Pocatello, ID Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 60 feet, one pole sign per parcel
- Proximity requirement
- Within 1,000 feet of interstate ramp
- Parcel test
- 50% of parcel within that radius
- Setbacks
- 25 ft from property line, 50 ft from Residential/RCP
- Approval type
- Conditional use permit (CUP) only
Summary
Pocatello lets a business near an interstate interchange erect one pole sign up to 60 feet tall, well above the standard free-standing sign heights, but only within 1,000 feet of an on/off ramp, only by conditional use permit, and only if the parcel meets a 50% land-area test under City Code section 17.07.050.C.11.
11. Interstate Pole Signs. One pole sign, up to sixty feet (60') in height, may be erected within one thousand feet (1,000') of an on/off interstate ramp intersection on any parcel of land if at least fifty percent (50%) of that parcel lies within that one thousand-foot (1,000') radius. The sign must be set back at least twenty-five feet (25') from any property line and at least fifty feet (50') from any Residential or RCP zoning district boundary. Interstate pole signs are a part of a business's free-standing sign allowance and permitted only by CUP.
Full Breakdown
Standard free-standing signs in Pocotello's commercial and industrial zones under the section 17.07.050.D Sign Standards Table top out between 6 feet in RCP districts and 20 feet in CC districts, with pole signs barred entirely in the residential and RCP rows. Section 17.07.050.C.11 creates a narrow exception for parcels near the interstate: one pole sign, up to 60 feet in height, may be erected within 1,000 feet of an on/off interstate ramp intersection, but only on a parcel where at least 50% of the parcel's land area lies within that 1,000-foot radius.
The sign must also be set back at least 25 feet from any property line and at least 50 feet from any Residential or RCP zoning district boundary, protecting nearby homes from the tall structure. The section expressly folds the interstate pole sign into the business's existing free-standing sign allowance under the table rather than granting it as an add-on, and it is permitted only by conditional use permit (CUP), meaning it goes through the CUP procedure in section 17.07.040.B before the Planning and Zoning Commission or Hearing Examiner rather than being issued over the counter with a standard sign permit.
Violations & Fines
Erecting an interstate pole sign taller than 60 feet, without the required CUP, or on a parcel that fails the 50% proximity test violates section 17.07.050.C.11 and section 17.07.020.A's general ban on displaying a sign contrary to chapter 17.07. Planning and Development Services can require removal or modification of a noncompliant pole sign, and because the CUP is a discretionary approval, a sign built without one is treated as unpermitted and subject to the same enforcement path as any other sign erected without the required City review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a sign be near I-15 or I-86 in Pocatello?
Does every parcel near the interstate qualify?
Can I get an interstate pole sign with a standard sign permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pocatello
Compare Pocatello to another location·View the Idaho sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.