Utah County, UT Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Size cap
- 9 sq ft per sign face
- Zones allowed
- any zone, no sign permit needed
- Banned placements
- on trees, blocking sightlines
- Setback
- cannot protrude into right-of-way or adjacent lot
- Enforcement
- notice and cure; emergency removal at owner cost
Summary
A garage sale sign in unincorporated Utah County counts as a temporary sign under UCLUO 8.24, capped at 9 square feet per face and allowed in any zone without a sign permit, but it cannot block sightlines, sit in the right-of-way, or be nailed to a tree.
Signs Permitted in All Zones: In addition to Signs expressly permitted in specific zones, the following Signs shall be permitted in any zone: Government Signs. Temporary Signs on private property that do not exceed nine (9) square feet per Sign face. Prohibited Signs: The following are prohibited: ... Any Sign nailed, fastened, or affixed to any tree. Any Sign located on private property against the wishes of the property owner. ... Location and Setback: In any zone, Signs, except for government Signs, shall be set back from a public street or property line so that no portion of the Sign face or Sign Structure shall protrude into the right-of-way of a public street or into an adjacent property... If, upon inspection, a Sign violates this section, the owner shall be given notice of the nature of the violation with reasonable time to repair, remove, or modify the Sign to bring it into compliance.
Full Breakdown
24 category of Temporary Signs, defined to include lawn signs, A-frame signs and banners made of lightweight material that is not permanently installed. That definition covers a typical cardboard or corrugated-plastic yard sale sign. 24 permits temporary signs on private property up to nine square feet per sign face in every zone in the county, no separate sign permit required for that size. The same section bans specific placements outright: a sign cannot be nailed, fastened, or affixed to a tree, cannot be installed on private property against the wishes of that property's owner, and cannot block a driver's clear line of sight of traffic or pedestrians.
Placement is also restricted by a setback rule that applies in every zone: no part of a sign or its structure may protrude into a public street's right-of-way or extend onto an adjacent property. If an inspection turns up a violation, the code requires the county to notify the owner of the problem and give a reasonable time to repair, remove, or otherwise fix the sign before further action, except where the sign is an immediate safety hazard, in which case it can be removed right away at the owner's expense.
Violations & Fines
A sign that is oversized, planted in the road right-of-way, nailed to a tree, or otherwise noncompliant is handled through the code's notice-and-cure process: the county gives written notice of the specific violation and a reasonable window to bring the sign into compliance or remove it. Signs presenting an imminent hazard to public safety can be removed immediately, with the cost charged to the sign's owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my garage sale sign be in unincorporated Utah County?
Can I nail my sign to a tree or stake it in the street right-of-way?
What happens if my sign breaks the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Utah County
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