Draft chapter 125: Sexually Oriented Business
§ 125.17 Signage
The 2026 draft's § 125.17 beside the current code's § 125.17: removed words are struck through, added words underlined.
Comparison with a draft: not adopted. The archive holds no public hearing, ordinance or vote adopting the recodified Code through the October 20, 2026 meeting packet. Until one is adopted, every page here compares the consolidated code with a draft that can still change: the revised draft with the October 6 changes is not in the archive.
A comparison with the August 2026 draft recodification prepared by Iowa Codification for the City. The draft has not been adopted and can still change; the current code (unofficial compilation) governs until a recodified Code is adopted. Matches between sections are made by machine from the texts and are reviewed where uncertain.
Wording changed largely rewritten (1% same words) match not yet reviewed: matched by catchline only; 1% of the words agree
The city's explanation
“The signage provision has also been simplified to cross- reference the City's general Sign Code in Chapter 167 rather than maintaining two potentially conflicting sets of sign standards.”
Notable changes
- Text removed: …
1. Notwithstanding any other City ordinance, code, or regulation to the contrary, it is unlawful for the owner or operator of any sexually oriented business or any other person to erect, construct, or maintain any sign for the sexually oriented business other than the 1 primary sign and 1 secondary sign, as provided herein. 2. Primary signs shall have no more than 2 display surfaces. Each such dis…See Chapter 167 Sign Code. …
What changed
2. Primary signs shall have no more than two (2) display surfaces. Each such display surface shall:
A. Not contain any flashing lights;
B. Be a flat plane, rectangular in shape;
C. Not exceed seventy-five (75) square feet in area; and
D. Not exceed ten (10) feet in height or ten (10) feet in length.
3. Primary signs shall contain no photographs, silhouettes, drawings, or pictorial representations in any manner, and may contain only the name of the enterprise.
4. Each letter forming a word on a primary sign shall be of solid color and each such letter shall be the same print-type, size, and color. The background behind such lettering on the display surface of a primary sign shall be of a uniform and solid color.
5. Secondary signs shall have only one display surface. Such display surface shall:
A. Be a flat plane, rectangular in shape;
B. Not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area;
C. Not exceed five (5) feet in height and four (4) feet in width; and
D. Be affixed or attached to any wall or door of the enterprise.
6. The provisions of paragraph A of subsection 2 and of subsections 3 and 4 shall also apply to secondary signs.
Word-level comparison of the current text with the draft's; spacing and paragraph breaks come from the documents' text. Footnotes are left out.
Current code
§ 125.17 Signage
1. Notwithstanding any other City ordinance, code, or regulation to the contrary, it is unlawful for the owner or operator of any sexually oriented business or any other person to erect, construct, or maintain any sign for the sexually oriented business other than the one primary sign and one secondary sign, as provided herein.
2. Primary signs shall have no more than two (2) display surfaces. Each such display surface shall:
A. Not contain any flashing lights;
B. Be a flat plane, rectangular in shape;
C. Not exceed seventy-five (75) square feet in area; and
D. Not exceed ten (10) feet in height or ten (10) feet in length.
3. Primary signs shall contain no photographs, silhouettes, drawings, or pictorial representations in any manner, and may contain only the name of the enterprise.
4. Each letter forming a word on a primary sign shall be of solid color and each such letter shall be the same print-type, size, and color. The background behind such lettering on the display surface of a primary sign shall be of a uniform and solid color.
5. Secondary signs shall have only one display surface. Such display surface shall:
A. Be a flat plane, rectangular in shape;
B. Not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area;
C. Not exceed five (5) feet in height and four (4) feet in width; and
D. Be affixed or attached to any wall or door of the enterprise.
6. The provisions of paragraph A of subsection 2 and of subsections 3 and 4 shall also apply to secondary signs.
2026 draft
§ 125.17 Signage
See Chapter 167 Sign Code.
Back to draft chapter 125 · All changes
Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.