3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Johnson County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Cities and the county regulate signs through zoning codes, not a countywide rule. Since Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), those codes must stay content-neutral: Iowa City or Coralville cannot give a political yard sign a shorter window or special limit because of its message.
Iowa Code §414.1(1)
any city is hereby empowered to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, or other purposes.
No countywide rule governs garage-sale signs; each city sets its own. A temporary sign on your own lawn is generally fine, but one staked in a public right-of-way, on a utility pole, or on state highway land can be pulled by the city or the Iowa DOT.
No county or state law limits holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays. Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty rarely regulate seasonal decorations, and any rule that touches them must stay content-neutral. A homeowner needs no permit to put up a display.
1 cities in Johnson County have their own sign regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Johnson County Ordinance Hub →