# Sign Regulations in Valley City, North Dakota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Valley City, North Dakota (ND)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/north-dakota/valley-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ND/Valley_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT7BUSISTSICUBO)

## At a glance

Valley City, North Dakota regulates 21 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Business Zoning Use District, Industrial Zoning Use District zoning district are capped at 8 ft overall; 6 ft sign face tall, 48 sq ft, and 8 ft wide, with a Meets freestanding sign setbacks for Corridor Overlay and underlying zoning district setback (Sec. Section 7-02-03 a-i). Most commercial signs in Valley City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Zoning Use District, Industrial Zoning Use District | 2 | 8 ft overall; 6 ft sign face | 48 sq ft | — |
| Corridor Overlay District | 2 | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning District, Industrial Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | — | 64 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Business Zoning Use District, Industrial Zoning Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sign | 8 ft overall; 6 ft sign face | 48 sq ft | 8 ft | Meets freestanding sign setbacks for Corridor Overlay and underlying zoning district | 1 per property or development complex, 2 for sites with 6+ tenants | On same parcel as advertisement/notice, not on public right-of-way without approval | — | Section 7-02-03 a-i |
| High Impact Sign | — | — | — | Meets freestanding sign setbacks for Corridor Overlay and underlying zoning district | 1 per property; 2 for multiple tenant sites | On same parcel as advertisement/notice, not on public right-of-way without approval | — | Section 7-02-04 a-o |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Single/Two-Family) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On residence | — | Section 7-02-05 2, Section 7-02-06 10 |
| For Sale/To Rent Sign (Six or fewer units) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot, 2 if corner lot | Only upon property offered for sale or rent; one per lot, two on corner lot (one facing each street) | — | Section 7-02-05 10a |
| For Sale/To Rent Sign (Seven or more units) | — | 24 sq ft | — | Must fully comply with zoning district setback | One per public street access | One sign facing each public street with access to property; must be 100 ft from any preexisting home | — | Section 7-02-05 10b |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Multiple Family) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On structure | — | Section 7-02-05 2 |
| Informational Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per business | One per business, affixed to existing sign structure/building, or as restaurant menu board | — | Section 7-02-05 3 |
| Directional Sign (On-premise) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Up to 4 | On premise | — | Section 7-02-05 4a |
| Directional Sign (Off-premise) | — | As approved by Building Inspector | — | — | — | Limited to situations where access is confusing/traffic safety could be jeopardized | — | Section 7-02-05 4b |
| Campaign Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign/lot | — | — | — | Cannot compromise traffic/public safety | — | Section 7-02-05 5 |
| Roadside Market Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises where produce is grown/sold | — | Section 7-02-05 9 |
| For Sale/To Rent Sign (Industrial/Commercial Property, Within 50 ft Front Property Line) | — | 32 sq ft | — | May not be closer to property line than 50% of the setback in the zoning district | One per public street | One per public street providing property access, within 50 ft of front property line | — | Section 7-02-05 10c |
| For Sale/To Rent Sign (Industrial/Commercial Property, 50 ft or more from Front Property Line) | — | 64 sq ft | — | May not be closer to property line than 50% of the setback in the zoning district | One per public street | One per public street providing property access, 50 ft or more from front property line | — | Section 7-02-05 10c |

