# Sign Regulations in Lead, South Dakota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lead, South Dakota (SD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-dakota/lead
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Lead, South Dakota regulates 25 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Home Occupation Identification Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 1 sq ft (Sec. § 155.075(A)). Most commercial signs in Lead require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | May not extend above the peak of the roof line unless it is parallel with the peak of the roof and sign also parallel | 300 sq ft per space | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts | 13 | — | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Designated Historic Districts | 2 | — | Appropriate to architecture/signable area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | 300 sq ft per space | — | — | — | Not permitted within 100 feet of another billboard; off-premises only | — | § 155.074(N) |
| Roof Sign | May not extend above the peak of the roof line unless it is parallel with the peak of the roof and sign also parallel | — | — | — | — | On roof, conditions above | — | § 155.074(P) |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property, with permission from Building Inspector | — | § 155.074(E,F) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | May project over a street, alley, or public place | — | § 155.074(G) |
| Portable, Freestanding, Unattached Sign (e.g., Sandwich Board) | — | — | — | Minimum 3 feet from the street, or variance required | — | Outside buildings; minimum 3 ft from the street | — | § 155.074(Q) |
| Advertising Wall or Protruding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Only for the business occupying the premises (except historic signs being renovated) | — | § 155.074(L) |
| Ground Sign on Public Property | — | — | — | — | — | On public property | — | § 155.074(D) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per principal structure | Placed against a wall of the primary structure | — | § 155.075(A) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One | On the premises, wall-mounted or ground type | — | § 155.075(B) |
| Commercial Sign (Residential Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 155.074(I) |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Commercial General) | — | — | — | — | — | On exterior wall, flush-mounted | — | § 155.076(A)(1) |
| Projecting Sign (Commercial General) | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building toward street | — | § 155.076(A)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial within 25 ft of curb line with traffic hazard) | — | — | — | Within 25 ft of curb; see clearance requirement | — | Within 25 feet of street curb line | — | § 155.076(B) |
| Awning, Canopy, or Marquee Sign (Commercial) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to awning, canopy, or marquee | — | § 155.076(C) |
| Wall Sign (Hotel/Motel; Commercial Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | Wall-mounted | — | § 155.076(D)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Hotel/Motel; Commercial Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | Freestanding on property | — | § 155.076(D)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Cabins, Camps, Campgrounds; Commercial Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | Wall-mounted | — | § 155.076(D)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Enclosed Mall; Commercial Districts) | — | 300 sq ft per face | — | — | Two per enclosed mall | Freestanding | — | § 155.076(D)(4)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Lead

- No sign shall constitute a nuisance to either an adjacent property owner or the general public.
- No sign shall conflict with the clear and obvious appearance or public devices controlling traffic or emergency vehicles.
- Graffiti signs shall not be permitted.
- Non-conforming signs upon 30 days written notice by the Building Inspector shall be removed. Refusal may be subject to fine.
- Advertising wall and protruding signs shall be restricted to the business occupying the premises upon which the sign is located with the exception of historical signs being renovated.
- Signs and/or banners may not be affixed to a vehicle that is used or will be used as a permanent or semi-permanent display.
- Paper signs larger than 11 inches by 17 inches will not be allowed, signs smaller than 11 inches by 17 inches are allowed without permit.
- Any exterior, portable, freestanding or unattached signs, such as a sidewalk sign or sandwich board sign, shall not be allowed unless placed a minimum of three feet from the street or if granted a variance.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, construct, reconstruct, alter, maintain or use any sign that is in violation of these regulations.
- All signs along any state or federal highway shall comply with all city, state and federal regulations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lead

- The changing of the advertising copy or message on a painted or printed sign, theater marquees and similar signs specifically designated for replaceable copy of previously approved sign.
- Painting, repainting or cleaning of an advertising structure, or the changing of the advertising copy or message thereon, shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires a sign permit, unless a structural change is made on previously approved sign.
- Real estate signs advertising residential or commercial property for sale so long as the placement of such signs are in conformance with requirements of these regulations.
- Signs of any type displayed on the interior of a business.
- Wall-mounted or free-standing informational or directional sign not exceeding two square feet.
- Manufacturers' product signs, common to the industry, being promoted or advertised as long as they conform with other sections of the regulations.
- Historic signs, including those painted on the exterior of a structure.
- Paper signs 11 inches by 17 inches or smaller.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Before any sign can be erected or altered in any way, a valid permit must be issued by the Building Inspector.
- Each application for a sign permit shall be submitted on a form supplied by the City Building Inspector and accompanied by a fee as set by resolution by the Lead City Commission.
- Applications shall be submitted to the Building Inspector for review by the Historic Preservation Commission for recommendation to the Lead City Commission.
- Temporary signs shall be regulated by the City Building Inspector.
- All banners will require approval by the City Building Inspector and be subject to removal as determined by the City Building Inspector.
- Ground signs on public property shall be first approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.
- Commercial signs in Residential Districts shall be issued by the Planning and Zoning Commission under the variance procedure.
- Any exterior, portable, freestanding or unattached signs, such as a sidewalk sign or sandwich board sign, shall only be allowed if placed a minimum of three feet from the street or if granted a variance by the Planning and Zoning Commission with recommendation to the Lead City Commission.

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

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