How South Jordan Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide
South Jordan maintains 107 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 South Jordan falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Holiday Displays
South Jordan does not require a sign permit for holiday lights and decorations that carry no commercial message, and business holiday lighting is also exempt from the city's commercial lighting brightness and shielding standards.
Key details: Sign permit: Not required for holiday lights. Business lighting cap: 15,000 lumens, exempt for holiday. Condition: Must carry no commercial message. Enforcement: Code Compliance and South Jordan Police.
Holiday displays carrying a commercial message lose the sign-permit exemption and must go through standard sign review; South Jordan code compliance and police enforce the underlying lighting and sign chapters.
South Jordan is more permissive than most cities when it comes to holiday displays. That said, there are still limits.
Freeway-Facing Signs
South Jordan limits freestanding pylon signs facing the I-15 freeway to qualifying retail uses in the C-F Zone, allowed by right within 100 feet of the I-15 right-of-way and only with a conditional use permit out to 250 feet.
Key details: Eligible zone/use: C-F Zone retail only. By right: Within 100 ft of I-15. Conditional use permit: 100-250 ft of I-15. Bangerter Hwy: 50 ft + UDOT approval. Max height (C-F): 50 feet.
A pylon sign proposed outside the qualifying C-F retail uses, beyond the 250-foot conditional-use limit from I-15, or without UDOT sign-off along Bangerter Highway can be denied a permit or ordered removed by the city.
This is one of the stricter rules in South Jordan's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Garage Sale Signs
South Jordan allows temporary garage sale signs up to four square feet on the seller's own property, permit-free, for no more than seven consecutive days or twenty-one total days a year.
Key details: Max sign size: 4 square feet. Location: subject property only. Per-sale limit: 7 consecutive days. Annual limit: 21 days per calendar year.
Signs larger than four square feet, placed off the seller's own lot, or left up past the seven-day/twenty-one-day limits lose their exempt status and can be removed by the city without advance notice.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find South Jordan gives residents more flexibility on garage sale signs.
Window Signs
South Jordan lets businesses cover up to half of a window with temporary promotional displays without a permit, while neon or illuminated window signs are capped at two square feet, two per business.
Key details: Promotional window coverage: up to 50% of window. Neon window sign size: 2 sq ft max. Neon signs per business: 2 maximum. Permit needed: none, within these caps.
Window signage exceeding these caps requires a standard sign permit from the Planning Department; the city can order noncompliant signs removed without advance notice under section 16.36.060.
South Jordan is more permissive than most cities when it comes to window signs. That said, there are still limits.
Digital Billboards
South Jordan allows electronic message signs only as part of an approved pylon or monument sign in specific commercial zones, capped at 50% of the allowed sign area, with static displays lasting at least three seconds and no flashing or scrolling.
Key details: Allowed zones: C-F, P-C, C-C, P-O. Must be part of: Pylon or monument sign. Max area: 50% of sign area. Min static display: 3 seconds. Flashing/scrolling: Prohibited.
A stand-alone digital billboard isn't allowed at all: building one, exceeding the 50% area cap, or running flashing or scrolling content violates Chapter 16.36 and can be ordered removed as an illegal sign.
The Bottom Line
Compared to many U.S. cities, South Jordan gives residents more room on sign regulations. 3 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.
Keep in mind that South Jordan can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.