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.
Garage-sale signs fall under each city's sign or zoning code and, in the unincorporated area, the Johnson County code, not any single county rule. On private property with the owner's consent a temporary sale sign is normally allowed, though cities cap how many days it may stay and often require removal soon after the sale. The trouble is placement off your land: signs stuck in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, on traffic signs, or along an Iowa DOT highway are prohibited in Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty and are removed. A permit is rarely required, but directional signs are usually limited in number.
Signs placed in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, or on public property are removed, often without notice, and repeat placement can draw the fine set in a city's sign code. Signs left up after the sale must come down.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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