# Sign Regulations in Brazil, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Brazil, Indiana regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Standard Outdoor Advertising Structure/Billboards in the Suburban Residential (S) zoning district are capped at 14 ft (face); 30 ft overall max from grade/street tall, 672 sq ft per face (excl. extensions/embellishments). Max width: 48 ft, max height: 14 ft (sign face); maximum height: 30 ft to grade/street., and 48 ft wide, with a 50 ft from public right-of-way; 1000 ft from another billboard; 500 ft from R-1, R-2, R-3 setback (Sec. § 155.236(A)-(H)). Most commercial signs in Brazil require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential and Agricultural, R-1, R-2, R-3 | 9 | 12 ft | Varies; see § 155.236 for details | — |
| Business and Industrial, Local Business (LB), General Business (GB), Open Industrial (I-1), Reserved Industrial (I-R) | 9 | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Suburban Residential (S) | 1 | 14 ft (face); 30 ft overall max from grade/street | 672 sq ft per face (excl. extensions/embellishments). Max width: 48 ft, max height: 14 ft (sign face); maximum height: 30 ft to grade/street. | — |
| Local Business (LB), General Business (GB), Open Industrial (I-1), Reserved Industrial (I-R) | 1 | 14 ft (face); 30 ft overall max from grade/street | 672 sq ft per face (excl. extensions/embellishments). Max width: 48 ft, max height: 14 ft (face); maximum height: 30 ft to grade/street. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential and Agricultural, R-1, R-2, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Multi-family, Manufactured/Mobile Home Park, Single-family Subdivision, Permitted Nonresidential Use) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft display surface | — | At least 10 ft from any property line; meet vision clearance on corners (§ 155.141) | 1 per perimeter street frontage (more possible by special approval) | One per perimeter street frontage. Additional/multiple signs possible by special approval. | — | § 155.233(A)(1) |
| Church, Public or Semi-public Building or Public Park Identification Sign | 12 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | At least 10 ft from property line; meet vision clearance requirements | 1 per street frontage | Not more than 1 per street frontage | — | § 155.233(A)(2) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft surface area | — | At least 10 ft from property line | 1 per perimeter street | Each perimeter street frontage of development being constructed | — | § 155.233(A)(3) and (C)(2) |
| Directional Sign | 3.5 ft above adjacent driveway at point it meets street right-of-way | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 2 per entry/exit | Two per entry/exit | — | § 155.233(A)(4), (B)(4), (D) |
| Memorial or Tablet Sign | 6 ft from surrounding grade to highest point | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per building | One per building unless government installed | — | § 155.233(A)(5), (B)(5) |
| Property Real Estate Sign | 6 ft from grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | One per lot frontage | — | § 155.233(A)(6), (B)(6), § 155.227(B)(7), (C)(2)(c) |
| Informational Sign | 4 ft from ground | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 155.233(A)(8) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Wall-Mounted, Nonilluminated) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 wall, possibly 1 yard sign with special approval | Mounted on dwelling, adjacent to main entrance. | — | § 155.233(A)(9), § 155.227(B)(10) |

### Business and Industrial, Local Business (LB), General Business (GB), Open Industrial (I-1), Reserved Industrial (I-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 20 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Not closer than 1 ft to any property line; must meet vision clearance at corners (§ 155.141) | 1 per lot | 1 per lot | — | § 155.234(A)(1), (B)(1) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign | 6 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Not closer than 1 ft to property line; must meet vision clearance | 1 per lot | May substitute for pole sign, 1 per lot | — | § 155.234(A)(2), (B)(2) |
| Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building side | 1 per side of building | — | § 155.234(A)(3), (B)(3) |
| Window/Door Signs | — | No more than 50% of window/door area | — | — | — | On or inside exterior window or glass door | — | § 155.234(A)(4), (B)(4) |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Attached to building or canopy | — | § 155.234(A)(5), (B)(5) |
| Directory Sign | As approved by Board | As approved by Board of Zoning Appeals | — | — | 1 per building (in lieu of one pole sign) | For buildings with multiple occupancies; can substitute for one allowable pole sign | — | § 155.234(A)(6), (B)(6) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame or similar) | — | No wider than 25% of sidewalk width (including curb) | — | — | — | On sidewalk area directly in front of business during operating hours. | — | § 155.234(A)(7), (C)(2), § 155.235(B)(6) |
| Canopy Sign | — | Counts as attached or pole sign, but size of canopy not included in building face calculation. | — | — | — | Attached or detached; on canopy | — | § 155.234(C)(1) |