## Prohibited signs in Valley City

- Off-premise advertising signs are prohibited except approved signs within a commercial or industrial planned unit development, advertising businesses therein.
- Advertising or business signs on or attached to equipment such as semi-truck trailers or motor vehicles where signing is a principal use of the equipment on either a temporary or permanent basis are prohibited. Such signs may be used for special events on site and may not be displayed for more than 14 calendar days within any four-month period.
- Beacon, motion, and flashing signs, permanent or temporary, are prohibited except reader boards, time and temperature signs, and barber poles.
- Roof signs are prohibited. Business signs may be placed on the fascia or marquee of a building, provided they do not extend above the highest elevation of the building, excluding chimneys.
- Business signs which advertise an activity, business, product, or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located are prohibited. Such signs may remain in place for not more than 30 days from the date of vacancy where the owner or lessor is seeking a new tenant.
- Graffiti is prohibited.
- Portable signs, banners, inflatable signs, tethered balloons, and similar devices are prohibited except as provided in this chapter.
- Signs which are tacked on bridges, fire hydrants, official public signs, trees, fences, utility poles, or in any portion of a public right-of-way; temporary signs fastened to sign structures, parking lot light poles, or other structures; and temporary signs secured by wires, stakes, or weights are prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited except by special permit of the Building Inspector.
- Home occupation signs are prohibited except as part of an identification sign for the residence, which does not exceed one square foot in area and is mounted flush against the building.
- Pennants are prohibited within the Business District.

## Signs exempt from permit in Valley City

- Public signs of a public, noncommercial nature, including safety signs, directional signs to public facilities, trespassing signs, traffic signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, memorial plaques and the like, when erected by or on behalf of a public official or employee in the performance of official duty, are allowed without a permit.
- Identification signs not exceeding one square foot for single and two-family structures and 16 square feet for multiple family structures are allowed without a permit.
- Informational signs not exceeding 24 square feet are allowed without a permit. One informational sign per business is not included within the allowable sign area, provided it does not exceed 24 square feet and is fastened to an existing sign structure or building, or is a menu board for a restaurant.
- On-premise directional signs not larger than four square feet (up to four allowed unless more approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission) are allowed without a permit and not included within allowable signage.
- Off-premise directional signs are permitted in limited situations where access is confusing or traffic safety could be jeopardized, with size approved by the Building Inspector and containing no advertising.
- Campaign signs not exceeding 32 square feet for any one sign or for all signs on any lot are allowed without a permit. Signs must include the name of the person responsible and must be removed by that person. They may not be posted where traffic and public safety are compromised.
- Flags and insignia of any government are exempt except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Holiday signs or displays pertaining to a religious, national, state, or local holiday (and no other matter), displayed for not more than 30 days in any calendar year, are allowed without a permit.
- Non-illuminated construction or development signs on the site of the construction, alteration, repair, or development are allowed without a permit and must be removed within two years of the first building permit on the site or when the project is completed, unless approved as a permanent identification sign as a conditional use.
- Roadside market signs advertising produce grown and sold on the premises (not exceeding 32 square feet and displayed not more than six months of a calendar year) are allowed without a permit.
- "For Sale" and "To Rent" signs are permitted subject to various size, location, and duration restrictions as specified for residential, industrial, or commercial properties, including rummage sale signs (not exceeding six square feet, limited posting and removal times, not located in the public right-of-way or on utility poles/equipment).
- Signs relating to official local, state, or federal government agencies and city entrance signs are exempt.
- Window signs not exceeding 50 percent of the total glass area of the building face are exempt and not included within allowable sign area.
- Small signs not exceeding one square foot in area shall not be counted as part of the allowable sign area, provided they are not part of a larger sign scheme for the building or property.
- Pennants may be erected on the premises of an establishment in commercial and industrial zoning districts not in the "Corridor Overlay District," provided they are properly maintained and fastened securely.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan to scale showing the location of lot lines, building structures, parking area, existing and proposed signs, and any other physical features is required as part of a sign permit application. All signs on the property must be shown on this plan.
- Conditional uses, such as signs in residential districts or signs facing residential districts that require illumination, or reader boards that may create a nuisance or traffic hazard, require review and approval (potentially by the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Commission) and may necessitate a sign plan as part of the application.
- Variance requests (for deviations from the chapter) must be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission in accordance with specified procedures, which may require presentations of plans or additional documentation.
- Applications for City Commission approval (e.g., conditional use permits) for a sign must be processed in accordance with the procedural and substantive requirements of the Zoning Chapter.
- Master sign plans are not explicitly referenced by name in this ordinance section, but the requirement to show all existing and proposed signs on a scaled site plan as part of any sign permit application serves a similar function.

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

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