# Sign Regulations in Salt Lake, Utah

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salt Lake, Utah (UT)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/utah/salt-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Salt Lake, Utah regulates 34 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Development Entry Signs in the Multi-Family Residential Districts (RMF-30, RMF-35, RMF-45, RMF-75) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a 5 ft unless part of fence setback (Sec. 21A.46.080.B).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family and Two-Family Residential Districts (FR-1, FR-2, FR-3, R-1/12,000, R-1/7,000, R-1/5,000, R-2, SR-1, SR-3) | 11 | 10 ft | 120 sq ft per sign; 160 sq ft total | — |
| Multi-Family Residential Districts (RMF-30, RMF-35, RMF-45, RMF-75) | 14 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Residential/Business District (RB) | 15 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Residential/Office District (RO) | 14 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Multi-Family Residential Districts (RMF-30, RMF-35, RMF-45, RMF-75)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.B |
| Development Entry Sign | 4 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft unless part of fence | 1 per entry; 2 max | Per entry | — | 21A.46.080.B |
| Flat Sign for Residential Uses | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.B |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.B |
| Monument Sign | 4 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft unless part of fence | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | 21A.46.080.B |
| New Development Sign | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.B |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.B |
| Special Event Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.B |

### Residential/Business District (RB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |
| Development Entry Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per entry; 2 max | 1 per entry (2 max) | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |
| Monument Sign | 4 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft unless integrated into fence | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |
| New Development Sign | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |
| Political Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft | No limit | — | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |
| Private Directional Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft | No limit | — | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.3; Table for RB district |

### Residential/Office District (RO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |
| Development Entry Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per entry; 2 max | 1 per entry (2 max) | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |
| Monument Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft unless integrated into fence | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |
| New Development Sign | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |
| Political Sign | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft | No limit | — | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |
| Private Directional Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft | No limit | — | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 21A.46.080.C.5; Table for RO district |

## Prohibited signs in Salt Lake

- Animated signs excluding public service signs, except as expressly authorized by this chapter.
- Any snipe sign.
- Balloons.
- Bench signs.
- Portable signs, except where specifically permitted by district sign regulations.
- Signs overhanging the property line other than signs that are permitted under the sign regulations applicable to each zoning district.
- Signs which are structurally unsafe, hazardous or violate the Uniform Building Code or the Fire Code.
- Signs located near streets which imitate or are easily confused with official traffic signs and use words such as "stop", "look", "danger", "go slow", "caution" or "warning", except where such words are part of the name of a business or are accessory to parking lots.
- Painted signs which do not meet the definition of wall signs.
- Pennant flags.
- Signs erected in the city after April 12, 1995, must comply with the current standards of the National Electrical Code, adopted building code, all provisions of this chapter and other applicable regulations.
- No sign shall be erected along streets to obstruct free and clear vision, or interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or block visibility for driveway ingress or egress.
- No spotlight, floodlight or lighted sign shall be installed in any way which will permit rays to penetrate beyond the property on which the sign is located so as to constitute a nuisance.
- Except for portable signs authorized under section 21A.46.055, no sign shall be located on publicly owned land or inside street rights-of-way, except signs erected with permission of an authorized public agency, or the city pursuant to the city's right of way encroachment policy.
- Signs not carrying the imprint of the sign owner (name in plain and public view) will be presumed owned by the property owner.
- Signs not expressly permitted by chapter 21A.46 in any zone are prohibited.
- It is unlawful for any person to deface, mutilate, tear down or destroy any signs erected by the public utilities department.
- It is unlawful to construct a new billboard other than pursuant to the terms of chapter 21A.46.
- Electronic billboards: motion of any kind is prohibited. Only static text, images, and graphics are allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salt Lake

- Building or house numbers sign: one per street address, not more than 2 square feet in area.
- Building plaque sign: one per address.
- Building security signs: not more than one square foot per sign face, with up to four per lot.
- Official flags which do not project over a property line.
- Gas pump signs.
- Gasoline price signs not exceeding 50 square feet provided they comply with all other applicable provisions.
- Interior signs.
- Political signs with a face of 16 square feet or less, subject to a 5-foot setback.
- Public event banners.
- Public safety signs no more than 6 square feet in area.
- Routine maintenance of sign, or changing of lettering or parts of signs designed to be regularly changed.
- Vending machine signs.
- Murals not constituting a sign under this chapter.
- Portable signs as authorized by section 21A.46.055.
- Signs legally existing on or before April 12, 1995, are exempt from the sign permit fee.
- All signs listed in section 21A.46.040 (except gasoline price signs in compliance) are exempt from permits and permit fees.
- Nameplates, garage sale, and real estate signs in compliance with all provisions are also exempt from permits and permit fees.
- Signs within open-air malls, stadiums, or other enclosed spaces (not oriented to the public street) may be exempt from certain criteria if a sign master plan agreement is approved as part of a planned development or authorized through design review.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, located or modified until the site plan for such sign has been approved and a sign permit issued by the building official (21A.46.030A).
- All applications for sign permits must be accompanied by a site plan and elevation drawing, including detailed information about sign location, type, design, and illumination (21A.46.030B).
- For open-air malls, stadiums, or other enclosed spaces not oriented to a public street, a sign master plan agreement may be required and must be specifically considered as part of a planned development or authorized through the design review process (21A.46.052A).
- A sign master plan agreement may only be authorized for signage within open-air malls or stadiums not oriented to a public street or surface parking lot (21A.46.052A).
- Within the CS (community shopping) district, all development including signage is subject to the planned development provisions of chapter 21A.55 (21A.46.090.B.3).
- Localized alternative sign overlay districts and special regulations for large-scale sites (such as shopping centers, office parks, airports, or campuses) may require submission of specific overlay district regulations as an amendment and approval through the normal city amendment procedures (21A.46.130).
- Applications for designation, modification, or relocation of vintage signs require additional detailed drawings, photographs, and supporting documentation as outlined in 21A.46.125.
- Design review process is required for modifications to sign regulations within certain overlays, such as for sports arena/convention centers (21A.46.110.A.3.b).
- A variance or administrative process may be required for construction impact area mitigation signs, master/planned developments, or as authorized elsewhere in chapter 21A.46 or Title 21A.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Salt Lake — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Salt+Lake+UT&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-salt-lake

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