Draft chapter 167: Sign Code

§ 167.08 Sign Code Bulk Regulations

The 2026 draft's § 167.08 beside the current code's Zoning § 6.07: 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.

Renumbered or moved largely rewritten (65% same words)

The city's explanation

“The final Code establishes a dedicated section for Sign Code Bulk Regulations, including the number and area of signs permitted in commercial and industrial zones.”

The city's summary of the draft (staff memo, September 9, 2026), p. 7

Notable changes

  • Permit, license or registration: …Business (sq. ft.) Advertising (sq. ft.) Zoning Lot (2) (B) Permits Business (sq.ft) Permitted Permitted Special Permitted Special Special Permitted Special…
  • Text removed: … A. On and subsequent to the effective date of this Ordinance, any person proposing to erect any business, advertising, or other sign not specifically listed as an exempt sign must submit to the Zoning Officer an application for a sign permit. Application for such permit must be accompanied by detailed plans, including proposed advertising copy, and other necessary information to determine the loca… Number and Area Regulations for Signs in Commercial…
  • Text removed: …3:1 1 3 75 150 - - Business C-2B * 3:1 (4) 4:1 1 3 150 (5) 300 250 300 Advertising Business C-2S * 3:1 (4) 4:1 1 3 150 300 250 300 Advertising Business C-2O * 1:1 2:1 1 3 150 300 250 300 Advertising C-1S Business * 1:1 2:1 1 5 250 500 (6) - - Business M-1 * 2:1 3:1 1 3 150 300 - 300…

What changed

A. On and subsequent to the effective date of this Ordinance, any person proposing to erect any business, advertising, or other sign not specifically listed as an exempt sign must submit to the Zoning Officer an application for a sign permit. Application for such permit must be accompanied by detailed plans, including proposed advertising copy, and other necessary information to determine the location and compliance with all applicable regulations. A permit may be issued within ten days of the date of an application submission including fees or the applicant must receive a written notice indicating the status of the application.
B. Permit fees for business, advertising and other signs, as established by the City of Tiffin and that may be periodically amended by resolution of the city council, must be submitted at the time application is made for the sign permit.
C. If the work associated with a sign permit has not been completed within one year of the date of the issuance of the permit, the permit expires.
Table 1 - Signs
Number and Area Regulations for Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones Maximum Sign Size Per per Sign Face Limit on Number Including of including Ground, Wall Business Sign Ratio Well, and Other Signs Advertising and of Advertising Requiring Permits Business Sign and Business Type of Sign Permitted Patio Business Ground to Street Ground Frontage Signs Requiring Permitted (A) Sign structures per Zone Frontage (1) Structures Per Business (sq. ft.) Advertising (sq. ft.) Zoning Lot (2) (B) Permits Business (sq.ft)
Permitted Permitted Special Permitted Special (C) Special Permitted Special Permitted Special C- * A C Business 2:1 3:1 75 1A * A C C-1B Business * 2:1 3:1 1 3 75 * D A C C-2 Business 3:1 4:1 150E * A C C-3 Business 1:1 2:1 150 - - C-1O * A E C-1S Business 1:1 2:1 250 * A C M-1 Business 2:1 3:1 1 3 75 150 - - * A C M-2 Business C-2B * 3:1 (4) 4:1 1 3 150 (5) 300 250 300 Advertising Business C-2S * 3:1 (4) 4:1 1 3 150 300 250 300 Advertising Business C-2O * 1:1 2:1 1 3 150 300 250 300 Advertising C-1S Business * 1:1 2:1 1 5 250 500 (6) - - Business M-1 * 2:1 3:1 1 3 150 300 - 300 Advertising Business m-2 * 2:1 3:1 1 3 150 300 - 300 Advertising * Any Permitted Sign that exceeds the standards provided in the "Permitted" “Permitted” columns, but does not exceed the stated standards in the "Special" “Special” columns, may be processed as a Special Use. Any requirements to exceed the standard stated in the "Special" Column “Special” column (with the exception as noted by footnotes) must also apply for a Variation as provided under the Zoning Ordinance.
(1)
Code. A Total sign area permitted in square feet: feet; compared to lineal feet of street frontage.
(2)
B Number limit shown is for all sign structures erected on the ground that may or may not have one or more signs or sign faces on each sign structure.
(3)
C For corner lots, one ground sign structure is permitted per street frontage provided that not more than one of these structures may be used for any Advertising Signs.
(4)
frontage. D The maximum total sign area in square feet compared to lineal feet of street frontage for permitted signs shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) 1,000 square feet. Proposals to exceed this maximum must follow the provisions for Special Use under the Zoning Ordinance.
(5)
Code. E Signs within one hundred (100) 100 feet of the C/S-3 District shall be limited to a maximum sign size per sign face of seventy-five (75) 75 square feet.
(6)
F One temporary business sign to promote new attractions in the C/S-1 zone, Districts, not to exceed twenty-four (24) 24 months, may shall be authorized with a maximum of six hundred fifty (650) 650 square feet.
(7)
G Each one (1) lineal foot of neon tubing, attached to a building or structure for attention attracting purposes shall be counted as one
(1)
square foot of signage and shall be calculated as part of the maximum total sign area permitted for a particular use or development. (Amended Per Ord. No. 99-134, December 6, 1999) .

