How Sandy Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide

Sandy maintains 131 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Sandy falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Window Signs

Sandy City limits window signs to ground-floor tenants, capping coverage at 50 percent of any single window and 33 percent of a grouped set of windows, with window and wall signs combined never exceeding 20 percent of the exterior wall, under Sandy City Code Section 21-26-8.

Key details: Single window cap: 50 percent coverage. Window group cap: 33 percent coverage. Window + wall sign cap: 20 percent of exterior wall. Eligible floors: Ground floor tenants only. Governing section: Sandy City Code § 21-26-8.

Signs installed without meeting these coverage and placement limits are subject to removal and to the sign permit process under Section 21-26-9. Because window signs fall outside the without-permit thresholds once installed noncompliantly, enforcement runs through Sandy's default code penalty in Sections 1-2-2 and 1-2-3: a Class B misdemeanor carrying fines up to $1,000 for an individual or $5,000 for a corporation.

Freeway-Facing Signs

Only parcels fronting Interstate 15 or its frontage road, or lots within 100 feet of the I-15 right-of-way north of 9000 South, may apply for the taller freeway pylon signs Sandy's sign code allows. Those signs can rise to 25 feet above the nearest freeway lane, well above the standard curb-measured cap.

Key details: Eligible parcels: I-15 frontage or within 100 ft of ROW north of 9000 South. Max height: 25 ft above nearest freeway lane. Max sign area: 200 sq ft (100 + 1/ft over 100 ft frontage). Minimum parcel: 7 acres or 300 ft frontage for any pylon. Setback: 30 ft from property line.

A freeway-facing pylon sign built taller than the approved height or larger than the 200-square-foot cap without the Director's special-exception review is an unpermitted sign subject to a written notice of violation. If it is not brought into compliance within 30 calendar days, the City may abate or remove it and bill the owner or sign contractor for the cost, and a sign company found in violation must post a $1,000 cash bond before receiving further permits.

Digital Billboards

Off-premises signs, including billboards, are banned citywide under Sandy's sign code, and any digital or LED sign that is allowed is capped at one footcandle of brightness at the property line. A required dimmer switch must let owners dial that intensity down after installation.

Key details: Off-premises signs/billboards: Prohibited citywide (§21-26-4). LED brightness cap: 1 footcandle at property line. Required equipment: Dimmer switch on every LED sign. Message center share: Max 50% of pylon/monument sign area. First violation bond: $1,000 cash, doubling per repeat.

Installing an unauthorized off-premises sign or billboard, or an LED sign that exceeds the one-footcandle limit, draws a written notice of violation from the Director. An illegal permanent sign not brought into conformance within 30 calendar days of that notice may be abated or removed at the owner's expense, and a sign contractor found in violation must post a $1,000 cash bond before receiving any further sign permits, doubling with each later violation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Sandy actively enforces its digital billboards requirements.

Political Signs

Sandy lets noncommercial opinion signs, including political yard signs, go up without a permit in every zone and with no display-duration limit. Section 21-26-8 caps each sign at 32 square feet, with a six-foot height limit in residential zones and eight feet in nonresidential zones.

Key details: Permit required: None. Display duration limit: None specified for opinion signs. Residential size/height: 32 sq ft, 6 ft tall. Nonresidential size/height: 32 sq ft, 8 ft tall. Placement: Private property only, owner's permission.

A political sign that exceeds the 32-square-foot area cap, the six- or eight-foot height limit, or is placed in the public right-of-way without authorization is treated as an unpermitted or noncompliant temporary sign. The Director can require removal, and an illegal temporary sign not corrected within 72 hours of written notice may be abated by the City, with the responsible party billed for the cost of removal.

The Bottom Line

Sandy's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Sandy is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Sandy's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.