# Sign Regulations in Brownstown, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Brownstown, Indiana regulates 20 sign types across 1 zoning district. Projecting Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Lowest point must be at least 8 ft above ground. May not project above ground sign height limit if above roofline. tall, 8 sq ft per sign, and Projection max 45 inches into public way/sidewalk/easement, max 6 ft projection from building, not more than 1.5 in thick wide, with a See above; only for buildings set back 20 ft or more. Must be at least 8 ft above ground; not closer than 12 in from vertical curb line. setback (Sec. §153.18(D), (E), §153.35-§153.38). Most commercial signs in Brownstown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 20 | Lots with <=150 ft frontage: 15 ft; 151-299 ft: 1 ft of height per 10 ft of frontage; 300+ ft frontage: 30 ft; based on largest frontage if more than one street. | Up to 132 sq ft per frontage, but no more than 3 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage. For unified shopping center identification ground signs: 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage, up to 100 sq ft. For large commercial buildings with 1,500+ sq ft and 30+ ft setback: 1 sign up to 40 sq ft extra. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | Lots with <=150 ft frontage: 15 ft; 151-299 ft: 1 ft of height per 10 ft of frontage; 300+ ft frontage: 30 ft; based on largest frontage if more than one street. | Up to 132 sq ft per frontage, but no more than 3 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage. For unified shopping center identification ground signs: 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage, up to 100 sq ft. For large commercial buildings with 1,500+ sq ft and 30+ ft setback: 1 sign up to 40 sq ft extra. | — | Minimum 5 ft from paved street, sidewalk, driveway, easement, property line, or right-of-way. | Max total area applies per business/per frontage (3 sq ft/ft of building frontage or 132 sq ft, whichever is less); see also unified shopping center/large building exceptions. | No closer than 5 feet to street, driveway, sidewalk, easement, property line, or right-of-way. | — | §153.18(A)-(C), (F), (G), (E) |
| Wall Sign | No maximum as long as not above roof line. If projected above roof line, subject to ground sign height limits, measured from ground. | As above (3 sq ft/ft; 132 sq ft max per frontage). | — | — | Limited by total allowed area, not explicit number cap for wall signs. | Exterior wall, parallel to plane of supporting wall. Projected signs above parapet/roof line limited as above. | — | §153.18(B)(2), §153.17(Q), §153.18(C), §153.04 'Wall Sign' definition, §153.35-§153.38 |
| Projecting Sign | Lowest point must be at least 8 ft above ground. May not project above ground sign height limit if above roofline. | 8 sq ft per sign | Projection max 45 inches into public way/sidewalk/easement, max 6 ft projection from building, not more than 1.5 in thick | See above; only for buildings set back 20 ft or more. Must be at least 8 ft above ground; not closer than 12 in from vertical curb line. | 1 per building/tenant. | From building, perpendicular to wall, may project into ROW/sidewalk up to limits. | — | §153.18(D), (E), §153.35-§153.38 |
| Off-Premises Billboard/Posterboard/Panel | — | 100 sq ft | — | At least 300 ft from any part of any other sign, on- or off-premises; at least 5 ft from ROW/property line per ground sign rules. | — | Subject to setback: no part of such sign shall be closer than 300 ft from another sign (on- or off-premises), plus all other ground sign setback rules. | — | §153.18(H), §153.16, §153.35-153.38 |
| Automobile Service Station Price Signs | — | 8 sq ft per sign | — | — | No more than 2 per service station | May be attached to ground sign, light standard, pump, or wall. | — | §153.19, §153.17 |
| Construction Sign (Permanent or Temporary) | — | 36 sq ft (permanent, new construction/major renovation), 8 sq ft for artisan sign (see 'Artisan Sign') | — | — | One per site/project | On construction site. | — | §153.17(A), §153.04 'Construction Sign', §153.21 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One | On residential lot where occupation is conducted. | — | §153.17(G), §153.04 |
| Artisan Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per site | On site where improvement/work being done | — | §153.17(R), §153.04 |

