# Sign Regulations in Vermillion, South Dakota

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

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

## At a glance

Vermillion, South Dakota regulates 21 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Natural Resource Conservation District (NRC), Agriculture District (A-1) zoning district are capped at 40 ft tall and 160 sq ft per sign, with a 3 ft from property line setback (Sec. Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 5, Table 7, Notes (g)). Most commercial signs in Vermillion require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Natural Resource Conservation District (NRC), Agriculture District (A-1) | 9 | 40 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), Rural Residential District (RR) | 6 | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| General Business District (GB) | 11 | 40 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — |
| Central Business District (CB) | 7 | 15 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 4 | 15 ft | 40 sq ft per sign | — |
| Light Industrial District (LI) | 2 | 15 ft | 60 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Industrial District (GI), Heavy Industrial District (HI) | 2 | 40 ft | 160 sq ft per sign (Table 3); 900 sq ft per lot (Table 2) | — |
| Planned Development District (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Institutional Uses in Residential Districts (INS) | 3 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C), Joint Jurisdictional Zoning Area (mapped to General Business (GB) for signs) | 2 | 40 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 56 in. (state ROW); 64 in. (city ROW) | 60 sq ft (private property); 15 sq ft (ROW) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Natural Resource Conservation District (NRC), Agriculture District (A-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — | 3 ft from property line | 1 per 900 linear feet of street frontage | Front or side yard; not within intersection safety zone; 3 ft setback; not permitted unless located along SD Highway 19, SD Highway 50, or Burbank Road | — | Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 5, Table 7, Notes (g) |
| Area Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | At entrance(s) of areas, only if meeting major arterial requirement; see Zone Notes | — | Table 1, Table 3, §152.04(K), Table 2 Note (g) |
| Incidental Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway/access, and at critical internal decision points | Internal to the project, at driveway or access to public street | — | §152.04(M), Table 1 |
| Residential Sign | 3 ft (freestanding), 6 ft for multi-family attached | 6 sq ft | — | 3 ft from property line | 1 per property (+1 for multi-family 4+ units) | On the lot, not in public right-of-way, 3 ft from property line | — | §152.04(J), Table 1 |
| Building Marker | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On building | — | Table 1, §152.02, §152.04(G) |
| Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | On building | — | Table 1, §152.02 |
| Flag | 10 ft (public ROW) or 40 ft (private property) | 15 sq ft (public ROW) or 60 sq ft (private property) | — | — | — | Private property or as regulated in public ROW | — | §152.04(H), §152.11(D), Table 1, Table 2 notes |
| Temporary Sign | — | 16 sq ft (per Table 4), or as exempt (6 sq ft for single, 32 sq ft for multifamily) | — | 3 ft from property line | Up to 2 per lot (see Table 4) | On property, not in public right-of-way | — | §152.04, Table 1, Table 4 |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), Rural Residential District (RR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Area Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | At subdivision/apartment/area entrance(s) | — | Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 3 ft from property line | — | Front or side yard; 3 ft minimum setback | — | Table 1, Table 3 |
| Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | — | On property of charitable, educational, civic, religious or public body | — | Table 1; Definitions |
| Incidental Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per driveway/access, and 1 at critical internal decision point | At driveway/access, or critical internal decision point | — | §152.04(M), Table 1 |
| Residential Sign | 3 ft (freestanding); 6 ft (multi-family, within 4 ft of structure) | 6 sq ft (single family); 32 sq ft (multi-family 4+ units) | — | 3 ft from property line | 1 per property; multi-family as above | On lot, not in public right-of-way; 3 ft from property line | — | §152.04(J), Table 1 |
| Home Occupation Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home occupation | On building | — | §152.03(E) |

### General Business District (GB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — | 3 ft from property line | 1 per 300 linear feet of frontage | Front or side yard; minimum 3 ft setback; not in intersection safety zone | — | Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 5 |
| Area Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | Entrance(s) to shopping center/area | — | Table 1 |
| Off-Premise Sign | 40 ft | 50-300 sq ft (based on setback) | — | As per Table 7 (min 5 ft, more for larger area) | — | — | — | Table 1, Table 7, Table 5, Notes |
| Ground Sign/Monument Sign | 40 ft | 160 sq ft per sign | — | 3 ft from property line | — | Front/side yard; 3 ft setback | — | Table 1, Table 3, Table 5 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building face | Perpendicular to building wall | — | Table 1, Table 4 |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Table 1, Table 4, §152.10(E) |
| Snap Frame | — | 9 sq ft per sign; 30 sq ft max for lot | — | — | — | Fastened to building at all times | — | Table 1, Table 4 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | On the lot | — | Table 4, Table 1, §152.04 |

