# Sign Regulations in De Motte, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** De Motte, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/de-motte
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-22
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.townofdemotte.com/ordinances)

## At a glance

De Motte, Indiana regulates 29 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Structural Certification - Permanent Pole Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Applies when top of sign is 8 ft or more above ground level. tall and Applies when copy face is 50 sq ft or larger., with a Subject to general minimum 10 ft setback from property lines/ROW (27.3.8). setback (Sec. 27.3.6). Most commercial signs in De Motte 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 | 12 | Applies when top of sign is 8 ft or more above ground level. | Applies when copy face is 50 sq ft or larger. | — |
| Residential Use Areas (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 5 | Top of sign ≤ 6 ft above elevation of adjacent subdivision street | ≤ 20 sq ft | — |
| Business, Commercial, and Industrial Use Areas (B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2) | 8 | Must not project above roof line. | Primary face: ≤ 50 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Centers or Malls | 6 | Must not project above roof line. | ≤ 50 sq ft per retail business OR ≤ 300 sq ft total, whichever is less | — |
| Agricultural Uses (A-1, A-2) | 5 | — | ≤ 16 sq ft (per sign) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs - Public Right-of-Way and Easements Clearance | — | — | — | Minimum 10 ft from property lines and/or any public right-of-way (see 27.3.8). | — | May not project into or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement (except governmental signs). | — | 27.3.2 |
| All Signs - Height Limitation | May not project above or beyond the maximum height limitation of the use district. | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27.3.3 |
| All Signs - Official Marker Resemblance Prohibited | — | — | — | — | — | Must not resemble official markers or conflict with traffic signs/signals by reason of position, shape, or color. | — | 27.3.4 |
| All Signs - Attachment Prohibited (Trees/Utility Poles) | — | — | — | — | — | Signs may not be attached to a tree or utility pole. | — | 27.3.5 |
| Structural Certification - Permanent Pole Signs | Applies when top of sign is 8 ft or more above ground level. | Applies when copy face is 50 sq ft or larger. | — | Subject to general minimum 10 ft setback from property lines/ROW (27.3.8). | — | Permanent, pole-mounted signs meeting thresholds. | — | 27.3.6 |
| All Signs - Setback (Front Edge) | — | — | — | Minimum 10 ft from property lines and/or any public right-of-way. | — | Applies to all signs unless otherwise specified. | — | 27.3.8 |
| Temporary Sign (with Special Sign Permit) | — | — | — | Subject to general 10 ft setback (27.3.8) and vision clearance (27.3.12). | — | As approved by Building Commissioner via special sign permit. | — | 27.3.10 |
| Trailers Used as Signs | — | — | — | Subject to general 10 ft setback (27.3.8). | — | Town-wide. | — | 27.3.11 |

### Business, Commercial, and Industrial Use Areas (B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Numbers | — | — | — | — | — | On the business building. | — | 27.5.1 |
| Public Signs (Governmental) | — | ≤ 4 sq ft | — | — | — | As placed by Town, County Highway Department, or State Highway Department. | — | 27.5.2 |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Parcel < 2 acres) | — | ≤ 16 sq ft | — | ≥ 10 ft from property lines/ROW (27.3.8). | 1 per single parcel < 2 acres | On the parcel being sold. | — | 27.5.3.1 |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Parcel ≥ 2 acres or Groups totaling > 2 acres) | — | ≤ 24 sq ft | — | ≥ 10 ft from property lines/ROW (27.3.8). | 1 per parcel or qualifying group | On the parcel(s) being sold. | — | 27.5.3.2 |
| Wall Sign (Signs on Buildings) | Must not project above roof line. | — | — | General 10 ft setback applies to any ground-mounted components (27.3.8). | — | Flat against building wall; pertains to use(s) conducted on premises. | — | 27.5.4; 27.5.4.1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Primary | — | Primary face: ≤ 50 sq ft | — | ≥ 10 ft from property lines/ROW (27.3.8). | 1 per individual lot (except lots within shopping centers/malls) | On the lot advertising the use(s) of the property upon which the sign is located; not within designated shopping centers or malls. | — | 27.5.5; 27.5.5.1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Message Attachment (Interchangeable Message) | — | ≤ 24 sq ft | — | Same as primary freestanding sign. | Included within the one permitted freestanding sign assembly | Attached to a permitted primary freestanding sign on the same lot. | — | 27.5.5 |
| Freestanding Sign - Gas Price Panel (Gasoline Retailers Only) | — | ≤ 32 sq ft (for gasoline price display) | — | Same as primary freestanding sign. | As part of the freestanding sign assembly | On-site at gasoline retailers, typically integrated with freestanding sign. | — | 27.5.5 |

