# Sign Regulations in Whitewood, South Dakota

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

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

## At a glance

Whitewood, South Dakota regulates 20 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Billboards in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 feet above ground level tall and 50 feet length max, with a At least front yard depth; increase 0.5 ft per sq ft over 100 ft² (max 300 ft); 100 ft min from Residential District setback (Sec. § 155.064(A)(4), (6), § 151.006). Most commercial signs in Whitewood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 24 feet above roof level; shall not exceed height limit of zoning district | 150 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | — | 30 square feet | — |
| Commercial/Industrial District | 4 | — | No less than 50 sq ft per property | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roof Sign | 24 feet above roof level; shall not exceed height limit of zoning district | — | — | — | — | On roof, clear space of at least 6 feet between roof level and lowest part of sign; no projection beyond exterior wall | — | § 155.064(A)(5), § 151.006 |
| Pole Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way; 5 feet from other property line | — | At least 10 feet from street right-of-way, at least 5 feet from other property line | — | § 155.064(A)(13), § 151.006 |
| Billboard | 20 feet above ground level | 50 feet length max | — | At least front yard depth; increase 0.5 ft per sq ft over 100 ft² (max 300 ft); 100 ft min from Residential District | — | — | — | § 155.064(A)(4), (6), § 151.006 |
| Parking Area Entrance/Exit Sign | — | 2 square feet (entrance/exit identification); 9 square feet (conditions of use) | — | — | One entrance/exit sign per entrance/exit; one conditions of use sign per lot | On parking area (entrance/exit and conditions of use) | — | § 155.064(D)(1) |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 4 square feet (typical); up to 200 square feet (larger properties) | — | 20 feet from street line | One per property | On premises for sale/rent; may be ground or wall sign | — | § 155.064(D)(2) |
| Real Estate Subdivision Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | Not in required yard | One per subdivision | On property being advertised; not in required yard | — | § 155.064(D)(3) |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per lot | On lot under construction | — | § 155.064(D)(4) |
| Special Event Sign | — | 24 square feet (event sign); 3 square feet (directional) | — | — | One event sign per event; multiple directional possible | On site of special event (main sign); directional signs off-site | — | § 155.064(D)(6) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Single-family/Multi-family Dwelling) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit | — | § 155.064(B)(1) |
| Identification Sign (Multi-family and Group Dwelling) | — | 9 square feet | — | — | One per building | On principal building | — | § 155.064(B)(2) |
| Bulletin Board/Identification Sign (Church, School, Public Building) | — | 30 square feet | — | At least half of required setback from property line | One per street frontage | Church, School, or Public Building property | — | § 155.064(B)(3) |

### Commercial/Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board / Identification Sign (Public Recreation/Community/Medical Facilities) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On property for permitted use | — | § 155.064(C)(1) |
| Pole Sign (Gasoline Service Station) | — | 30 square feet per sign | — | — | 2 pole signs per site | On gasoline service station property | — | § 155.064(C)(2) |
| Business Signs (Gasoline Service Station) | — | — | — | — | — | On gasoline service station property | — | § 155.064(C)(2) |
| Business Signs (All Other Permitted Principal Uses) | — | No less than 50 sq ft per property | — | Not closer than half the required setback | — | Mounted on buildings or on permanent sign display devices affixed to ground | — | § 155.064(C)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Whitewood

- No unauthorized person shall erect or maintain, upon any highway, any warning or direction sign, marker, signals, or light in imitation of any official sign, marker, signal, or light.
- No person shall erect or maintain, upon any highway, any traffic or highway sign or signal bearing any commercial advertising.
- No person shall willfully deface, injure, move, obstruct, or interfere with any official traffic sign or signal.
- No person shall deface, remove, change, mar, interfere with, or obliterate, wholly or in part, any sign, signboard, or card lawfully placed by the city or any person.
- No sign, awning, or display shall be suspended, hanged, or placed to hang over any part of a street or sidewalk used for vehicular or pedestrian travel unless a permit is granted.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained where its position, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color may obstruct or interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic-control sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall be erected to obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
- No illuminated sign where the light source moves or is not of constant intensity and color, or where any light bulb can shine directly into the eyes of a vehicle occupant, or into a residence window within 300 feet, or interferes with traffic signs or devices.
- No illuminated sign is permitted within 50 feet of a Residential District unless it does not shine or reflect light onto such property.
- No advertising sign shall be located in any area designated by the Common Council as one of scenic beauty or historical interest.
- No building walls shall be used for advertising except for advertising pertaining to the use on the premises.
- No sign shall be suspended across public streets or other public places except as permitted by the Common Council.
- No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly-owned signs (e.g., traffic or directional signs).
- All signs overhanging sidewalks must be at least nine feet above the sidewalk and may not extend over sidewalk more than two-thirds its width, or ten feet total.
- No flashing or intermittent illumination signs in Residential Districts.
- Billboards and other advertising structures are prohibited in Residential Districts.
- Unsafe or unlawful signs must be made to conform or removed within ten days of written notification by the Building Inspector.

## Signs exempt from permit in Whitewood

- Nothing in § 73.03 prohibits signs, markers, or signals erected by organizations authorized by the Common Council.
- Utility fixtures and holiday decorations are exempt from permit requirements for overhanging streets or sidewalks.
- Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental agency are permitted in any district.
- Non-illuminated "For Sale" or "For Rent" signs (up to 4 sq.ft.), with allowances for larger lots, are permitted in any district under specified conditions.
- Real estate subdivision signs (up to 100 sq.ft.) for approved subdivisions are permitted under specified conditions.
- Construction or development signs (up to 12 sq.ft.) are permitted while construction is actively underway.
- For each permitted or required parking area with capacity over four cars, certain non-illuminating entrance/exit and condition-of-use signs are permitted.
- One sign for special events of public interest (up to 24 sq.ft.) on the site of the event, with removal timing, plus small directional signs (up to 3 sq.ft.).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permits must be obtained for signs, awnings, or displays suspended, hanged, or placed over streets or sidewalks; applications are made to and approved by the City Maintenance Superintendent or Street Commissioner.
- Permits and fees for signs are regulated by § 150.006.
- Any sign not conforming to code or declared unsafe by the Building Inspector must be corrected or removed within ten days of notice.

## Full detail

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

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