How Salt Lake City Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide
Salt Lake City maintains 165 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Salt Lake City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Digital Billboards
Salt Lake City prohibits building or converting any billboard to an electronic format, with only a narrow legally-compelled exception under strict brightness, motion, and curfew limits.
Key details: New electronic billboards: Prohibited outright. Existing-to-electronic conversion: Prohibited. Max brightness (if exception applies): 0.3 foot-candle. Min dwell time (if exception applies): 8 seconds. Curfew near residential/business zones: Off 12am-6am.
Building or converting a billboard to electronic format without meeting the legal-compulsion exception is unlawful new billboard construction under § 21A.46.160(J); a compliant exception billboard that exceeds brightness, motion, or dwell-time limits, or lacks an automatic dimmer and annual compliance certification, is a code violation subject to permit denial or revocation.
This is one of the stricter rules in Salt Lake City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Political Signs
Political signs are exempt from Salt Lake City's sign-permit and size rules on private property, but must come down within three days after election or voting day.
Key details: Permit required: None on private property. Size/height limit: None imposed under the exemption. Posting start: No limit before election. Removal deadline: 3 days after election/voting day. Not allowed: City property or right-of-way.
Leaving a political sign up more than three days after election or voting day, or placing one on city property, city right-of-way, or overhanging a property line, violates the sign chapter and can trigger city-ordered removal.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Salt Lake City gives residents more flexibility on political signs.
Freeway-Facing Signs
Salt Lake City won't allow more billboards than already exist along its freeway gateways. I-15, I-80 and I-215 among them. A new billboard permit issues only if the applicant holds enough banked square-footage credits from demolishing an old one.
Key details: Governing section: City Code § 21A.46.160. New billboards allowed: Only via billboard credits. Freeway gateways covered: I-15, I-80, I-215. Credit lifespan: 36 months (60 for lower priority). Enforcement: Building official; citations, abatement.
Building official enforces sign rules citywide: can issue citations, order abatement of illegally built or maintained signs, and confiscate signs on public property. Constructing a new billboard outside the credit-and-map system is unlawful under § 21A.46.160.J.
Compared to other cities, Salt Lake City takes a harder line on freeway-facing signs. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Window Signs
Salt Lake City caps window signs at 25% of the total window area per floor in zoning districts citywide, with no limit on the number of signs.
Key details: Coverage cap: 25% of window area per floor. Applies in: Manufacturing, mixed use, downtown districts. Number of signs: No limit. Minimum setback: n/a (interior sign).
Exceeding the 25% window-coverage cap, or any window sign requiring a sign permit under 21A.46.030 that was installed without one, is enforced by the building official as a zoning sign violation subject to permit revocation and code enforcement action.
Garage Sale Signs
Salt Lake City caps garage/yard sale signs at 6 square feet and 4 feet tall, one per street frontage, without needing a permit.
Key details: Max sign area: 6 square feet. Max height: 4 feet. Signs allowed: 1 per street frontage. Display period: 2 sales/year, 7 days each. Removal deadline: 3 days after sale ends.
No permit is required, so enforcement is complaint-driven by the Zoning Administrator; oversized, excess, or overdue signs can be ordered removed as illegal signs under the sign chapter's general enforcement provisions.
The Bottom Line
Salt Lake City is tougher than many cities when it comes to sign regulations. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Salt Lake City, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
This guide is based on Salt Lake City's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.