# Sign Regulations in Bedford, Indiana

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Bedford, Indiana, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Bedford, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/bedford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Bedford, Indiana regulates 16 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Permanent Sign (Subdivision Identification Sign - up to 4 acres)s in the Residential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 4 feet (if ground-mounted) tall and 32 square feet total combined, with a 10 feet from city right-of-way if ground-mounted setback (Sec. § 155.033(C)(1)(d)(1)(A), (e), (f)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts | 5 | 4 feet (if ground-mounted) | 102 square feet total combined | — |
| Non-residential districts | 8 | 35 feet, measured from crown of road in front of sign | Combined: 1,000 square feet; Each: 1,000 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 36 square feet combined for all signs on the parcel; each sign max 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 155.033(C)(1)(b) |
| Flag | — | 60 square feet combined; each flag max 15 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 155.033(C)(1)(c) |
| Permanent Sign (Subdivision Identification Sign - up to 4 acres) | 4 feet (if ground-mounted) | 32 square feet total combined | — | 10 feet from city right-of-way if ground-mounted | — | May be ground-mounted at entrances to the development; at least 10 feet from city right-of-way if ground-mounted | — | § 155.033(C)(1)(d)(1)(A), (e), (f) |
| Permanent Sign (Subdivision Identification Sign - >4 and <40 acres) | 4 feet (if ground-mounted) | 48 square feet total combined | — | 10 feet from city right-of-way if ground-mounted | — | May be ground-mounted at entrances to the development; at least 10 feet from city right-of-way if ground-mounted | — | § 155.033(C)(1)(d)(1)(B), (e), (f) |
| Permanent Sign (Subdivision Identification Sign - 40+ acres) | 4 feet (if ground-mounted) | 102 square feet total combined | — | 10 feet from city right-of-way if ground-mounted | — | May be ground-mounted at entrances to the development; at least 10 feet from city right-of-way if ground-mounted | — | § 155.033(C)(1)(d)(1)(C), (e), (f) |

### Non-residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 64 square feet combined for all temporary signs; each sign max 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 155.033(C)(2)(a)1 |
| Wall Sign | Not to project above ridge line of sloping roof nor above eave line of flat roof | 2 sq ft per linear foot (wall width) | — | — | 1 per building side (may be increased if building fronts on more than one thoroughfare – see next entry); additional allowed for multiple businesses | Building attached | — | § 155.033(C)(2)2A-B |
| Wall Sign (Second Thoroughfare Frontage) | Not to project above ridge or eave lines | 2 sq ft per linear foot (wall width) for second sign | — | — | 1 additional per additional thoroughfare | Building attached – facing second thoroughfare | — | § 155.033(C)(2)2C |
| Wall Signs (Multiple Businesses) | — | Combined area up to 2 sq ft per linear foot of the wall | — | — | Number of businesses in building | Building attached | — | § 155.033(C)(2)2D |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet, measured from crown of road in front of sign | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per parcel | Freestanding, on property but may not project over public property | — | § 155.033(C)(2)2E, 4A |
| Flag | — | Combined: 1,000 square feet; Each: 1,000 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 155.033(C)(2)3 |
| Free Standing Sign (Shopping Center Outlot/Satellite Store) | 35 feet | 100 square feet per sign | — | — | 1 per outlot or satellite store building | Per outlot or satellite store building, freestanding | — | § 155.033(C)(2)5C |
| Detached Main Sign (Shopping Center >10 acres) | — | — | — | — | 1 | Shopping center property | — | § 155.033(C)(2)5A,B |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Government Sign (Traffic Control Device) | — | — | — | — | — | Public or private property as required | — | § 155.033(B)(1)(a) |
| Government Sign (Address Identifier) | — | — | — | — | — | On curb, principal building, mailbox, or suitable device visible from the street | — | § 155.033(B)(1)(b) |
| Regulatory Sign (Warning/Safety/Prohibition) | — | — | — | — | — | As required by law on private property | — | § 155.033(B)(1)(c) |
| Address Numerals | — | — | — | — | — | On curb, building, mailbox, or suitable device visible from street | — | § 155.033(B)(1)(b) |
| Government Sign (Parking/Traffic/Regulatory) | — | — | — | — | — | As required by traffic/parking/road regulations | — | § 74.002; §71.040; §71.050; §74.042; §74.078; §71.061; §71.041 |

## Prohibited signs in Bedford

- Signs are prohibited in all Zoning Districts unless authorized under this code.
- No sign larger than 12 square feet shall be erected in a non-residential Zoning District unless a sign permit has been issued by the Building Commissioner.
- Illuminated signs with flashing reflective spots or flood lamps of 25-watt tungsten or greater intensity are prohibited as they are deemed traffic hazards.
- No sign shall be constructed, altered, located, or illuminated in any manner which causes undue glare, distraction, confusion, nuisance, or hazard to traffic or other properties.
- No sign shall be located in a tree plat, nor shall any notice, poster, or other paper or device designed to attract attention be affixed to any lamp post, public utility pole, or shade tree, or any public structure or building, except as may be authorized by law.
- No sign may be illuminated after 11:00 p.m. if it is located within or adjacent to any residential district, except for businesses open after that time, in which case illumination must cease upon closing.
- No sign shall exceed 35 feet in height (in non-residential districts).
- No sign shall be located on or project over public property.
- Signs or advertisements projecting over any street, alley, or sidewalk shall not extend more than three feet, and must be at least eight feet above the surface.
- No awning or over-hanging shade or covering over any street, alley, or sidewalk unless there is a space of eight feet between the object and the surface; building or maintaining any shed over these areas is unlawful.
- If a sign, shed, or awning is maintained in violation of the relevant provisions and not removed after notice, it may be taken down by the city at the owner's expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bedford

- Government signs (such as traffic control devices, property address markings, legally required warning or prohibition signs) erected and maintained according to law are authorized in every zoning district.
- Property owners must post address numerals visible from the street for public safety departments as required by law.
- Signs required by federal, state, or local law for safety or access prohibition are exempt when posted to comply with such laws.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any sign larger than 12 square feet in non-residential Zoning Districts.
- Applications for sign permits must include drawings or sketches of the sign's construction and design and payment of an established fee.
- Approval of required variances by the Board of Zoning Appeals is necessary when reconstructing a damaged nonconforming sign or structure.
- All applications for sign permits are processed by the City Planning Department; if no decision is made within 30 days, the permit application is deemed granted.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Bedford, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bedford+IN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bedford

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