# Sign Regulations in Salem, South Dakota

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salem, South Dakota (SD)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/south-dakota/salem
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/SD/Salem/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_APXAZO_CH11ADUSRE_11.06SIRE)

## At a glance

Salem, South Dakota regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Permanent - Single-Family Dwelling or Attached Dwelling)s in the R-1, R-2 zoning district are capped at 2 ft tall and 2 sq ft (Sec. 11.06(F)(2)). Most commercial signs in Salem require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2 | 14 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| NRC | 4 | 6 ft | 200 sq ft (cumulative per lot) | — |
| CB | 4 | 18 ft | 200 sq ft (cumulative) | — |
| GB | 4 | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| LI, HI | 5 | 5 ft (freestanding) | 200 sq ft or larger | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Adequate height not to interfere with pedestrians and vehicles | — | — |

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

### R-1, R-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent - Single-Family Dwelling or Attached Dwelling) | 2 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot plus 1 per approved home occupation | On each lot with a single-family detached dwelling or single-family attached dwelling; one additional per approved home occupation. | — | 11.06(F)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent - Multiple-Family Dwelling) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | 11.06(F)(4)b |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent - Multiple-Family Dwelling Unit w/ Exterior Access) | 2 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per unit plus 1 per unit with approved home occupation | Per dwelling unit with immediate exterior access; one additional per unit if home occupation. | — | 11.06(F)(4)c |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent - Not Containing Dwelling, Manufactured Home Park, House of Worship, School) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | 11.06(F)(7)b |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Permanent - Manufactured Home Park Individual Space) | 2 ft for Freestanding | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per space plus 1 per approved home occupation | 1 per manufactured home space; 1 additional per approved home occupation | — | 11.06(F)(3)a |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (Permanent - Manufactured Home Park Entrance) | 6 ft (freestanding only) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance to manufactured home park | — | 11.06(F)(3)b |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Temporary, ≤9 sq ft) | 4 ft (freestanding only) | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 permanent; 2 extra for special event; 1 extra for sale/lease/rent | Per lot | — | 11.06(G)(3)a |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Temporary, >9 sq ft up to 32 sq ft) | 4 ft (freestanding only) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | 11.06(G)(2)a |

### NRC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Permanent, Not Containing Dwelling, House of Worship, School) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal building | 1 per principal building | — | 11.06(F)(6)a |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent, Not Containing Dwelling, House of Worship, School) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | 11.06(F)(6)b |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Temporary, ≤9 sq ft) | 5 ft (freestanding only) | 9 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot; 2 more for special event; 1 more for sale/lease/rent | Per lot | — | 11.06(G)(3)b |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Temporary, >9 sq ft up to 200 sq ft) | — | 200 sq ft (cumulative per lot) | — | If >9 sq ft, must be at least 10 ft from all lot lines | 2 per lot | Per lot | — | 11.06(G)(2)b |

### LI, HI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall, Roof, or Projecting Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building/structure | — | 11.06(F)(10)a |
| Freestanding Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage; if frontage ≥ 200 ft, then 2 | Freestanding; per street frontage | — | 11.06(F)(10)b |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (≥ 200 sq ft) | — | 200 sq ft or larger | — | At least 500 ft from residential district or another large sign | — | — | — | 11.06(F)(10)c |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Temporary, ≤9 sq ft) | 5 ft (freestanding) | 9 sq ft (single sign); up to 200 sq ft total (per lot, for temp signs per year) | — | — | 2 per lot; 2 more for special event; 1 for sale/lease/rent | Per lot | — | 11.06(G)(3)b |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Temporary, >9 sq ft up to 200 sq ft) | — | 200 sq ft (cumulative per lot) | — | If >9 sq ft, must be at least 10 ft from all lot lines | 2 per lot | Per lot | — | 11.06(G)(2)b |

## Prohibited signs in Salem

- No sign may be erected, altered, or relocated without first obtaining a permit from the city, unless specifically exempted.
- Signs that imitate an official traffic sign or signal or that are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination that may be reasonably confused with or construed as a traffic control device are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights, street signs, or otherwise placed on any public property or within the public right-of-way are prohibited (with exception for signs integrated into support structure by design).
- Signs which obstruct any required ingress or egress from a building or structure are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers which are parked or otherwise located on a lot for the primary purpose of displaying the signs are prohibited.
- Any sign that is not protected by either federal or state law, or otherwise allowed by the ordinance, is prohibited.
- Except as required by law, no sign may be displayed without the consent of the legal owner of the lot on which the sign is located.
- Except as required by law or otherwise permitted by the city, any sign installed or placed on public property shall be deemed illegal and subject to confiscation as a nuisance.
- No wall or projecting sign may project over the public right-of-way or sidewalk unless the building is less than five feet from the right-of-way or sidewalk, and even then, the sign must be placed at an adequate height not to interfere with pedestrians, traffic, or snow removal.
- No temporary sign may be illuminated in any manner.
- Any permanent sign not constructed of permanent materials, not permanently attached, not maintained in a safe and legible condition, or not able to withstand a wind load of 30 pounds per square foot is prohibited and may be declared a nuisance.
- Unsafe, unlawful, or abandoned signs are declared a nuisance and must be remedied.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salem

- Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like, of permanent-type construction and made an integral part of the building structure.
- Street address, street name, and/or building identification signs necessary for first responders to locate the building, structure, or lot for emergency response.
- Signs located entirely inside of a building or other enclosed place.
- Signs affixed to or painted on a display window.
- Signs erected by the city or other governmental entity.
- Signs regulated, approved, or otherwise required by federal or state agencies, including, but not limited to, historical marker signs and official traffic control devices.
- Holiday lights and decorations displayed during the appropriate time of year.
- National, state, or historical flags or their emblem or insignia.
- Maintenance of legally permitted signs or signs existing prior to the effective date is allowed and exempt from permits, as long as like-for-like material, color, and design are used (repair, replacement, maintenance).
- Temporary signs that meet certain criteria by zone/size/duration as specified in section 11.06(G)(3) do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no direct reference to a required 'master sign plan' or a sign plan required for all signage in all zones.
- Permit applications require submission of forms and information sufficient for complete review, but no mention of a required comprehensive sign plan or planning commission hearing in the general sign ordinance.
- If a conditional use permit, building permit, or other permit has already been issued pursuant to this chapter, the applicant is not required to obtain a sign permit for the sign until such time as the sign is altered or changed from its depiction on the plans used to approve the permit.

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

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