## Prohibited signs in Vermillion

- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter are prohibited.
- Beacons, search lights, and flashing signs are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures that resemble, imitate, simulate, or conflict with traffic control signs or devices are prohibited, as are those that mislead or confuse persons traveling on public streets or create a traffic hazard.
- Signs which contain or consist of banners, balloons, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similarly moving devices are prohibited, except as specifically provided in this chapter.
- These moving devices, when not part of any sign, are also prohibited.
- Signs that create a safety hazard by obstructing the clear view of pedestrians or vehicles, or obscure official signs or signals are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, street lights, street signs, or placed on any public property or public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs attached to organic or inorganic natural matter are prohibited.
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying the signs are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs painted on building walls are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct any required egress from a building or structure are prohibited.
- Banners, pole are prohibited.
- All roof signs are prohibited.
- Any sign installed or placed, except in conformance with the requirements of this chapter, is subject to forfeiture and removal as a public nuisance.
- No sign shall be erected in the public right-of-way except as specifically allowed (such as public or governmental signs, certain flags, and certain types of signs in compliance with regulations).

## Signs exempt from permit in Vermillion

- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements but must comply with all other requirements of the chapter.
- Building marker signs, such as names of buildings, dates of erection, commemorative tablets, or similar, carved into building material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type of construction and made an integral part of the structure, are exempt.
- Identification signs (containing only the address and name of the occupant) are exempt.
- Flags are exempt from permit requirements but must comply with all other requirements.
- Temporary signs are exempt from permit requirements, but must still comply with other requirements.
- Banner signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Residential signs (in residential districts, non-illuminated, maximum 6 sq ft, max height 3 ft above grade, min 3 ft from property line, not in public right-of-way, etc.) are exempt.
- Commercial signs (in commercial/industrial districts, non-illuminated, max 32 sq ft, max height 12 ft above grade, min 3 ft from property line, not in public right-of-way, etc.) are exempt.
- Street banners advertising a public event are exempt when specific approval is granted under City Council regulations.
- Seasonal decorations pertaining to recognized national holidays and observances are exempt.
- Public signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest or erected by/for public officers (such as safety or traffic signs, memorial plaques, institution name signs, etc.) are exempt.
- Integral signs for churches or temples, building names, monument citations, etc., when part of the structure, are exempt.
- Window signs displayed inside a window or within a building (with some limits for neon) are exempt.
- Works of graphic art painted or applied to buildings containing no advertising or business identification are exempt.
- Neighborhood or subdivision identification signs under 50 square feet are exempt.
- Invisible signs not visible from public or private ways or adjacent properties are exempt.
- Directional signs (max 4 sq ft, max 3 ft height, limited quantity) are exempt.
- Employment-related temporary non-illuminated signs advertising on-site employment opportunities (subject to area limits by zoning, securely fastened, not to advertise offered services) are exempt.
- Garage/yard sale signs (implied under definitions and nature of temporary signs) are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All permanent sign permits require a detailed site plan of the lot showing the exact location and orientation of the sign(s) relative to all lot lines, building lines, parking lots, driveways, and other pertinent land and architectural features.
- Applications for permanent signs require elevation drawings, sign dimension details, design features, type of illumination, the size and type of existing signs, and other applicable data as required by the city.
- Applications for nonpermanent sign permits require a site plan of the lot showing sign location and orientation relative to all lot lines.
- In Planned Developments (PD), sign regulations and potential plans will be required to follow the sign regulations applicable to the use(s) within the development, which may include additional sign plans.
- Any extension of canopies and awnings beyond 6 feet from the wall requires plans stamped by a licensed architect or professional engineer certifying load-bearing capability.
- A permit may authorize the erection of one or more signs, and each sign’s details must be included in the application (site plan/elevations).

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

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