0908.
- In the Public and Institutional (P/I) district, development within 300 feet of residential zoning requires Project Review; applicants may pursue Site Plan Review or an Institutional Master Plan (§20-0304.D), and approved plans can govern dimensional and site standards that may include signage.

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

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