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

Zoning § 6.07 Permits And Administration And Enforcement

A. On and subsequent to the effective date of this Ordinance, any person proposing to erect any business, advertising, or other sign not specifically listed as an exempt sign must submit to the Zoning Officer an application for a sign permit. Application for such permit must be accompanied by detailed plans, including proposed advertising copy, and other necessary information to determine the location and compliance with all applicable regulations. A permit may be issued within ten days of the date of an application submission including fees or the applicant must receive a written notice indicating the status of the application.

B. Permit fees for business, advertising and other signs, as established by the City of Tiffin and that may be periodically amended by resolution of the city council, must be submitted at the time application is made for the sign permit.

C. If the work associated with a sign permit has not been completed within one year of the date of the issuance of the permit, the permit expires.

Table 1 - Signs Number and Area Regulations for Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones Maximum Sign Size Per Sign Face Limit on Number Including Ground, Wall and Other Signs Advertising and of Advertising Requiring Permits Business Sign and Business Type of Sign Permitted Patio to Street Ground Sign Zone Frontage (1) Structures Per Business (sq. ft.) Advertising (sq. ft.) Zoning Lot (2)

Permitted Permitted Special Permitted Special Special Permitted Special Permitted Special C-1B Business * 2:1 3:1 1 3 75 150 - - C-1O Business * 2:1 3:1 1 3 75 150 - - Business C-2B * 3:1 (4) 4:1 1 3 150 (5) 300 250 300 Advertising Business C-2S * 3:1 (4) 4:1 1 3 150 300 250 300 Advertising Business C-2O * 1:1 2:1 1 3 150 300 250 300 Advertising C-1S Business * 1:1 2:1 1 5 250 500 (6) - - Business M-1 * 2:1 3:1 1 3 150 300 - 300 Advertising Business m-2 * 2:1 3:1 1 3 150 300 - 300 Advertising * Any Permitted Sign that exceeds the standards provided in the "Permitted" columns, but does not exceed the stated standards in the "Special" columns, may be processed as a Special Use. Any requirements to exceed the standard stated in the "Special" Column (with the exception as noted by footnotes) must also apply for a Variation as provided under the Zoning Ordinance.

(1) Total sign area permitted in square feet: compared to lineal feet of street frontage.

(2) Number limit shown is for all sign structures erected on the ground that may or may not have one or more signs or sign faces on each sign structure.

(3) For corner lots, one ground sign structure is permitted per street frontage provided that not more than one of these structures may be used for any Advertising Signs.

(4) The maximum total sign area in square feet compared to lineal feet of street frontage for permitted signs shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) square feet. Proposals to exceed this maximum must follow the provisions for Special Use under the Zoning Ordinance.

(5) Signs within one hundred (100) feet of the C/S-3 District shall be limited to a maximum sign size per sign face of seventy-five (75) square feet.

(6) One temporary business sign to promote new attractions in the C/S-1 zone, not to exceed twenty-four (24) months, may be authorized with a maximum of six hundred fifty (650) square feet.

(7) Each one (1) lineal foot of neon tubing, attached to a building or structure for attention attracting purposes shall be counted as one

(1) square foot of signage and shall be calculated as part of the maximum total sign area permitted for a particular use or development. (Amended Per Ord. No. 99-134, December 6, 1999) .

Zoning Ordinance (2007) · source page

2026 draft

§ 167.08 Sign Code Bulk Regulations

Number and Area Regulations for Signs in Commercial and Industrial Zones Maximum Sign Size per Sign Face Limit on Number of including Ground, Business Sign Ratio Well, and Other Type of Sign Business Ground to Street Frontage Signs Requiring Permitted (A) Sign structures per Zone Zoning Lot (B) Permits Business (sq.ft)

Permitted Permitted Special Permitted Special (C) Special Permitted Special C- * A C Business 2:1 3:1 75 1A * A C C-1B Business 2:1 3:1 75 * D A C C-2 Business 3:1 4:1 150E * A C C-3 Business 1:1 2:1 150 * A E C-1S Business 1:1 2:1 250 * A C M-1 Business 2:1 3:1 150 * A C M-2 Business 2:1 3:1 150 * Any Permitted Sign that exceeds the standards provided in the “Permitted” columns, but does not exceed the stated standards in the “Special” columns, may be processed as a Special Use. Any requirements to exceed the standard stated in the “Special” column (with the exception as noted by footnotes) must also apply for a Variation as provided under the Zoning Code. A Total sign area permitted in square feet; compared to lineal feet of street frontage. B Number limit shown is for all sign structures erected on the ground that may or may not have one or more signs or sign faces on each sign structure. C For corner lots, one ground sign structure is permitted per street frontage. D The maximum total sign area in square feet compared to lineal feet of street frontage for permitted signs shall not exceed 1,000 square feet. Proposals to exceed this maximum must follow the provisions for Special Use under the Zoning Code. E Signs within 100 feet of the C/S-3 District shall be limited to a maximum sign size per sign face of 75 square feet. F One temporary business sign to promote new attractions in the C/S-1 Districts, not to exceed 24 months, shall be authorized with a maximum of 650 square feet. G Each one lineal foot of neon tubing, attached to a building or structure for attention attracting purposes shall be counted as one square foot of signage and shall be calculated as part of the maximum total sign area permitted for a particular use or development.

August 2026 draft · page 639

Back to draft chapter 167 · All changes

Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.