### Shopping Centers or Malls

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Numbers | — | — | — | — | — | On each business within the center. | — | 27.6.1 |
| Public Signs (Governmental) | — | ≤ 4 sq ft | — | — | — | As placed by Town, County Highway Department, or State Highway Department. | — | 27.6.2 |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Parcel < 2 acres) | — | ≤ 16 sq ft | — | ≥ 10 ft from property lines/ROW (27.3.8). | 1 per single parcel < 2 acres | On the parcel being sold. | — | 27.6.3.1 |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Parcel ≥ 2 acres or Groups totaling > 2 acres) | — | ≤ 24 sq ft | — | ≥ 10 ft from property lines/ROW (27.3.8). | 1 per parcel or qualifying group | On the parcel(s) being sold. | — | 27.6.3.2 |
| Wall Sign (Signs on Buildings) | Must not project above roof line. | — | — | — | — | Flat against building wall; pertains to use(s) conducted on premises. | — | 27.6.4; 27.6.4.1 |
| Additional Sign (Shopping Center Identification/Directory/Special Events) | — | ≤ 50 sq ft per retail business OR ≤ 300 sq ft total, whichever is less | — | Subject to general 10 ft setback (27.3.8) if ground support is present. | 1 additional sign per shopping center (area limited as above) | Within the shopping center or mall. | — | 27.6.5 (and concluding paragraph); 27.5.5 (exception for lots within shopping centers/malls) |

## Prohibited signs in De Motte

- No sign may project into or overhang a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement, except government signs established and maintained by the Town, County, State, or Federal Governments (27.3.2).
- No sign may project above or beyond the maximum height limitation of the use district in which it is located (27.3.3).
- No sign may resemble an official marker or, by reason of position, shape, or color, conflict with the proper function of any traffic sign or signal (27.3.4).
- No sign may be attached to a tree or utility pole (27.3.5).
- Off-premise signs (advertising a business, products, sales, or services not on the premises where the sign is located) are prohibited (27.3.7).
- All signs must be set back at least 10 feet from property lines and/or any public right-of-way, except as provided in 27.3.2 (27.3.8).
- No temporary signs, portable signs, mobile signs, signs mounted on wheels, signs designed to be transported from site to site, or signs with pulsating or flashing lights are allowed unless a special temporary sign permit is issued (27.3.10).
- No sign may be painted on, mounted on, or otherwise affixed to a trailer used primarily as a stationary sign, unless a special temporary sign permit is issued (27.3.11).
- No sign may be erected that obstructs vision in violation of Section 19.2 (27.3.12).

## Signs exempt from permit in De Motte

- Address number signs on buildings are allowed without a permit in all use areas (residential, business/commercial/industrial, shopping centers/malls, agricultural) (27.4.1, 27.5.1, 27.6.1, 27.7.1).
- Directional, public information, and traffic control signs placed by the Town of DeMotte, County Highway Department, or State Highway Department, not exceeding 4 square feet, are allowed without a permit in all use areas (27.4.2, 27.5.2, 27.6.2, 27.7.2).
- Government signs are exempt from the prohibition on projecting into or overhanging public rights-of-way or easements (27.3.2).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan requirement is stated in Title 27.
- Special temporary sign permits may be issued by the Building Commissioner for otherwise prohibited temporary/portable/wheeled/pulsating-flashing-light signs for up to 7 consecutive days and no more than 14 days per calendar year; no more than four such permits may be issued at any given time (27.3.10).
- Trailers used as signs may only be allowed via a special temporary sign permit (27.3.11).
- Improvement location permit applications for permanent pole-mounted signs with 50 sq ft or more of copy face and/or 8 feet or more to the top must include structural engineer certification of base and wind load (27.3.6).
- Plan Commission may order removal of signs after prior public notice and hearing if erected in violation, not maintained, or pose a safety hazard (27.3.9).
- A Special Exception is required for agricultural temporary directional/name identification signs if the owner fails to file the required annual notification for two successive years (27.7.4.2).

## 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 De Motte — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=De+Motte+IN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-de-motte

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