Fargo, ND Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard cap (LI/GC/LC)
- 300 sq ft
- Interstate-facing cap
- 672 sq ft
- Qualifying distance
- within 150 ft of ROW
- Max height adjacent to Interstate
- 60 feet
- Permit required
- yes, from Building Official
Summary
Off-premise signs and digital billboards within 150 feet of an interstate right-of-way, oriented to face the freeway, may reach 672 square feet: more than double the standard 300-square-foot cap that applies elsewhere in Fargo's LI, GC, and LC zoning districts.
In the LI, GC and LC zoning district, no off-premise sign or digital billboard shall have a sign face area exceeding 300 square feet; providing that if the subject property directly abuts the interstate corridor, and the location of the off-premise sign or digital billboard is within 150 feet of the interstate right-of-way, and is oriented to face toward the interstate, the maximum sign face area shall not exceed 672 square feet.
2. An off-premise sign or digital billboard with a sign face area not exceeding 672 square feet shall also be allowed in GI, LI, GC and LC zoning districts along principal arterial roads provided that the number of off-premise signs with a sign face area between 301 and 672 square feet and the number of digital billboards with a sign face area between 301 and 672 square feet along such principal arterial roads does not exceed
44. The term principal arterial road shall be a street, avenue or other roadway identified as such on the functional road system map approved for the purpose of identifying eligible locations for such signs which map is approved by resolution of the board of city commissioners, as the same may be modified from time to time by subsequent resolution. The said maximum number of such allowable larger-sized off-premise signs and digital billboards includes all such signs, regardless of ownership of the sign structure or the land upon which the sign structure is located.
3.
Full Breakdown
Fargo's sign code caps off-premise signs and digital billboards at 300 square feet in the LI, GC, and LC zoning districts, but the cap jumps to 672 square feet if the property directly abuts the interstate corridor, the sign sits within 150 feet of the interstate right-of-way, and it's oriented to face the interstate. Height limits follow a setback-step table, but a sign adjacent to the Interstate can go up to 60 feet with no minimum property-line setback, versus 25-50 feet elsewhere. A sign permit from the Building Official is required before erecting any such sign.
Violations & Fines
Displaying, constructing, or altering an off-premise sign or digital billboard without conforming to these size, height, and permit provisions violates the sign code (Article 20-13) and is subject to code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a billboard near I-29 or I-94 in Fargo be bigger than the normal limit?
How tall can a freeway-facing sign be in Fargo?
Do off-premise signs need a permit in Fargo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fargo
Compare Fargo to another location·View the North Dakota sign regulations overview
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