Off-Premises Sign Regulations Moratorium Extension Ordinance Amendment Copyrighted
June 15, 2026
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEMS # 6.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Off-Premises Sign Regulations Moratorium Extension
Ordinance Amendment
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to extend the
Temporary Building Permit Moratorium until January 31,
2027. This extension will provide additional time to complete
the review and update of the Unified Development Code,
ensuring that proposed changes are thorough and reflect
community feedback.
ORDINANCE Amending City of Dubuque Code of
Ordinances Title 14 Building and Development, Chapter 2
Building Construction, Demolition and Moving, Section 14-2-4
Moratorium for Construction or Other Work on Certain
Streets, Areas, or Facilities by Extending the Off-Premises
Sign Moratorium Effective Date to January 31, 2027.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Motion B; Motion A
DISPOSITION:
ATTAC H M ENTS:
1. MVM Memo Off-Premises Sign Regulations Moratorium Extension
2. Staff Memo
3. Off-Premises Sign Regulation Moritorium Extension Ordinance
Page 1563 of 1594
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Off-Premises Sign Regulations Moratorium Extension
DATE: June 10, 2026
Planning Services Director Wally Wernimont is recommending City Council approval to
extend the Temporary Building Permit Moratorium until January 31, 2027. This
extension will provide additional time to complete the review and update of the Unified
Development Code, ensuring that proposed changes are thorough and reflect
community feedback
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Director
Maddy Haverland, Housing & Community Development Director
Michael Belmont, Assistant Housing & Community Development Director
Jason Duba, Assistant Planner
Page 1564 of 1594
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Director �1"V'
SUBJECT: Off-Premises Sign Regulations Moratorium Extension
DATE: June 8, 2026
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to request an extension of the Temporary Building
Permit Moratorium related to off-premises signs.
BACKGROUND
On October 7, 2024, during the City Council meeting, the Council approved a
Temporary Building Permit Moratorium related to off-premises signs. This action was
intended to allow time for analysis through the Unified Development Code (UDC)
update process and ensure that regulations governing off-premises signage are
thoroughly reviewed and aligned with community interests and zoning standards.
DISCUSSION
Since the moratorium was adopted, Planning Services has been working on updates to
the UDC, including provisions for off-premises signs. The complexity of these
regulations and the need for public engagement have extended the timeline for
completing the update. The moratorium was extended once to July 1, 2026.
REQUESTED ACTION
Planning Services requests that the City Council extend the Temporary Building Permit
Moratorium until January 31, 2027. This extension will provide additional time to
complete the review and update of the Unified Development Code, ensuring that
proposed changes are thorough and reflect community feedback
Enclosures
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Maddy Haverland, Housing & Community Development Director
Michael Belmont, Assistant Housing & Community Development Director
Jason Duba, Assistant Planner
Page 1565 of 1594
Prepared by: Wally Wernirnont, City Planner Address: City Hall, 50 W. 13th St Telephone: 563-589-4210
Return to: Trish Gleason, Assistant City Clerk Address: City Hall, 50 W. 13th St Telephone: 563-589-4121
ORDINANCE NO. 27-26
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 14 BUILDING AND
DEVELOPMENT, CHAPTER 2 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, DEMOLITION AND
MOVING, SECTION 14-2-4 MORATORIUM FOR CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER WORK
ON CERTAIN STREETS, AREAS, OR FACILITIES BY EXTENDING THE OFF -
PREMISES SIGN MORATORIUM EFFECTIVE DATE TO SEPTEMBER 21, 2026
Whereas, the City of Dubuque is committed to promoting the health, safety, and
general welfare of its residents; and
Whereas, the current Unified Development Code (UDC) is in need of
comprehensive review and update to better reflect the community's vision and land use
goals; and
Whereas, off -premises signs can significantly impact the aesthetic character of
the community, traffic safety, and the overall quality of life for residents; and
Whereas, the proliferation of off -premises signs may result in adverse effects,
such as visual clutter, distraction for drivers, and potential conflicts with the objectives of
the updated UDC; and
Whereas, a temporary moratorium on the issuance of permits for new off -
premises signs will allow for a thorough evaluation of the community's needs, concerns,
and preferences regarding signage and advertising; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque desires to ensure that the future development of
off -premises signs aligns with updated land use regulations and community standards;
and
Whereas, the temporary suspension of off -premises sign permits is necessary to
protect the public interest while the UDC is being reviewed and revised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Section 14-2-4 is amended to
read as follows:
Section 14-2-4: Moratorium for Construction or Other Work on Certain Streets, Areas or
Facilities:
B. Off -premises sign Study Area: The city manager may not issue any
permit for any new off -premises sign in the corporate limits of the city of
Dubuque from the effective date hereof to September 21, 2026, except
where a vested right to the issuance of such permit accrued prior to the
effective date hereof.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon publication
Passed, approved and adopted this 15th day of June 2026.
Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest:
Trish Gleason, Assistant City Clerk
STATE OF IOWA SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION
I, Kathy Goetzinger, a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher
of the Telegraph Herald, a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the
attached notice was published in said newspaper on the
following dates:
06/21/2026
and for which the charge is 35.92
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Pub'ric in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 22nd day of June, 2026
Notary Puin and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
AC
PI
0
/OWa
00 JANET K. PAPE
Commission Number 199659
My Commission Expires
12/11/2028
Ad text :
ORDINANCE NO. 27-26
OFFICIAL NOTICE
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 14
BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT, CHAPTER 2 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION,
DEMOLITION AND MOVING, SECTION 14-2-4 MORATORIUM FOR
CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER WORK ON CERTAIN STREETS, AREAS, OR
FACILITIES BY EXTENDING THE OFF -PREMISES SIGN MORATORIUM
EFFECTIVE DATE TO SEPTEMBER 21, 2026
Whereas, the City of Dubuque is committed to promoting the
health, safety, and general welfare of its residents; and
Whereas, the current Unified Development Code (UDC) is in
need of comprehensive review and update to better reflect the
community's vision and land use goals; and
Whereas, off -premises signs can significantly impact the
aesthetic character of the community, traffic safety, and the
overall quality of life for residents; and
Whereas, the proliferation of off -premises signs may result
in adverse effects, such as visual clutter, distraction for
drivers, and potential conflicts with the objectives of the
updated UDC; and
Whereas, a temporary moratorium on the issuance of permits
for new off -premises signs will allow for a thorough
evaluation of the communitys needs, concerns, and preferences
regarding signage and advertising; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque desires to ensure that the
future development of off -premises signs aligns with updated
land use regulations and community standards; and
Whereas, the temporary suspension of off -premises sign
permits is necessary to protect the public interest while the
UDC is being reviewed and revised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Section 14-2-4
is amended to read as follows:
Section 14-2-4: Moratorium for Construction or Other Work on
Certain Streets, Areas or Facilities:
B. Off -premises sign Study Area: The city manager may not
issue any permit for any new off -premises sign in the
corporate limits of the city of Dubuque from the effective
date hereof to September 21, 2026, except where a vested right
to the issuance of such permit accrued prior to the effective
date hereof.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon publication
Passed, approved and adopted this 15th day of June 2026.
/s/Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest:/s/Trish Gleason,
Assistant City Clerk
It 6/21