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Lincoln, NE Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Coverage limit
25% of window or door area
Applies to
All nonresidential zoning districts
Counts toward wall signs
No, tracked separately
Governing chapter
LMC Chapter 27.69, Sign Regulations

Summary

In nonresidential zoning districts, Lincoln caps permanent window signs at 25% of the area of any single window or door and treats them as a separate category from wall signs.

In all nonresidential zoning districts, permanent window signs shall be permitted; provided that the total sign cover of the window signs does not cover more than twenty-five percent of the area of any window or door. Window signs are not wall signs and shall not count toward wall sign allocations. (Ord. 20108 §14; November 17, 2014: prior Ord. 14613 §36; March 9, 1987).

View official code

Full Breakdown

Lincoln Municipal Code § 27.69.290 permits permanent window signs in all nonresidential zoning districts, but the total sign cover on the glass cannot exceed twenty-five percent of the area of any individual window or door. The ordinance also draws a bright line between sign types: window signs are not classified as wall signs, so covering a window doesn't eat into a business's separate wall-sign square-footage allocation under the district's sign chapter. The limit applies per window or door opening, not to the building's total glazing.

Violations & Fines

Signs exceeding the 25% window/door coverage are treated as nonconforming under the sign chapter's enforcement provisions and must be brought into compliance; the city's Building and Safety Department administers sign permits and compliance citywide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Lincoln business cover its whole storefront window with signage?
No. Permanent window signs can cover at most 25% of the area of any one window or door; the rest must stay clear.
Do window signs count against my wall sign allowance in Lincoln?
No. LMC § 27.69.290 says window signs are not wall signs and don't reduce the separate wall-sign square footage allowed for the building.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lincoln

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsFreeway-Facing SignsSome RestrictionsDigital BillboardsSome RestrictionsHoliday DisplaysFew RestrictionsGarage Sale SignsLight RestrictionsPolitical SignsLight RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue PermitsSignificant Restrictions

All Lincoln rules

Compare Lincoln to another location·View the Nebraska sign regulations overview

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