West Jordan's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In West Jordan, Utah, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Window Signs

West Jordan exempts window signs from its sign permit process under City Code section 12-2-5(K), covering posters, messages and displays mounted on the inside of a storefront window. The only numeric ceiling is coverage: a business cannot cover more than 50 percent of the total window area with signage, whether painted directly on the glass or mounted just behind it.

Key details: Coverage limit: 50% of total window area. Permit: Not required if under the cap. Covers: Painted, printed or mounted window displays. Governing section: City Code § 12-2-5(K).

A window display that covers more than 50 percent of the window area loses its exempt status under section 12-2-5(K) and is treated as an unpermitted sign. Title 12 has no standalone penalty clause for window signs, so enforcement falls back on the citywide offense provision at section 1-14B-1: a class B misdemeanor for violating any Code provision that carries no other stated punishment, addressed in practice through code enforcement notice and correction rather than immediate citation.

The rules around window signs in West Jordan lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Holiday Displays

West Jordan lets businesses display an extra banner and freestanding sign during specific holiday windows under City Code section 12-2-5(P), on top of the regular temporary sign allowance in section 12-3-3. A freestanding holiday sign tops out at 24 square feet, and the display period runs on a holiday-by-holiday calendar the code spells out by name, from Presidents' Day through Christmas and New Year's.

Key details: Freestanding sign limit: 24 square feet. Extra banner: 1 per business, 2 if facade 150+ sq ft. Longest window: Dec 15 to Jan 2 (Christmas/New Year). Independence Day window: June 30 through July 5. Governing section: City Code § 12-2-5(P).

A banner or freestanding sign put up outside its listed holiday window, or a freestanding sign larger than 24 square feet, loses the section 12-2-5(P) exemption and is treated as a standard temporary sign subject to the section 12-3-3 permit and display-period rules. Because Title 12 has no dedicated penalty section for signage, a violation defaults to the citywide offense clause at section 1-14B-1, punishable as a class B misdemeanor.

Digital Billboards

West Jordan caps the total number of billboards, digital or not, at 14 citywide under City Code section 12-3-3(D)(5), split evenly at up to seven on each side of Bangerter Highway. Digital billboards carry extra separation rules on top of that cap: 1,250 feet from any other billboard and 300 to 500 feet from residential zoning, depending on whether the display faces a residential area.

Key details: Citywide cap: 14 billboards, digital or static. East/west split: Up to 7 on each side of Bangerter Hwy. Residential buffer: 300-500 feet from residential zoning. Inter-billboard separation: 750-1,250 feet. Configuration: Double-sided only for new digital signs.

A digital billboard proposal that would push the citywide count above 14, or that fails to meet the 300-to-500-foot residential buffer or 750-to-1,250-foot inter-billboard separation in section 12-3-3(D)(4), does not qualify for a conditional use permit and cannot be built. An existing billboard the city finds structurally unsafe, abandoned for 12 months or more, or approved through a knowingly false permit application can be ordered removed without compensation after a written notice and hearing process before the mayor or an appointed hearing board.

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

Political Signs

West Jordan lets residents post political and other noncommercial signs without a permit under City Code section 12-2-5(E), so long as each sign stays at or under 8 square feet and sits on private property with the owner's consent. The city takes no responsibility for signs planted in a state right-of-way, and code enforcement impounds violators for a fee before destroying them.

Key details: Size limit: 8 square feet, no permit required. Placement: Private property only, with owner's permission. No-sidewalk setback: 11 feet from back of curb. Removal window: 14 days after election, per city guidance. Impound fee: $50 per sign.

Signs that exceed 8 square feet, sit on public property, or lack the landowner's permission are subject to removal by West Jordan Code Enforcement, which holds an impounded sign for 14 days and charges a $50 impound fee before disposal. Because Title 12 carries no sign-specific penalty clause, a violation defaults to the citywide offense provision, section 1-14B-1, punishable as a class B misdemeanor. Taking down a rival candidate's sign is its own class B misdemeanor under state election law.

Garage Sale Signs

West Jordan exempts garage and yard sale signs from its sign permit process under City Code section 12-2-5(L), so a homeowner does not need city approval to post one. The rule caps size at 4 square feet and confines the exemption to private property in residential zones, meaning a sale sign posted outside a residential district falls outside this exemption.

Key details: Size limit: 4 square feet. Zone restriction: Residential zones only. Permit: Not required. Governing section: City Code § 12-2-5(L).

A garage sale sign larger than 4 square feet, or one posted outside a residential zone or off private property, forfeits the section 12-2-5(L) exemption and becomes an unpermitted sign subject to removal by code enforcement. Title 12 sets no separate fine for oversized sale signage, so a violation is prosecuted under the citywide default at section 1-14B-1, a class B misdemeanor for any Code violation that carries no other specified punishment.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find West Jordan gives residents more flexibility on garage sale signs.

Freeway-Facing Signs

West Jordan confines freeway oriented signs to properties tied to an overall sign plan for a regional shopping center under City Code section 12-3-3(F). The code defines a freeway oriented sign as an on-premises sign on a regional commercial SC-3 site adjacent to a limited access highway or freeway, and the citywide sign standards table allows these signs to reach up to 950 square feet, or 1,500 square feet for qualifying master planned developments.

Key details: Approval path: Only via overall sign plan, regional shopping center. Eligible zoning: Regional commercial SC-3 sites only. Size cap: Up to 950 sq ft (1,500 for master plans). Height cap: 50 ft, up to 72 ft for master plans. Spacing: 1 sign per 800 ft of freeway frontage.

A freeway oriented sign built outside an approved overall sign plan, on a site not zoned SC-3 regional commercial, or exceeding the 950-square-foot (1,500-square-foot for qualifying master planned developments) size cap in the section 12-3-2 standards table does not qualify for the section 12-3-3(F) approval and is subject to removal as an unpermitted sign. Title 12 carries no sign-specific fine, so enforcement proceeds under the citywide default penalty at section 1-14B-1, a class B misdemeanor.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. West Jordan actively enforces its freeway-facing signs requirements.

The Bottom Line

West Jordan'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 West Jordan is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on West Jordan's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.