# Sign Regulations in Evanston, Wyoming

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Evanston, Wyoming (WY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/wyoming/evanston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9852848#9852848)

## At a glance

Evanston, Wyoming regulates 43 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Schools) - Ground Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 36 square feet, with a 10 ft from property line bordering street setback (Sec. § 24-91D(3)). Most commercial signs in Evanston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 15 | 15 feet | 36 square feet | — |
| Transitional Developing District | 2 | 4 feet | 12 square feet per street frontage | — |
| Transitional Redeveloping District | 6 | 5 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Commercial Office Districts | 9 | 15 feet | 75 square feet per sign | — |
| Agriculture Districts, Public Districts | 15 | 15 feet | 36 square feet | — |
| Regional Business District, Highway Business District, Community Business District, Business/Light Manufacturing District, Industrial District, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts | 12 | 100 feet | 672 square feet | — |
| Open Space Zoning District, Office Zoning District, Neighborhood Business Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | No more than 4 ft or 1/4 of sign height above roof line (whichever is less) | 50 square feet (per § 24-74C general) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — | — | No more than 2 per premises | On property; appurtenant to use | — | § 24-91B |
| Property Sale/Lease/Rental Sign (<10 acres) | — | 12 square feet per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent | — | § 24-91C(1) |
| Directional Sign (Property Sale Extension) | — | 4 square feet per sign | — | — | No more than 3 per sale | On third-party property (with consent) | — | § 24-91C(1) |
| Construction Project Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On construction site | — | § 24-91C(2) |
| Identification Sign (Churches/Public/Quasi-Public) | — | 12 square feet per street frontage | — | 10 ft from any property line bordering a street | One per street frontage | On property; 10 ft setback from any property line bordering street | — | § 24-91D(2) |
| Identification Sign (Schools) - Ground Sign | 8 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 ft from property line bordering street | — | On school property; set back 10 ft from street property line | — | § 24-91D(3) |
| Identification Sign (Schools) - Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 ft from property line bordering street | — | On school property; set back 10 ft from street property line | — | § 24-91D(3) |
| Identification Sign (All Other Uses) | — | 12 square feet | — | 10 ft from property line bordering street | One per street frontage | On property; set back 10 ft from street property line | — | § 24-91D(5) |

### Agriculture Districts, Public Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet per sign | — | — | No more than 2 per premises | On premises | — | § 24-93B |
| Property Sale/Lease/Rental Sign (<10 acres) | — | 16 square feet per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent | — | § 24-93C(1) |
| Directional Sign (Property Sale Extension) | — | 4 square feet per sign | — | — | No more than 3 | On third-party property (with consent) | — | § 24-93C(1) |
| Construction Project Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On construction site | — | § 24-93C(2) |
| Identification Sign (Churches/Public/Quasi-public) | — | 12 square feet per street frontage | — | 10 ft from street property line | One per street frontage | On property; 10 ft setback from street | — | § 24-93D(2) |
| Identification Sign (Schools) - Ground Sign | 8 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 ft from street property line | — | On school property; 10 ft setback from street property line | — | § 24-93D(3) |
| Identification Sign (Schools) - Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 ft from street property line | — | On school property; 10 ft setback from street property line | — | § 24-93D(3) |
| Identification Sign (All Other Uses) | — | 12 square feet | — | 10 ft from street property line | One per street frontage | On property; 10 ft setback from street property line | — | § 24-93D(5) |

### Regional Business District, Highway Business District, Community Business District, Business/Light Manufacturing District, Industrial District, Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Freestanding Signs | 50 feet | — | — | — | — | On property appurtenant to permitted use | — | § 24-94A(2) |
| Freeway-Oriented Sign | 100 feet | 672 square feet | — | — | — | For on-premises advertising, must be readable from Interstate 80 | — | § 24-94A(3) |
| General Directional Sign | 6 feet | 8 square feet | — | — | No more than one per entry/exit unless CUP | At entry/exit | — | § 24-94B |
| Property Sale/Lease/Rental Sign (<10 acres) | — | 32 square feet per sign (<10 acres); 64 square feet (≥10 acres) | — | — | One per street frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent | — | § 24-94C(1) |
| Construction Project Sign | 12 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On construction site | — | § 24-94C(2) |
| Identification Sign (Lots with ≤2 Business Establishments) | — | — | — | — | No more than one ground/pole sign per street front unless CUP | On lot or parcel | — | § 24-94D(2)-(3) |
| Center Identification Sign (Business/Industrial Center) | — | 500 square feet | — | — | No more than one per street front unless CUP | Per street front of center | — | § 24-94D(4)(b) |
| Off-Premises Advertising Sign (I-80/Frontage Rd/Primary Hwy) | 65 feet (unless allowed by conditional use permit) | 350 sq ft (Primary Hwy), 672 sq ft (I-80 or frontage road abutting I-80) | — | Not in front yard setback; must comply with accessory structure setback for zone | — | Regional Business, Highway Business, Community Business, Business/Light Manufacturing, and Industrial zoning districts within 100 ft of I-80, frontage road, or state-controlled primary highway | — | § 24-94E(2)(a)-(i) |

