West Des Moines, IA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum interstate frontage
- 300 feet
- Signs per parcel
- 1 (2 if over 900 ft frontage)
- Max height
- 30 feet (up to 60 ft in limited cases)
- Setback from ROW
- 10 to 100 feet
- Setback from adjacent parcel
- 100 feet
- Max sign area
- 100 sq ft (200 sq ft multi-tenant)
Summary
West Des Moines regulates freeway-facing signage through its 'Interstate Sign' provisions at City Code section 9-18-15(D)(3). A non-residential property needs at least 300 feet of interstate frontage to qualify, and each parcel is normally limited to one interstate sign facing the highway.
3. Interstate Signs: Elevated ground sign allowed on private properties adjacent to the interstate to be viewed by and directed towards the motoring public on the interstate. These signs are intended to identify on-premises businesses or services. May also be referred to as freeway or highway signs. ... ... a. Where Allowed: Any non-residential use with a minimum of three hundred feet (300') of interstate frontage is eligible to have an interstate sign. Each parcel shall be limited to one (1) interstate sign, unless the parcel has more than nine hundred feet (900') of interstate frontage, in which case a second interstate sign may be allowed provided that there is a minimum five hundred foot (500') separation between the two (2) ground signs. No business or tenant shall be identified on more than one (1) interstate sign within a parcel.
Full Breakdown
Section 9-18-15(D)(3) defines an interstate sign as an elevated ground sign on private property adjacent to the interstate, aimed at motorists on the highway to identify on-premises businesses or services, also called a freeway or highway sign. Eligibility under subsection (a) requires a non-residential use with a minimum of 300 feet of interstate frontage; each parcel gets one interstate sign unless it has more than 900 feet of frontage, in which case a second sign is allowed if the two ground signs are separated by at least 500 feet, and no business may be named on more than one interstate sign per parcel.
Height is capped at 30 feet under subsection (b), though an engineer's survey showing the sign base sits below the interstate pavement grade can raise that to 30 feet above the pavement elevation, with an absolute ceiling of 60 feet for the highest element. Subsection (c) sets setbacks at a minimum of 10 feet and a maximum of 100 feet from the interstate right-of-way, plus a minimum 100-foot setback from any adjacent parcel line. Sign area under subsection (d) is capped at 100 square feet for a single tenant, rising to 200 square feet if two or more tenants share the sign, with double-sided faces measured independently.
Subsection (e) requires a monolithic structure design matching the principal building's materials and colors, up to 12 feet wide, and bars any design that reads as a single-post pole sign.
Violations & Fines
Section 9-18-18(C) governs enforcement: if the Director of Development Services finds an interstate sign erected or maintained in violation of these standards, the Director notifies the owner in writing, and the owner has one business day to remove or alter it before the City may do so at the owner's expense and withhold future sign permits until costs are paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much interstate frontage does a West Des Moines business need for a freeway sign?
How tall can an interstate sign be in West Des Moines?
How big can a freeway-facing sign be?
Can an interstate sign be a simple pole sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Des Moines
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