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Dubuque Overview
Dubuque, IA Code of Ordinances
CITY CODE of DUBUQUE, IOWA
ORDINANCES PENDING REVIEW FOR CODIFICATION
TITLE 1 ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 2 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND TAXATION
TITLE 4 BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS
TITLE 5 TRANSIT SYSTEM
TITLE 6 HEALTH, HOUSING, SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENT
TITLE 7 POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
TITLE 8 EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
TITLE 9 MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
TITLE 10 PUBLIC WAYS AND PROPERTY
TITLE 11 RIGHTS-OF-WAY
TITLE 12 AIRPORT
TITLE 13 PUBLIC UTILITIES
TITLE 14 BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 15 PLANNING AND ZONING
TITLE 16 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE
CHAPTER 1 TITLE, PURPOSE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS
CHAPTER 3 LAND USE GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 4 NONCONFORMITIES
CHAPTER 5 ZONING DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 6 OVERLAY DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 7 SUPPLEMENTAL USE REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 8 ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 9 ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 10 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 11 LAND SUBDIVISION
CHAPTER 12 SITE PLANS
CHAPTER 13 SITE DESIGN STANDARDS
CHAPTER 14 PARKING
CHAPTER 15 SIGNS
16-15-1: PURPOSE:
16-15-2: APPLICABILITY:
16-15-3: ENFORCEMENT:
16-15-4: SIGN INSTALLER'S LICENSE:
16-15-4-1: LICENSE REQUIRED:
16-15-4-2: EXCEPTION:
16-15-4-3: LICENSE FEE:
16-15-4-4: INSURANCE REQUIRED:
16-15-5: DEFINITIONS:
16-15-6: PERMIT REQUIRED:
16-15-6-1: PERMIT APPLICATION:
16-15-6-2: ISSUANCE:
16-15-6-3: PERMIT VALIDITY:
16-15-6-4: PERMIT EXPIRATION:
16-15-6-5: SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION:
16-15-6-6: INSPECTIONS:
16-15-7: SIGN CALCULATIONS:
16-15-8: PROHIBITED SIGNS:
16-15-9: EXEMPT SIGNS:
16-15-10: TEMPORARY SIGNS:
16-15-11: PERMITTED ON PREMISES SIGNS:
16-15-11-1: AG AGRICULTURE AND R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, AND R-4 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS:
16-15-11-2: OR OFFICE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-3: OS OFFICE SERVICE DISTRICT:
16-15-11-4: OC OFFICE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-5: C-1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-6: C-2 NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPPING CENTER DISTRICT:
16-15-11-7: C-2A MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT:
16-15-11-8: C-3 GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-9: C-4 DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-10: C-5 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT:
16-15-11-11: CS COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND WHOLESALE DISTRICT:
16-15-11-12: CR COMMERCIAL RECREATION DISTRICT:
16-15-11-13: ID INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT:
16-15-11-14: LI, HI, AND MHI INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS:
16-15-12: OFF PREMISES SIGNS:
16-15-13:SIGNS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS:
16-15-14: NONCONFORMING SIGNS:
16-15-15: MAINTENANCE:
16-15-16: DISCONTINUED OR ABANDONED SIGNS:
16-15-17: MESSAGE SUBSTITUTION:
16-15-18: PROJECTING SIGNS:
16-15-19: FEE SCHEDULE:
16-15-20: DESIGN, GENERALLY:
16-15-21: CONSTRUCTION, GENERALLY:
16-15-22: PROJECTION AND CLEARANCE, GENERALLY:
16-15-23: STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO SPECIFIC SIGN TYPES:
16-15-23-1: POLE SIGNS:
16-15-23-2: GROUND MONUMENT SIGNS:
16-15-23-3: WALL SIGNS:
16-15-23-4: PROJECTING SIGNS:
16-15-23-5: COMBINATION SIGNS:
16-15-23-6: MARQUEE SIGNS:
16-15-23-7: ELECTRIC SIGNS:
16-15-23-8: ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGNS:
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16-15-11-13: ID INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT:
On Premises Signs
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Number
Projection Over Right Of Way
Height
On Premises Signs
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Number
Projection Over Right Of Way
Height
ID institutional:
Identification signs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Directory
Wall
10 per sign
1 per building entrance
0
Below eaves or parapet
No flashing
None
      Specify name, profession, occupants, or hours of operation
Freestanding
100 per sign
2 per street frontage or 1 per building, whichever is less restrictive
0
10 feet
No flashing
None
Wall
2 per building or as otherwise limited by ordinance approving the district
Below eaves or parapet
      All applications
Wall nameplate
6 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
0
Below eaves or parapet
No flashing
None
   Directional signs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      All applications
Freestanding
6 per sign
Not specified
0
10 feet
Internal, no flashing
None
Wall
Below eaves or parapet
No flashing
 
(Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-11-14: LI, HI, AND MHI INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS:
On Premises Signs
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Number
Projection Over Right Of Way
Height
On Premises Signs
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Number
Projection Over Right Of Way
Height
LI, HI, and MHI industrial:
Identification signs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Business, retail or office
Freestanding
2 per foot for first 100 linear feet of frontage, then 1 per each additional linear foot; maximum 500 aggregate square feet per premises; no sign shall exceed 200 square feet
1 per 100 linear feet of frontage; 3 signs per premises maximum; signs shall be separated by at least 100 feet
0
40 feet
No flashing
None
Wall
10 percent of any 1 building wall, or 400 aggregate square feet, whichever is less
2 per business per street frontage
Below eaves or parapet
      Directory
Wall
9 per sign
1 per building entrance
0
Below eaves or parapet
No flashing
None
      Freestanding canopy
Wall
20 per sign
4 per canopy
0
On canopy fascia
Internal, no flashing
None
      Multiple tenant building
Freestanding
300 per sign
1 per street frontage
0
40 feet
No flashing
None
Wall
100 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
Below eaves or parapet
      All applications
Wall nameplate
6 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
0
Below eaves or parapet
No flashing
None
   Directional signs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      All applications
Freestanding
9 per sign
Not specified
0
10 feet
Internal, no flashing
None
Wall
Below eaves or parapet
No flashing
   Drive-up automated bank teller (standalone)
Freestanding
75 per sign
1 per premises
0
20
No flashing
None
 
(Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009; amd. Ord. 44-23, 9-18-2023)
16-15-12: OFF PREMISES SIGNS:
Off Premises Signs
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Minimum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Height
Setback
Spacing
Off Premises Signs
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Minimum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Height
Setback
Spacing
C-2 neighborhood shopping center, and C-2A mixed use neighborhood:
   Off premises signs shall be permitted only by conditional use permit
Freestanding
300 per sign
25 feet
20 feet from property line; 100 feet from historic district
As determined by zoning board of adjustment
No flashing
None
Wall
Below eaves or parapet
C-3 general commercial, C-4 downtown commercial, and CS commercial service and wholesale:
   All off premises signs
Freestanding
750 feet per sign, but only 300 feet per sign if within 200 feet of a historic district and not abutting a state or federal highway
50 feet
100 feet from historic district
Spacing between any 2 off premises sign structures, which are located on either side of federal aid primary highway(s), and oriented toward said highway(s) will be no less than 750 feet, and spacing between any 2 off premises sign structures, which are located on either side of all other city street(s) will be no less than 500 feet. A linear measurement perpendicular to the centerline of the roadway(s) will apply to determine required distance and is taken from the nearest point of each structure
No flashing
None
Wall
300 per sign
Below eaves or parapet
CR commercial recreation:
   All off premises signs
Freestanding
750 feet per sign, but only 300 feet per sign if within 200 feet of a historic district not abutting a state or federal highway
50 feet
100 feet from historic district
Spacing between any 2 off premises sign structures, which are located on either side of federal aid primary highway(s), and oriented toward said highway(s) will be no less than 750 feet, and spacing between any 2 off premises sign structures, which are located on either side of all other city street(s) will be no less than 500 feet. A linear measurement perpendicular to the centerline of the roadway(s) will apply to determine required distance and is taken from the nearest point of each structure
No flashing
None
Wall
Below eaves or parapet
LI light industrial, HI heavy industrial, and MHI modified heavy industrial
   All off premises signs
Freestanding
750 feet per sign but only 300 feet per sign if within 200 feet of a historic district and not abutting a state or federal highway
50 feet
100 feet from historic district
Spacing between any 2 off premises sign structures, which are located on either side of federal aid primary highway(s), and oriented toward said highway(s) will be no less than 750 feet, and spacing between any 2 off premises sign structures, which are located on either side of all other city street(s) will be no less than 500 feet. A linear measurement perpendicular to the centerline of the roadway(s) will apply to determine required distance and is taken from the nearest point of each structure
No flashing
None
Wall
Below eaves or parapet
 
