# Sign Regulations in Crawfordsville, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Crawfordsville, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/crawfordsville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-03
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/crawfordsville/latest/crawfordsville_in/0-0-0-7467)

## At a glance

Crawfordsville, Indiana regulates 11 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Signs in the Conservation District (C-1), Agricultural-Residential District (A-R), Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Stream Corridor District (SC) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft from right-of-way unless in median setback (Sec. §153.097(C)). Most commercial signs in Crawfordsville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation District (C-1), Agricultural-Residential District (A-R), Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Stream Corridor District (SC) | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial District (I-1, I-2), Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 5 | 35 ft or building height, whichever is less | 200 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Conservation District (C-1), Agricultural-Residential District (A-R), Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Stream Corridor District (SC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 sign per premises | May be free-standing, attached to building, or visible through a window on premises | — | §153.097(B) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way unless in median | Max 2 per entrance if wall-integrated, otherwise 1 | At each street entrance; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way unless integrated into a median | — | §153.097(C) |
| Apartment/Multi-family Residence Identification Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way unless in median | 1 per street frontage | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way unless integrated into a median | — | §153.097(D) |
| Institutional Sign | 6 ft (freestanding sign) | 32 sq ft (aggregate on lot) | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Minimum 10 ft from right-of-way | — | §153.097(E) |

### Business District (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial District (I-1, I-2), Planned Unit Development District (PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free-standing Individual Business Sign (Pole or Pylon Sign) | 35 ft or building height, whichever is less | 100 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises | — | §153.097(F)(1) |
| Free-standing Individual Business Sign (Monument Sign) | 8 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises | — | §153.097(F)(2) |
| Free-standing Unified Center Sign (Monument Style) | 35 ft or building height, whichever is less | 200 sq ft | — | — | Per unified development | Unified shopping center with shared ownership/parking; on premises | — | §153.097(F)(3)(b) |
| Wall-mounted Unified Center Sign | — | 40 sq ft (max), 10% of facade | — | — | — | Wall of building, not above roofline | — | §153.097(F)(3)(c) |
| Business Identification Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On, near, above, beside public entrance or service entrance, mounted flush against wall | — | §153.093(E) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW; 20 ft from residential property | — | No less than 10 ft from any public right-of-way; no closer than 20 ft from adjoining residential property | — | §153.101 |
| Electronic Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | 100 ft from residential or historic district; 35 ft from other electronic signs | — | On the site of the use advertised | — | §153.097(G) |

## Prohibited signs in Crawfordsville

- No sign, billboard, or exterior graphic display shall be permitted in any district except as herein provided.
- Any sign erected, placed, installed or otherwise established on any property before obtaining a permit as required by this chapter shall be considered in violation.
- No sign or sign structure shall be placed on private or public property without the written consent of the owner or agent thereof.
- No sign or sign structure, other than official highway signs, shall be placed upon, over or in any street or highway right-of-way which includes sidewalks.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign or sign structure shall be located so as to materially impede the view of any street or highway intersection, or the intersection of a street or highway with a railroad grade crossing.
- No sign shall be permitted which is placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, electrolier, hydrant, bridge, tree or other surface located on public property, except as otherwise authorized.
- No rotating beam, beacon, or flashing illumination resembling any emergency lights shall be used in connection with any sign display.
- No sign shall make use of words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to suggest, interfere with, mislead, or confuse motorists.
- No sign shall bear or contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, pornographic, immoral character, or contain advertising matter that is untruthful or offends public morals or decency.
- No sign shall have an aggregate surface size greater than five square feet for each foot of width of the principal structure, unless otherwise specified.
- Except for approved changeable copy or electronic changeable copy signs, no sign shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights, or devices with a changing light intensity, brightness, or color, or that give the illusion thereof.
- The direct non-reflected light from a primary light source shall not create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles.
- No light shall shine directly onto adjacent property; illuminated signs must be shaded, shielded or directed to avoid objectionable light intensity or brightness to surrounding areas.
- All electrical wiring for signs shall be in conduit and not exposed to the elements or public streets.
- Electronic changeable copy signs are prohibited in any historic district.
- No audio speakers or pyrotechnics are permitted in association with an electronic changeable copy sign.
- All signs, including legally nonconforming signs, must be kept in good repair and safe, neat, clean and attractive condition.
- Off-premise signs are expressly prohibited throughout the jurisdiction, except lawfully placed directional open house signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Crawfordsville

- Exempt signs are only exempt from the sign permit process but must meet other applicable requirements.
- Changeable copy on approved signs designed for replaceable copy (e.g., theater marquees, gas price signs) is exempt from permit.
- Construction signs are exempt if: not more than one per driveway entrance, do not exceed 32 sq ft or 10 ft in height, and are removed upon issuance of the first certificate of occupancy.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, or typical maintenance and repair activities of signs or their structures are exempt.
- Address signs less than two square feet are exempt.
- Business identification signs (address number and name, wall-mounted, not exceeding four square feet) in business/commercial/industrial zones are exempt.
- Flags of any country, state, or local government are exempt if not exceeding 60 sq ft, flagpole height limits met, and flagpoles meet setbacks.
- Historical identification signs (for officially designated historic sites/landmarks) not exceeding 12 sq ft are exempt.
- Integral signs (name of building, date, monumental citations, etc. as part of structure) are exempt.
- Parking lot signs (informational, not advertising, meeting area, height, and safety standards) are exempt.
- Private traffic (directional) signs, meeting setback, height, area, and illumination standards are exempt.
- Public signs of a noncommercial nature erected by/for public officers in performance of duty are exempt.
- No trespassing/warning signs not exceeding two square feet are exempt.
- Residential name plates indicating name/address, not exceeding two square feet, are exempt.
- Off-site social or charitable organization signs (churches, community orgs.) not in public right-of-way, not obstructing traffic, and approved by Board of Public Works are exempt.
- Window signs, provided that no window sign covers more than 25% of the window area and no painted on message covers more than 75%, are exempt.
- Garage sale signs not exceeding four sq ft, posted only up to one week before sale, removed within 48 hours after, and not on utility poles, are exempt.
- Political campaign signs are exempt provided all other requirements are met.
- Real estate signs (specific rules for area, number, removal, location, content, and open house conditions) are exempt.
- Barber poles (traditional design, size and location limits, illumination regulation) are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- With the exception of exempt signs, a sign permit must be obtained prior to the erection, construction, enlargement, movement, conversion or other improvement of any sign.
- All non-exempt, non-incidental sign permit applications shall be accompanied by a sign permit fee.
- Unified-center (shopping center) signs may only be approved in compliance with an approved site development plan; pole or pylon signs in such centers may only be used if approved as part of a site development plan.
- Board of Zoning Appeals may impose specific conditions and restrictions on signage for businesses operating in residentially zoned neighborhoods by variance or special exception.
- All temporary signs require issuance of a temporary sign permit.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Crawfordsville — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Crawfordsville+IN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-crawfordsville

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/crawfordsville