Sioux Falls, SD Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential size cap
- 9 square feet per sign
- Nonresidential size cap
- 32 sq ft, 8 ft tall
- Display limit
- 90 days per calendar year
- Permit
- No sign permit required
- Placement
- Must stay off right-of-way
Summary
Sioux Falls treats political signs as noncommercial yard signs: no permit needed, but size is capped at 9 square feet in residential zones and 32 square feet in nonresidential zones, with a 90-day-per-year display limit.
Noncommercial yard signs. Noncommercial signs shall not exceed 9 square feet per sign in any residential parcel [DD1-7; AD1-4; MD1-3]. Signs shall not exceed 32 square feet and 8 feet in height in any nonresidential parcel [NF1-2; BCF1-4; RE1-6; MU1-3, WM1-4]. Signs shall be outside of the public right-of-way (see § 155.001 "Signs upon, over public ways"). Each sign may be displayed for up to 90 days per calendar year per property.
(i) Commercial yard signs. Commercial signs shall not exceed 100 square feet and 8 feet in height per nonresidential parcel [NF1-2; BCF1-4; RE1-6; MU1- 3, WM1-4]. Signs shall not exceed 32 square feet and 8 feet in height in any multifamily parcel [MD1-4]. Signs shall not exceed a total of 9 square feet in any residential parcel [DD1-7; AD1-4]. Signs shall be mounted as adhesive wall, freestanding or portable, and maintained in a legible manner as well as secured against overturning and shall be removed upon the completion of the project. The signs may be displayed 60 days prior to and 7 days after the event for which they are intended.
(j) Construction fencing screening. For new construction, remodeling or other modifications during which there is no occupancy of the building and for which fencing of the construction site is provided, screening attached to the fence may bear images of the proposed project along with commercial messages related to the sale, rental leasing or construction of the project, provided
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Sioux Falls's on-premises sign rules classify political messages as noncommercial speech, letting any otherwise-permitted sign carry political copy instead (Code § 160.570(b)(1)). Separately, § 160.576(h) exempts noncommercial yard signs, the category covering campaign signs, from needing a sign permit at all, but caps them at 9 square feet on residential parcels (DD1-7, AD1-4, MD1-3) or 32 square feet and 8 feet tall on nonresidential parcels, requires they sit outside the public right-of-way, and limits display to 90 days per calendar year per property.
Violations & Fines
Oversized or overtime yard signs are handled through the city's normal sign-compliance and removal process, not a separate election ordinance; there is no special political-sign citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a political yard sign in Sioux Falls?
How big can a political sign be on my property?
How long can I display a political sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
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