Ada County, ID Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed
- No
- Residential limit
- 6 signs, 4 sq ft, 8 ft
- Right-of-way signs
- Prohibited
- Owner consent
- Required off your lot
- Code section
- Ada County 8-3-12(J)
Summary
Garage-sale signs fall under Ada County's content-neutral temporary-sign rules. No permit is needed: residential lots may have up to six temporary signs, each up to 4 square feet and 8 feet tall. Signs may not sit in a public street or highway right-of-way, and the owner must remove them.
Temporary signs are allowed without a permit in all districts but must comply with the standards in Table 8-3-12-11: Temporary Signs by District. Table 8-3-12-11 Temporary Signs by District Standard Rural Residential C1 and LO Other Commercial/ Industrial
Table 8-3-12-11 Temporary Signs by District Standard Rural Residential C1 and LO Other Commercial/ Industrial Max. Number (per 6 6 6 6 property)
Total Sign Area 64 square feet 64 square feet 96 square feet 96 square feet (per property) Max. Sign Area 32 square feet 4 square feet 32 square feet 32 square feet
(per sign) Max. Sign Height 12 feet 8 feet 8 feet 12 feet Illumination No No Yes Yes Animation No No No No Allowed
2. Number: Table 8-3-12-11 defines the maximum number of temporary signs per property at any one time.
3. Sign Area: Table 8-3-12-11 provides a cumulative area (total sign area) for all temporary signs and a maximum area for one sign (max. sign area).
4. Duration For Display: One temporary sign may be displayed for a maximum of one (1) year.
5. Removal Of Signs: The owner of the sign or the owner of the property where the sign is located must completely remove the sign at the expiration of the time for display of the sign.
K. Billboards:
Full Breakdown
Ada County Code Section 8-3-12(J) allows temporary signs without a permit in all districts, subject to Table 8-3-12-11. In residential districts the limit is six temporary signs per property, each up to 4 square feet and 8 feet in height; rural districts allow six per property up to 32 square feet and 12 feet. A garage-sale sign visible only from your own parcel is exempt entirely. Signs in or on any street or highway right-of-way (other than approved County and highway signs) are prohibited, and a person may not place a sign on property without the owner's written consent. The sign owner must completely remove the sign when the display period ends. Cities regulate signs inside their limits.
Violations & Fines
Placing garage-sale signs in the public right-of-way or exceeding the temporary-sign limits is prohibited; Ada County may remove them and cite the responsible party.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for garage-sale signs in unincorporated Ada County?
Can I stake signs along the road?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ada County
Compare Ada County to another location·View the Idaho sign regulations overview
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