## Prohibited signs in Evanston

- It shall be unlawful to display, erect, relocate or alter, except for copy changes, any sign without first obtaining a building permit from the building department (except as provided in section 24-67).
- It shall be unlawful to change, modify, alter or otherwise deviate from the terms or conditions of the permit or from the use of the sign as permitted without approval of the building official.
- No sign shall be erected in a location prohibited by this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or other exitway required by the building codes or fire department regulations.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe, gutter or fire escape nor erected so as to impair access to a roof.
- No sign shall be erected in any location where, by reason of its position, it will obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal or other traffic control device.
- No sign or group of signs exceeding an aggregate area of four square feet shall be erected upon any light standard, pole, etc., unless the structure was designed for that purpose or can be demonstrated to be structurally strong enough.
- Obsolete signs, copy and abandoned sign structures shall be removed by the property owner, agent, or beneficial user within 90 days after written notification by the planning director.
- No sign shall occupy public property or extend across a property line bordering a public or private right-of-way, except as specifically provided for wall/projecting signs.
- No sign shall emit any sound which is intended to attract attention or which creates a public nuisance.
- No sign shall be erected, operated, used, or maintained which obstructs the view of, or may be confused with, an official traffic sign, signal, or device, displays lights resembling those used by emergency vehicles, uses confusing words, creates unsafe distraction, or obstructs the view for vehicle operators.
- There shall be no sign erected between the height of three feet and ten feet within prescribed visibility triangles at street intersections, except for a single post or column not exceeding one foot in greatest cross-sectional dimension.
- No sign shall be erected upon or project through the roof of any building, nor shall any sign attached to a building extend above the roof line, except as provided for parapet walls or sloping roofs.
- All signs and sign structures must be maintained in good structural and visual repair per specified standards.
- No sign shall be placed, maintained, or displayed upon or in view of any highway that purports to be or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or attempts to direct traffic, or interferes with effectiveness of official devices.
- No person shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit, on any highway any traffic sign or signal with commercial advertising.
- No person shall deface, mar, or damage street name signs or their supports.
- No street tree shall be planted to obscure a regulatory sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Evanston

- The provisions of this article do not apply to traffic signs and other signs erected or maintained by a governmental body or agency for public informational purposes, including danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and noncommercial signs required by law.
- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel or from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way.
- The flag, pennants, or insignia of any nation, state, county, city, or political entity, or of any church or religious organization.
- Tablets, grave markers, headstones, statuary, or remembrances of persons or events of a noncommercial nature.
- Works of fine art not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise deriving gain from their display.
- Temporary decorations or displays for traditional patriotic or religious holidays.
- Signs on vehicles/equipment meeting all the following: primary purpose is not display, sign is integral with the vehicle, vehicle is in operating condition with proper registration and actively used in daily business; not used as static displays, storage, or distribution points; construction and rental/storage vehicles not subject to this condition.
- Political signs up to 32 square feet, with property owner permission.
- Nameplates, address signs, or combination signs (no advertising) not over six square feet.
- Directional signs not exceeding three feet high nor six feet in area, containing no business logo.
- Price panels, 'self-serve' and credit card information signs.
- Signs authorized and approved by the governing body of the City on City-owned property.
- Changing copy on a legal sign where no structural changes are made, replacing damaged sign surfaces, or changing interchangeable letters (except for painted wall signs where over 50% of copy is changed, which requires a notice; increase in square footage requires permit).
- Temporary, nonilluminated signs up to 16 square feet for advertising sale/rental of subject premises or direction thereto.
- Temporary, nonilluminated signs up to 16 square feet erected for new construction (only during actual construction), identifying participants but not advertising products.
- Bulletin boards for charitable/religious organizations/churches, not exceeding area allowed for their district or 32 square feet, whichever is less.
- Tablets, such as memorials/cornerstones, or building name/date/use information built into building walls.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building permit is required to display, erect, relocate, or alter a sign, except for actions and sign types specifically exempted in section 24-67.
- Permits are not required for categories explicitly listed in section 24-67(C), but all other provisions apply.
- Conditional use permits are required for certain sign types, e.g., signs projecting above the roof line (except in specified circumstances), automatic changeable copy signs within 100 feet of residential districts, off-premises signs, and for various increased sign size/number situations allowed by variance.
- For painted wall signs, if more than 50% of the copy is to be changed, written notice to the planning department is required prior to repainting; if sign area is increased, a permit is required.
- Permit applications must be submitted on forms provided by the building department and be signed by the applicant or authorized agent; for off-premises advertising signs, property owner authorization must be attached.
- No permit shall be issued if there are unresolved conflicting claims or existing illegal signs related to the property.
- Routine permit/licensing/fee/payment requirements for non-exempt signs are outlined within § 24-70 and § 24-71.
- Revocation and inspection procedures apply to all permitted signs.

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

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