# Sign Regulations in Custer, South Dakota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Custer, South Dakota (SD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-dakota/custer
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Custer, South Dakota regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the Central Business Zone District zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 100 sq ft (per sign); total parcel allotment two (2) sq ft per 1 ft lineal frontage, with a 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless mounted on structure not meeting setback. setback (Sec. 17.38.060.L; 17.38.060.I). Most commercial signs in Custer require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central Business Zone District | 11 | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (per sign); total parcel allotment two (2) sq ft per 1 ft lineal frontage | — |
| Medical Zone District, Highway Commercial Zone District, Industrial Zone District | 12 | 25 ft | 400 sq ft (per sign); overall parcel allotment 3 sq ft per 1 ft of front footage (min 75 sq ft) | — |
| Residential Zone District | 7 | ≤25 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Park Zone District | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | <4 sq ft (up to 20 sq ft if City Planner approves for community event) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Central Business Zone District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (per sign); total parcel allotment two (2) sq ft per 1 ft lineal frontage | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless mounted on structure not meeting setback. | — | On the wall/storefront of building | — | 17.38.060.L; 17.38.060.I |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 100 sq ft (per sign) | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless mounted on structure not meeting setback. | — | Private property, 5 ft from property/right-of-way line unless on existing structure. | — | 17.38.060.L; G |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | — | 6 sq ft (2 ft x 3 ft) | — | — | 1 per business | On property or sidewalk; displayed only during business hours. | — | 17.38.050.E |
| Feather Flag | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On private property or per Maintenance and Encroachment Agreement. | — | 17.38.050.H |
| Flag | ≤25 ft | ≤15 sq ft | — | — | — | On property; must maintain required height if within State agreement area. | — | 17.38.050.I |
| Temporary Sign (≤10 sq ft) | — | ≤10 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless on permitted building. | 2 per property | ≥5 ft from property lines, unless on permitted building | — | 17.38.050.A |
| Temporary Sign (>10 sq ft and <20 sq ft) | — | <20 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless on permitted building. | 2 per property | ≥5 ft from property lines, unless on permitted building | — | 17.38.050.A |
| Banner | — | ≤30 sq ft | — | — | — | With City Planner approval, 7 days before/3 days after event. | — | 17.38.050.G |

### Medical Zone District, Highway Commercial Zone District, Industrial Zone District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft | 400 sq ft (per sign); overall parcel allotment 3 sq ft per 1 ft of front footage (min 75 sq ft) | — | 5 ft from property/right-of-way lines unless on structure not meeting setback. | — | On wall of building, facing qualifying frontage. | — | 17.38.060.K, 17.38.060.I |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 400 sq ft (per sign); overall parcel allotment 3 sq ft per 1 ft of front footage (min 75 sq ft) | — | 5 ft from property/right-of-way lines unless on structure not meeting setback. | — | Private property, 5 ft from property/right-of-way lines unless on structure not meeting setback. | — | 17.38.060.K, 17.38.060.G |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | — | 6 sq ft (2 ft x 3 ft) | — | — | 1 per business | On property; displayed only during business hours. | — | 17.38.050.E |
| Feather Flag | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | On private property or per Maintenance and Encroachment Agreement. | — | 17.38.050.H |
| Temporary Sign (≤10 sq ft) | — | ≤10 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless on permitted building. | 2 per property | ≥5 ft from property lines, unless on permitted building | — | 17.38.050.A |
| Temporary Sign (>10 sq ft and <20 sq ft) | — | <20 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless on permitted building. | 2 per property | ≥5 ft from property lines, unless on permitted building | — | 17.38.050.A |
| Temporary Sign (≤30 sq ft) | — | ≤30 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless on permitted building. | 2 per property | ≥5 ft from property lines, unless on permitted building | — | 17.38.050.A |
| Banner | — | ≤30 sq ft | — | — | — | With City Planner approval, 7 days before/3 days after event. | — | 17.38.050.G |

### Residential Zone District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Private property | — | 17.38.060.J |
| Identification Sign for Housing Development | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At entry to subdivision/community, on private property | — | 17.38.050.K |
| Temporary Sign (≤10 sq ft) | — | ≤10 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property/right-of-way lines unless on permitted building. | 2 per property | ≥5 ft from property lines, unless on permitted building | — | 17.38.050.A |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | — | 6 sq ft (2 ft x 3 ft) | — | — | 1 per business | On property; displayed only during business hours. | — | 17.38.050.E |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Interior portion of a window. | — | 17.38.050.J |
| Murals | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.38.050.F |
| Flag | ≤25 ft | ≤15 sq ft | — | — | — | On property; must maintain required height if within State agreement area. | — | 17.38.050.I |

## Prohibited signs in Custer

- Full Motion Signs as defined in Section 17.38.030.
- Signs mimicking Traffic Signal Signs and Governmental Signs.
- Signs with obscene material as defined in SDCL 22-24-27(11).
- Unshielded or excessively bright Lit or Illuminated Signs that exceed the standards set forth in subsection 17.38.060.I.
- Signs placed in a location which creates a traffic or pedestrian hazard.
- Billboard Signs.
- Merchandise intended to be used as permanent signage (except temporarily displayed merchandise that complies with Custer Municipal Code Section 12.04.040E).
- Signs in the Floodway, except for approved Governmental Signs.
- Signs that are not explicitly allowed by this chapter are subject to review and approval of the Planning Office and/or City Council.
- Signs shall not overhang into or be placed in any dedicated public right-of-way except as allowed by the governmental entity having jurisdiction.
- Signs shall not overhang or extend over any adjacent property without documented written approval from the respective property owner.
- No sign shall obstruct the visual clearance triangle at road or street intersections.
- All sign structures shall display a message; failure to display a message for thirty (30) consecutive days shall result in corrective action.
- Signs must be maintained in good repair to prevent deterioration, damage, decay, and/or abandonment.

## Signs exempt from permit in Custer

- Campaign signs during a relevant local, state, or federal election timeframe are exempt from the requirements of this Chapter and are subject to South Dakota Codified Law.
- Permanent and temporary signs placed by a Federal, State, or Local government are exempt from permitting requirements if they do not pose a safety hazard.
- Temporary signs on private property meeting the definition of 'Temporary Sign' do not require a sign permit, subject to other general and prohibited sign requirements.
- Sign benches are allowed without a permit in designated districts, subject to placement requirements.
- A-Frame Signs (one per business, under size limit) are allowed in all zone districts without a permit.
- Murals are allowed without a permit (subject to content and zone rules).
- Banners not exceeding 30 square feet associated with a regional or community event are allowed with City Planner permission and no more than 7 days before or 3 days after an event.
- One feather flag per business is allowed in certain districts without a permit if proper placement agreements are met.
- Flags (≤15 sq ft and ≤25 ft height) are allowed in all zone districts.
- Window signs mounted to the interior portion of a window are allowed in all zone districts.
- Identification sign for housing development (up to 100 sq ft per entrance in subdivisions of >5 lots or manufactured housing community) is allowed without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement of a master sign plan, general sign plan, or variance meeting is specified within this ordinance chapter. The variance process follows Custer Municipal Code 17.48.
- Signs not explicitly allowed by the ordinance are subject to review and approval of the Planning Office and/or City Council.
- Signs that require both a sign permit and a building permit include those over 100 square feet, monument signs, roof-mounted signs (which also require engineered plans for wind and snow loads), and lit/electronic signs.

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

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