## Prohibited signs in Brownstown

- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Chaser signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Inflatable displays are prohibited.
- Wind signs are prohibited.
- Any sign on a motor vehicle or semi-trailer, visible from the street, whose primary use is advertising a business, product, or service of a business located on the premises where such vehicle is parked is prohibited (unless the trailer is used for construction on site). Signs advertising off-premises businesses in this manner are also prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except as expressly permitted.
- Signs attached to or painted or otherwise rendered on benches or seats located outside on a public sidewalk or right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs advertising a business not conducted or a product or service not offered for sale at the premises within the past 90 days are prohibited, except for signs indicating a move (permitted up to 90 days after discontinuance).
- Signs which use string lights or any unshielded light within public view for commercial purposes at commercial premises are prohibited, except for holiday decorations at holiday time or non-flashing neon window signs.
- Any sign or sign structure determined by the Town Council to be structurally unsafe or a hazard to safety or health due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment is prohibited.
- Any sign obstructing vision of drivers, unduly distracting drivers, or obstructing visibility of any traffic sign or traffic-control device due to its size, location, coloring, or illumination is prohibited.
- Any sign obstructing free ingress and egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other exit way is prohibited.
- Signs with a commercial purpose which make use of 'Stop', 'Look', 'Danger', or similar words, symbols, or characters implying the need to stop or existence of danger are prohibited.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained is prohibited.
- Any sign or advertising structure containing obscene, indecent, or immoral matter is prohibited.
- Any sign placed or installed in or on any parkway, alley, public street, easement, or right-of-way except as may be authorized by the Town Council is prohibited.
- Any sign not in compliance with federal or state law is prohibited.
- Any sign constructed or installed to overhang a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way, except as otherwise expressly permitted, is prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Signs which are accessory to an unlawful use are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brownstown

- Construction signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Real estate signs as defined (but not those advertising real estate businesses) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Specific decorative displays for holidays, public demonstrations, or promotions of civic affairs or charitable activities are exempt, except when situated on public property, where Town Council authorization is required.
- Signs advertising private garage sales are exempt from permit requirements.
- Posters announcing special programs or events are exempt from permit requirements.
- Campaign signs as permitted (excluding campaign signs on billboards) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Home occupation signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- House numbers and name plates for residential housing units identifying occupancy and address (not exceeding two square feet) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs identifying building name or occupancy and address on professional buildings (not exceeding eight square feet) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Integral signs (memorial, building name/date) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs painted on or attached to vehicles bearing current license plates (unless within the scope of the vehicle signage prohibition) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs on vending machines, gas pumps, or ice containers indicating only the contents of such devices (not exceeding six square feet per device) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs not exceeding six square feet each which contain only noncommercial messages (restroom location, telephone, smoking restrictions, private traffic control, parking) are exempt from permit requirements.
- One sign per parking lot entrance (not exceeding six square feet) providing business and driving/parking information is exempt from permit requirements.
- Business signs (not exceeding two square feet per sign face) containing information on credit cards and business affiliations are exempt from permit requirements.
- Wall signs no greater than ten square feet and installed no higher than the interior ceiling of the first floor level are exempt from permit requirements.
- Artisan signs are exempt from permit requirements.
- Financer's signs are exempt from permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No language in the ordinance refers to a master sign plan or required comprehensive sign plan for any site or project.
- Permit applications must include blueprints or scaled drawings of the proposed sign, the sign's position relative to the building and property lines, and (if required) stress sheets and construction information. Additional information may be required by the Town Council to demonstrate compliance.
- There is no express requirement for a variance meeting or a master sign plan for multiple tenants; however, signage for unified shopping centers and large commercial buildings is regulated, and additional signage may be allowed under specified circumstances.
- Temporary signs (e.g., for businesses in temporary locations) require written permit/authorization from the Town Council, with details about the sign to be provided by the applicant.

## Full detail

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

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