Utah Code
Utah Code § 72-7-505 (2026)
Sign size -- Sign spacing -- Location in outdoor advertising corridor -- Limit on implementation
✓ current as of May 2026
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Except as provided in Subsection (2), a sign face within the state may not exceed the following limits:
maximum area - 1,000 square feet;
maximum length - 60 feet; and
maximum height - 25 feet.
No more than two facings visible and readable from the same direction on the main-traveled way may be erected on any one sign structure. Whenever two facings are so positioned, neither shall exceed the maximum allowed square footage.
Two or more advertising messages on a sign face and double-faced, back-to-back, stacked, side-by-side, and V-type signs are permitted as a single sign or structure if both faces enjoy common ownership.
A changeable message sign is permitted if the interval between message changes is not more frequent than at least eight seconds and the actual message rotation process is accomplished in three seconds or less.
An illumination standard adopted by any jurisdiction shall be uniformly applied to all signs, public or private, on or off premise.
An outdoor sign structure located inside the unincorporated area of a nonurbanized county may have the maximum height allowed by the county for outdoor advertising structures in the commercial or industrial zone in which the sign is located. If no maximum height is provided for the location, the maximum sign height may be 65 feet above the ground or 25 feet above the grade of the main traveled way, whichever is greater.
An outdoor sign structure located inside an incorporated municipality or urbanized county may have the maximum height allowed by the municipality or urbanized county for outdoor advertising structures in the commercial or industrial zone in which the sign is located. If no maximum height is provided for the location, the maximum sign height may be 65 feet above the ground or 25 feet above the grade of the main traveled way, whichever is greater.
Except as provided in Section 72-7-509:
Any sign allowed to be erected by reason of the exceptions set forth in Subsection 72-7-504(2) or in H-1 zones may not be closer than 500 feet to an existing off-premise sign adjacent to an interstate highway or limited access primary highway, except that signs may be erected closer than 500 feet if the signs on the same side of the interstate highway or limited access primary highway are not simultaneously visible.
Signs may not be located within 500 feet of any of the following which are adjacent to the highway, unless the signs are in an incorporated area:
public parks;
public forests;
public playgrounds;
areas designated as scenic areas by the department or other state agency having and exercising this authority; or
cemeteries.
Except under Subsection (3)(c)(ii), signs may not be located on an interstate highway or limited access highway on the primary system within 500 feet of an interchange, or intersection at grade, or rest area measured along the interstate highway or freeway from the sign to the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main-traveled way.
Interchange and intersection distance limitations shall be measured separately for each direction of travel. A measurement for each direction of travel may not control or affect any other direction of travel.
A sign may be placed closer than 500 feet from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main-traveled way, if:
the sign is replacing an existing outdoor advertising use or structure which is being removed or displaced to accommodate the widening, construction, or reconstruction of an interstate, federal aid primary highway existing as of June 1, 1991, or national highway system highway; and
it is located in a commercial or industrial zoned area inside an urbanized county or an incorporated municipality.
The location of signs situated on nonlimited access primary highways in commercial, industrial, or H-1 zoned areas between streets, roads, or highways entering the primary highway shall not exceed the following minimum spacing criteria:
Where the distance between centerlines of intersecting streets, roads, or highways is less than 1,000 feet, a minimum spacing between structures of 150 feet may be permitted between the intersecting streets or highways.
Where the distance between centerlines of intersecting streets, roads, or highways is 1,000 feet or more, minimum spacing between sign structures shall be 300 feet.
All outdoor advertising shall be erected and maintained within the outdoor advertising corridor.
Subsection (3)(c)(ii) may not be implemented until:
the Utah-Federal Agreement for carrying out national policy relative to control of outdoor advertising in areas adjacent to the national system of interstate and defense highways and the federal-aid primary system is modified to allow the sign placement specified in Subsection (3)(c)(ii); and
the modified agreement under Subsection (4)(a) is signed on behalf of both the state and the United States Secretary of Transportation.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1999–2025 · leading case: U.P.C., Inc. v. R.O.A. Gen., Inc., 1999 UT App 303 (Utah Ct. App. 1999).
U.P.C., Inc. v. R.O.A. Gen., Inc., 1999 UT App 303 (Utah Ct. App. 1999). “Because Utah law requires 500-foot spacing between outdoor advertising signs, see Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (3)(a) (Supp.1999), Garco cannot contract with any of Reagan's competitors to place a sign on its property.”
Young Elec. Sign Co. v. State ex rel. Utah Dep't of Transp., 110 P.3d 1118 (Utah Ct. App. 2005). “See Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (3)(c)(i)(A) (Supp.”
Outfront Media, LLC v. Salt Lake City Corp., 2017 UT 74 (Utah 2017). “§ 72-7-505(3). See Salt Lake City Code § 21A.”
Repub. Outdoor Advert. v. Utah Dep't of Transp., Div. II, 258 P.3d 619 (Utah Ct. App. 2011). “See Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (@8)(a) (2008) (stating that signs "may not be closer than 500 feet to an existing off-premise sign" when "adjacent to an interstate highway").”
ROA Gen. v. Salt Lake City, 2025 UT App 122 (Utah Ct. App. 2025). “Utah Code section 72-7-505 has not been materially amended since the parties submitted their relocation requests.”
Evans v. Utah Dep't of Transp., 2018 UT App 207 (Utah Ct. App. 2018). “Because the sign locations were within 500 feet of an interchange, violating the Utah Outdoor Advertising Act, see Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (3)(c)(i)(A) (LexisNexis Supp.”
Repub. Outdoor Adver. v. Dept. of Transp., 2011 UT App 198 (Utah Ct. App. 2011). “See Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (3)(a) (2008) (stating that signs "may not be closer than 500 feet to an existing off-premise sign" when "adjacent to an interstate highway").”
— Utah Code § 72-7-505(3) — 2 cases
Outfront Media, LLC v. Salt Lake City Corp., 2017 UT 74 (Utah 2017). “§ 72-7-505(3). See Salt Lake City Code § 21A.”
ROA Gen. v. Salt Lake City, 2025 UT App 122 (Utah Ct. App. 2025). “Utah Code section 72-7-505 has not been materially amended since the parties submitted their relocation requests.”
— Utah Code § 72-7-505(3)(c)(i)(A) — 2 cases
Young Elec. Sign Co. v. State ex rel. Utah Dep't of Transp., 110 P.3d 1118 (Utah Ct. App. 2005). “See Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (3)(c)(i)(A) (Supp.”
Evans v. Utah Dep't of Transp., 2018 UT App 207 (Utah Ct. App. 2018). “Because the sign locations were within 500 feet of an interchange, violating the Utah Outdoor Advertising Act, see Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (3)(c)(i)(A) (LexisNexis Supp.”
— Utah Code § 72-7-505(3)(c)(ii) — 1 case
Young Elec. Sign Co. v. State ex rel. Utah Dep't of Transp., 110 P.3d 1118 (Utah Ct. App. 2005). “See Utah Code Ann. § 72-7-505 (3)(c)(i)(A) (Supp.”
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