### Suburban Residential (S)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Outdoor Advertising Structure/Billboard | 14 ft (face); 30 ft overall max from grade/street | 672 sq ft per face (excl. extensions/embellishments). Max width: 48 ft, max height: 14 ft (sign face); maximum height: 30 ft to grade/street. | 48 ft | 50 ft from public right-of-way; 1000 ft from another billboard; 500 ft from R-1, R-2, R-3 | No more than 2 on same structure. No vertical stacking. | Minimum 50 ft from public right-of-way/private road; not within 1000 ft of any other billboard on same side; not within 500 ft of R-1, R-2, or R-3 district; not within utility/drainage/rail easements. | — | § 155.236(A)-(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Brazil

- Animated signs are unlawful.
- Any sign erected in a location prohibited by the ordinance is unlawful.
- Any sign erected in a public easement or right-of-way, except as permitted by § 155.234, is unlawful.
- Any sign erected so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door or window, or any other exit way required by the building or fire codes of the city, is unlawful.
- Any sign attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk or other surface located on public property is unlawful.
- Any sign erected in a location where its position will obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal or other traffic-control device, or interferes with or is confused with any authorized signal, or obstructs the vision of the right-of-way to a vehicle operator is unlawful.
- Any sign or advertising device such as banners not affixed to a non-horizontal staff or flagpole and serving as the permanent sign/advertisement for an individual/group/business entity, if displayed for more than 90 days in any 12-month period, is unlawful.
- Vehicle signs, except standard advertising or identification markings painted on or permanently attached to the side of a business or commercial vehicle, are unlawful. Commercial vehicles with signs shall not be parked in required or excess parking spaces adjacent to a street right-of-way.
- Flashing signs are unlawful.
- Changeable copy signs not permanently affixed to the ground for more than 30 days in any 12-month period are unlawful.
- Signs which contain characters, cartoons, statements, words, or pictures of any obscene, indecent, prurient, or immoral character are unlawful.
- Residential yard, patio, garage sale, and similar signs not located on the premises where the sale is taking place left posted more than 24 hours after the end of the sale are unlawful.
- Signs must comply with the Building Code.
- Any existing sign that is or becomes an immediate danger or hazard to persons or property because of unsafe condition, or which obstructs any fire escape, window or door, is subject to immediate removal.
- Signs must be maintained in safe, presentable and good condition; broken panels, missing letters, flaking/peeling paint, rusted metal, or unfinished wood must be repaired within 45 days of occurrence or within 30 days’ notification.
- Abandoned signs (advertising for a business no longer conducted, service no longer rendered, or product no longer sold) must be removed within ten days of written notice.
- Illumination from signs must not create a traffic hazard for vehicle operators.
- Signs must not project over city or county public right-of-way or over lot lines.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brazil

- Flags of any nation, state, county, city, or other governmental unit and any not-for-profit organization are exempt.
- Temporary decorations or displays celebrating traditionally patriotic, religious or local holidays or events are exempt.
- Official traffic, fire, and police signs, signals, devices, and markings of the state, county or city are exempt.
- Nonilluminated directional or informational signs of a public nature are exempt.
- Political signs or signs announcing candidates or issues (must be removed within ten days after the election) are exempt.
- Residential garage, patio or yard sale signs not exceeding six square feet, located on the premises where the sale is taking place, are exempt.
- Property real estate signs not exceeding six square feet in area per street frontage and not exceeding six feet in height, not illuminated, are exempt.
- Bulletin boards not over 32 square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions, located on said premises, not exceeding 12 feet in height, and illumination, if any, by constant light, are exempt.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material are exempt.
- Professional name plates, occupational signs, and home occupation signs not exceeding two square feet, wall-mounted and unlit, adjacent to the main entrance, are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign permit may be approved or issued by the Department until plans have been inspected in detail and found to be in conformance with the ordinance. Separate permit required for each sign.
- Plans for standard outdoor advertising structure (billboards) must include: a set of plans, to scale, approved and sealed by a licensed engineer in the state with all construction and electrical details; a site plan showing proposed location, distances to buildings, right-of-way, adjoining billboards, and intersections; and a representation of the proposed sign to scale.
- For variance or special exceptions to sign requirements, the applicant must seek approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals through a variance procedure.
- Building/zoning permit (sign permit) required for new, altered, enlarged, converted, or relocated signs, with submission of plans.
- Directory signs for multi-occupant buildings (as a substitute for pole sign in business/industrial zones) require approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals as to height and square footage.
- Temporary signs (under § 155.235) may be extended beyond 30 days only upon review and approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals as a special exception.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Brazil — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Brazil+IN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-brazil

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