# Sign Regulations in Dyer, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Dyer, Indiana regulates 29 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Home Operation Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 1 sq ft, with a At least 5 ft from any property line setback (Sec. Sec. 10-146.5(1)). Most commercial signs in Dyer require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft gross surface area | — |
| B-1 Business Districts, B-2 Districts, B-3 Districts, I Districts | 23 | 3 ft | Based on building frontage; see formula; up to 100 sq ft for freestanding signs. | — |
| Special Use District (SUD) | 2 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign (over 12 sq ft) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft gross surface area | — | At least 5 ft from any property line | — | At least 5 ft from any property line; cannot overhang public street, alley or sidewalk | — | Sec. 10-146.5(1) |
| Permanent Sign (12 sq ft or less) | 10 ft | 12 sq ft gross surface area | — | At least 5 ft from any property line | — | At least 5 ft from any property line; cannot overhang public street, alley or sidewalk | — | Sec. 10-146.5(1) |
| Temporary Sign (12 sq ft or less) | 10 ft | 12 sq ft gross surface area | — | At least 5 ft from any property line | — | At least 5 ft from any property line; cannot overhang public street, alley or sidewalk | — | Sec. 10-146.5(1) |
| Home Operation Sign | 10 ft | 1 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from any property line | 1 per home operation | At least 5 ft from any property line; cannot overhang public street, alley or sidewalk | — | Sec. 10-146.5(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Yard/Garage Sale Pennants/Streamers) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 10-146.5(2)c,d |

### B-1 Business Districts, B-2 Districts, B-3 Districts, I Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign (over 12 sq ft) | — | Based on building frontage; see formula; up to 100 sq ft for freestanding signs. | — | 5 ft minimum from any public right-of-way | 1 freestanding sign per business frontage; options for additional per side/rear lot/shopping centers | Building wall or as freestanding sign; signs must be set back a minimum of 5 ft from any public right-of-way | — | Sec. 10-146.6(1)c,d,e; Sec. 10-146.7 |
| Permanent Sign (12 sq ft or less) | — | 12 sq ft gross surface area | — | 5 ft from public right-of-way | — | Minimum 5 ft from public ROW | — | Sec. 10-146.6(1) |
| Temporary Sign (12 sq ft or less) | — | 12 sq ft gross surface area | — | 5 ft from public right-of-way | — | Minimum 5 ft from public ROW | — | Sec. 10-146.6(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (front freestanding sign) | — | 100 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from property line | See additional_requirements | Minimum 5 ft from ROW; in front; rear/side freestanding sign also possible w/ conditions | — | Sec. 10-146.6(1)d; (2)a,b |
| Window/Door Sign | — | 6 sq ft per individual sign, up to 9 sq ft total for both; max 2 per business (one per window/door) | — | — | 2 per business (one per window/door) | Painted on window/door | — | Sec. 10-146.6(1)g,k |
| Banner | — | 32 sq ft (or per formula if higher) | — | — | 1 per frontage, 2 for corner lots | On building wall | — | Sec. 10-146.6(1)q |
| Freestanding Shopping Center Sign (setback > 50 ft) | — | 100 sq ft per display area | — | Min 5 ft from property line | per 6 tenants or fraction | Min 5 ft to property line; shopping centers only (all buildings setback >50 ft) | — | Sec. 10-146.6(2)a |
| Freestanding Business Sign (building setback > 50 ft) | — | 100 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft to property line | 1 | Min 5 ft from property line; not shopping centers, not gas or garages | — | Sec. 10-146.6(2)b |

### Special Use District (SUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (SUD) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Regardless of setback from property line; may extend over sidewalk with min 8 ft clearance | — | Sec. 10-146.12(1)-(2) |
| Wall Mounted Sign (SUD) | — | — | — | — | — | Regardless of setback from property line; may extend over sidewalk with min 8 ft clearance | — | Sec. 10-146.12(1)-(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Dyer

- Flashing signs which flash in excess of six (6) times per minute except for electronic text messaging centers.
- Moving signs which move or rotate more than one (1) revolution per minute.
- Signs displaying lewd, illegal, or immoral matter.
- Any sign advertising a business, product, or service, not available on the premises where the sign is located except as permitted for off-premises signs.
- Signs identifying past services performed on a building or premises (e.g., 'Roof by ...').
- Signs on fences, utility poles, street lights or trees.
- Signs in public rights-of-way except where a dividing 'island' exists between two (2) sections of streets and as long as visibility is not restricted, and except for traffic signs erected by a governmental unit.
- Signs which are confusingly similar to or imitate any official marker erected by governmental units, or which, by reason of position, shape, or color, would confuse or conflict with the proper functioning of any traffic sign or signal.
- Signs on any property without the consent of the party having the right of present possession.
- Signs extending over or placed upon a public sidewalk, alley, or right-of-way except as permitted in specific code sections.
- All signs not specifically allowed by the provisions of the section.
- Billboards except as allowed by special exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Roof signs except as allowed by special exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain or permit upon any highway, any traffic sign or signal bearing any commercial advertising (except as exempted for private property signs that cannot be mistaken for official signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Dyer

- Temporary signs measuring twelve (12) square feet or less in gross surface area are exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit unless illuminated.
- Permanent signs measuring twelve (12) square feet or less in gross surface area are exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit unless illuminated.
- Temporary signs installed by a religious or charitable organization are exempt from the permit fee.
- Signs required by law to be exhibited by the occupant of the premises, not exceeding six (6) square feet in gross surface area.
- Signs serving the public convenience, such as 'notary public,' 'public telephone,' 'public restroom,' or similar, not exceeding seventy-two (72) square inches in total area, with only one sign of each type per building.
- Signs on private property adjacent to highways giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs are not prohibited.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Shopping centers and planned unit development-commercial buildings may be allowed one (1) freestanding sign for each six (6) tenants or fractions thereof.
- Additional or special exceptions for signs such as billboards or roof signs require approval (special exception) by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Banners require a permit prior to posting, and annual banner permit fees are prorated; see town code section 7-63.
- Permit required for each banner and portable sign; annual review for billboards by the Zoning Administrator.
- No general requirement for a 'master sign plan' is stated in the provided text, but planned unit developments and shopping centers have specific signage allowances based on the number of tenants.

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

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