# Sign Regulations in Hot Springs, South Dakota

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

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

## At a glance

Hot Springs, South Dakota regulates 28 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the Highway Service District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at 30 feet tall and 20 square feet aggregate sign area, with a No closer than 5 ft to any property line. setback (Sec. § 155.051(A)(6)(a), (e), (h), (j), (7)). Most commercial signs in Hot Springs require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Commercial District, Golf Course Commercial District, Mixed Use District | 6 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Highway Service District, Industrial District | 6 | 30 feet | 50 square feet (exclusive of support elements) | — |
| Residential District | 3 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Historic Preservation District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 48 inches | 100 square feet | — |

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

### General Commercial District, Golf Course Commercial District, Mixed Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | — | 25 square feet per sign (50 square feet aggregate sign area) | — | — | — | On-premises, advertising business on that specific site; adjacent to street upon which sign allowance calculated. | — | § 155.051(A)(5)(a), (e), (f), (7) |
| Monument Sign | — | 25 square feet per sign (50 square feet aggregate sign area) | — | — | — | On-premises, advertising business on that specific site; adjacent to street upon which sign allowance calculated. | — | § 155.051(A)(5)(a), (e) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 25 square feet per sign (50 square feet aggregate sign area) | — | — | — | On-premises, advertising business on that specific site; adjacent to street upon which sign allowance calculated. | — | § 155.051(A)(5)(a), (e) |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises, wall-mounted; adjacent to street upon which allowance calculated. | — | § 155.051(A)(5)(b), (c), (e), (7) |
| Off-Premises Billboard | — | As approved on permit review | — | — | — | As allowed by permit review | — | § 155.051(A)(3), (7) |
| Reader-type Sign - Option 1 (Fuel Stations, Hotels/Motels, Restaurants) | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises; for fuel stations, hotel/motel, restaurant only. | — | § 155.051(A)(5)(h)(1) |

### Highway Service District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 30 feet | 20 square feet aggregate sign area | — | No closer than 5 ft to any property line. | — | On-premises, advertising business on that specific site; adjacent to street upon which sign allowance calculated. | — | § 155.051(A)(6)(a), (e), (h), (j), (7) |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet | 50 square feet (exclusive of support elements) | — | No closer than 5 ft to any property line. | — | On-premises; adjacent to street allowance. | — | § 155.051(A)(6)(b), (i), (j) |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | On-premises, wall-mounted; adjacent to street upon which sign allowance calculated. | — | § 155.051(A)(6)(d), (e), (7) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 50 square feet (exclusive of supporting elements) | — | — | — | On-premises, projecting from a building; adjacent to street. | — | § 155.051(A)(6)(d), (e), (7) |
| Off-Premises Billboard | — | As authorized by permit review | — | — | — | As allowed by permit. | — | § 155.051(A)(3), (7) |
| Company Emblems/Logos/Trademarks (Fuel Stations) | — | Exempt from aggregate area calculation. | — | — | — | Fuel station canopy. | — | § 155.051(A)(6)(k)(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Signs (Parking Areas) | — | 4 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per entrance or exit | At entrance/exit of parking areas with >4 car capacity. | — | § 155.051(A)(10)(a) |
| Parking Condition Sign | — | 4 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per parking area | At parking area. | — | § 155.051(A)(10)(a) |
| For Sale/For Rent/Rental Sign | 48 inches | 16 square feet | 48 inches | — | — | On premises for sale/rent/lease. | — | § 155.051(A)(10)(b) |
| Real Estate Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | At subdivision entrance. | — | § 155.051(A)(10)(c) |
| Construction/Development Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | On site only during active construction. | — | § 155.051(A)(10)(d) |
| Seasonal Agricultural Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | On land where product is raised/cultivated. | — | § 155.051(A)(10)(e) |
| Temporary Real Estate/Garage Sale/Political Sign (Temporary Sign Type 1) | 36 inches | — | 24 inches | — | — | Within right-of-way of city street (conditions apply). | — | § 155.051(A)(11)(b) |
| Vehicle Roof-Mounted Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On vehicle roof. | — | § 155.051(A)(16) |

## Prohibited signs in Hot Springs

- No person may post or erect signs, place or distribute advertising material, or erect a fence or barrier on city park and recreation areas without prior authorization from the city.
- Advertising signs shall not be located in any area designated by the governing body as one of historical interest except as provided in the Historic Preservation District Ordinance.
- Advertising signs shall not be located in any area designated by the governing body as one of scenic beauty or natural attractions (unless approved and listed).
- All illuminated signs or billboards must have lighting fixtures so that the light source does not shine or reflect into or on any residential dwellings within 250 feet.
- No sign shall be placed in any unsafe manner.
- Signs shall not be constructed to resemble any official marker erected by a governmental entity, or which by reason of position, shape or color would conflict with the proper functioning of any official traffic control device, sign or marker.
- Signs shall not overhang into or be placed in a dedicated public right-of-way, except as allowed by that governmental entity having jurisdiction.
- Signs shall not overhang into or over adjoining property without written approval by that adjoining property owner.
- Any non-commercial vehicle bearing commercial advertisement shall be considered off-premises signage and is subject to regulations for off-premises advertising.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business or service which has been out of business for 90 days must be removed within or by the end of the 90-day period.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hot Springs

- City wayfinding signs constitute traffic control devices and are exempt from the provisions of § 155.051.
- Political signs, garage sale signs and directional signs, as defined in the section, are exempt from sign permit fees.
- Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency are allowed.
- Garage/yard sale signs do not require a permit, but are limited to three days prior to the event and must be removed immediately following the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit application is required for most signs and must be made on a form provided by the Zoning Administrator.
- Off-premises signs and billboards require a use permitted on review in accordance with § 155.073, and are regulated through the building permit process.
- Sign structures housing signs for multiple businesses (such as a mall or shopping complex) are considered commercial structures and are regulated through the building permit process.
- Engineering data is required for all pole sign structures.
- Temporary on-premises business signs may be placed in lieu of a permanent on-premises sign only if a sign permit for a permanent sign has been applied for.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-dakota/hot-springs