# Sign Regulations in Milbank, South Dakota

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

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

## At a glance

Milbank, South Dakota regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Portable or Moveable Signs in the Commercial districts, Industrial districts, Business districts zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall, 60 sq ft (6 ft high × 10 ft length), and 10 ft wide, with a Min 20 ft from intersection; min 3 ft from sidewalk setback (Sec. § 154.387(E)). Most commercial signs in Milbank require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts | 3 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft (adjacent to municipal right-of-way) | — |
| Commercial districts, Industrial districts, Business districts | 6 | 32 ft or 6 ft above the peak of the tallest building on site, whichever is greater | 120 sq ft per sign (single frontage) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary, Permitted/Conditional Use) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft (adjacent to municipal right-of-way) | — | Not less than one foot from any street right-of-way; otherwise, minimum setback for the district applies. | 1 per lot per sign type per Table 17.25.03.3 | Anywhere in the front yard, but not closer than one foot from any street right-of-way | — | § 154.387(C), Table 17.25.03.3 |
| Wall Sign (Temporary, Permitted/Conditional Use) | — | 50 sq ft (adjacent to municipal right-of-way) | — | Minimum setback as for the district. | 1 per lot per sign type per Table 17.25.03.3 | On the wall of a building | — | § 154.387(C), Table 17.25.03.3 |
| Temporary Sign (Permitted and Conditional Uses) | — | 32 sq ft (adjacent to municipal right-of-way) | — | Not less than one foot from any street right-of-way; otherwise, minimum setback for the district applies. | 1 per lot per sign type per Table 17.25.03.3 | Anywhere in the front yard, with same setback as other signs | — | § 154.387(C), Table 17.25.03.3 |

### Commercial districts, Industrial districts, Business districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Frontage Lot) | 32 ft or 6 ft above the peak of the tallest building on site, whichever is greater | 120 sq ft per sign (single frontage) | — | Not less than one foot from any right-of-way; at least 100 ft from residential zoning | 1 per 100 lineal feet of frontage; for lots <100 ft frontage, 1 per frontage | Not less than one foot from any street right-of-way; must not overhang right-of-way; not within 100 ft of residentially zoned property | — | § 154.387(D), Table 17.25.04 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Frontage Lot) | 32 ft or 6 ft above the peak of the tallest building on site, whichever is greater | 75 sq ft per sign (multiple frontage lot, per sign) | — | Not less than one foot from any right-of-way; at least 100 ft from residential zoning | 1 per 100 lineal feet of frontage; for lots <100 ft frontage, 1 per frontage | Not less than one foot from any street right-of-way; must not overhang right-of-way; not within 100 ft of residentially zoned property | — | § 154.387(D), Table 17.25.04 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Same as primary structure | Not specified | On the wall of a building; must not project over public property | — | § 154.387(D), Table 17.25.04 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | Applicable side or rear setback for primary structures; not less than one foot from right-of-way. | 1 per lot | Not less than one foot from any street right-of-way; same setbacks as primary structure | — | § 154.387(D), Table 17.25.04 |
| Portable or Moveable Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft (6 ft high × 10 ft length) | 10 ft | Min 20 ft from intersection; min 3 ft from sidewalk | 1 per 150 ft of lot frontage | Not closer than 20 ft to any intersection, and not closer than 3 ft from any sidewalk | — | § 154.387(E) |
| Freestanding Sign (Vacant Lot Conditional Use) | — | 120 sq ft | — | 100 ft from residential zoning | 1 per 150 ft of frontage | On an otherwise vacant lot under conditional use permit | — | § 154.387(G) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Sign (Component Display) | — | — | — | — | — | Wherever sign type is permitted | — | § 154.387(F) |
| Handicapped Parking Space Sign | — | — | — | — | As determined by City Administrator | Posted in parking spaces reserved for physically handicapped persons. | — | § 72.06 |

## Prohibited signs in Milbank

- Signs that are confusing or distracting to motorists are prohibited.
- Signs that impair the driver’s ability to see pedestrians, obstacles, or other vehicles are prohibited.
- Signs that impair the driver’s ability to see and interpret any official traffic sign, signal, or device are prohibited.
- Signs that create a nuisance to persons using a public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs that constitute a nuisance to occupancy of adjacent and contiguous property by their brightness, size, height, or movement are prohibited.
- Other than utility fixtures or holiday decorations, no signs, awnings, or display shall be suspended, hanged, or placed so that they hang over any part of a street or sidewalk used for vehicular or pedestrian travel unless a written application for a permit is made to the Administrative Official and said Official grants a permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Milbank

- Notices for municipal events, utility fixtures, or holiday decorations are generally excepted from some sign requirements and restrictions.
- No section of the ordinance requiring signs will be enforced against an alleged violator if an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible at the time and place of the alleged violation.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign, awning, or display intended to overhang or be suspended over a street or sidewalk requires a written application for a permit to the Administrative Official, and approval must be granted.
- Signs requiring a building permit must be constructed in accordance with that permit; specifics mentioned for both residential and business/industrial districts.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Milbank, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Milbank+SD&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-milbank

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