Note: Off premises sign spacing requirements shall be measured perpendicular to the centerline of the street which the sign is oriented toward, between the closest point on each sign structure.
(Ord. 2-10, 1-19-2010)
 
(Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-13:SIGNS IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS:
On Premises Signs In Historic Districts
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Number
Projection Over Right Of Way
Height
On Premises Signs In Historic Districts
Permitted Sign Structures
Maximum
Permitted Lighting Type
Permitted Mechanical Motion
Area
(Square Feet)
Number
Projection Over Right Of Way
Height
OR
Freestanding
8 per sign
1 per business office
0
6 feet
External only, no flashing
None
Projecting
60 inches
Below eaves or parapet
Wall
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
OS
Freestanding
32 per sign
1 per business
0
10 feet
External only, no flashing
None
Projecting
16 per sign
Below eaves or parapet
Wall
Wall nameplate
6
OC
Freestanding
8 per sign
1 per business office
0
6 feet
External only, no flashing
None
Projecting
40 inches
Below eaves or parapet
Wall
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
C-1
Freestanding
n/a
Projecting
16 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
40 inches
Below eaves or parapet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
C-2
Freestanding
n/a
Projecting
40 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
40 inches
Below eaves or parapet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
C-2A
Freestanding
n/a
Projecting
40 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
40 inches
Below eaves or parapet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
C-3
Freestanding
100 per sign
1 per street frontage per multi-tenant building
0
40 feet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
1 per business per street frontage
Below eaves or parapet
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
C-4
Freestanding
n/a
Projecting
25 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
60 inches
Below eaves or parapet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
100 per sign
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
C-5
Freestanding
n/a
Projecting
25 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
60 inches
Below eaves or parapet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
100 per sign
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
CS
Freestanding
100 per sign
1 per business per street frontage
0
40 feet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
Below eaves or parapet
Wall nameplate
6
CR
Freestanding
n/a
Projecting
100 per sign
1 per street frontage
60 inches
Below eaves or parapet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
0
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
LI, HI, MHI
Freestanding
100 per sign
1 per street frontage
0
25 feet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
1 per business per street frontage
Below eaves or parapet
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
ID
Freestanding
100 per sign
As per institutional district regulations
0
10 feet
External only, no flashing
None
Wall
Below eaves or parapet
Wall nameplate
6
1 per business
R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3 & R-4*
Freestanding
8 per sign
1
0
6 feet
External Only: No Flashing
None
Projecting
60 inches
Below eave or parapet
Wall
6 per sign
1
0
Wall Nameplate
*   Signs in Residential zones allowed for (1) Education or Religious Institutions or (2) Real Estate Development or Subdivision Identification.
 
(Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009; amd. Ord. 16-22, 4-18-2022)
16-15-14: NONCONFORMING SIGNS:
Any sign which becomes a nonconforming sign on the effective date hereof or which becomes a nonconforming sign at any future date shall be regulated according to the rules set forth in section 16-4-6 of this title, provided that no alteration, improvement or other change, except changes to the sign panel that do not result in changes to the sign cabinet, may be made to such nonconforming sign that will increase its level of nonconformity. In the event that such nonconforming sign, or panels or portions thereof shall be removed, for a period exceeding six (6) months, or if the use to which the nonconforming sign pertains is changed, any replacement sign shall be made to conform to the maximum area, number, allowable structure type, protection, height, lighting and motion requirements for signs permitted in the zoning district. A nonconforming sign may be altered to reduce its level of nonconformity. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-15: MAINTENANCE:
All signs and sign support structures, together with all of their supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in repair and in a proper state of preservation. The display surface of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted at all times. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-16: DISCONTINUED OR ABANDONED SIGNS:
Signs which are not properly maintained as determined by the building official or which advertise a use which has been abandoned or discontinued shall be removed by the property owner within ninety (90) days after abandonment of the principal use or may thereafter be removed by the building official with such removal expense charged to the property owner. Signs that meet the definition of "painted ghost wall sign" shall not be considered discontinued or abandoned. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
16-15-17: MESSAGE SUBSTITUTION:
A noncommercial message of any type may be substituted for any permitted commercial message or permitted noncommercial message, provided, that the sign structure is legal without consideration of the sign copy. Such substitution of message may be made without any additional approval or permitting. This provision prevails over any more specific provision to the contrary within this chapter. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message. This provision does not create a right to increase the total amount of signage on a parcel, nor does it affect the requirement that a sign structure or mounting device be properly permitted. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)
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