# Sign Regulations in Edinburgh, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Edinburgh, Indiana regulates 37 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Freestanding Building)s in the Commercial and Industrial Districts (Industrial Business, OI, EI, RB) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way; minimum side setback 35% of frontage or 15 ft, whichever is more. setback (Sec. §110.53(B)(1)(a), §110.53(D)(1)(a)-(c)). Most commercial signs in Edinburgh require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (A, A-1, A-2, B, C, SR, Single Family, Multiple Family, Cluster Housing, Condominiums, High-Rise Apartments) | 10 | 20 ft (no part of sign face less than 9 ft above grade) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (CBD, GB, LB) | 4 | 4 ft | 100 sq ft (50 sq ft x 2) | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (Industrial Business, OI, EI, RB) | 8 | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per firm | — |

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

### Residential District (A, A-1, A-2, B, C, SR, Single Family, Multiple Family, Cluster Housing, Condominiums, High-Rise Apartments)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (Single Family) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | — | — | §110.51(B)(1) |
| Church or Public Building Bulletin Board/Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §110.51(B)(3), §110.51(C)(3) |
| Subdivision Identity Sign (Temporary or Permanent) | — | 32 sq ft (can be up to 100 sq ft depending on setback) | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way. | 1 per subdivision, more allowed with approval if multiple entries | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | §110.51(B)(5), §110.51(D)(1), §110.42(G) |
| Nameplate Sign (Duplex/Multiple Family) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | — | — | §110.51(C)(1) |
| Funeral Home or Mortuary Nameplate | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §110.51(C)(4) |
| Permanent Multi-Family Project Identity Sign | — | 32 sq ft (can be up to 100 sq ft depending on setback) | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way. | 1 per project, more allowed with approval if multiple entries | Minimum 10 ft from any street right-of-way | — | §110.51(C)(5), §110.51(D) |
| Building Mounted Sign (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | Flush mounted on building; may not extend above roof ridge line. | — | §110.51(D)(2) |
| Ground Sign (Residential) | 4 ft above grade | — | — | — | — | — | — | §110.51(D)(6) |

### Commercial and Industrial Districts (Industrial Business, OI, EI, RB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding Building) | 4 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way; minimum side setback 35% of frontage or 15 ft, whichever is more. | 1 per business place | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way, no closer to side property line than 35% of frontage or 15 ft, whichever is greater. | — | §110.53(B)(1)(a), §110.53(D)(1)(a)-(c) |
| Pole Sign (Freestanding Building) | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way; minimum side setback 35% of frontage or 15 ft, whichever is more. | 1 per business place | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way; bottom of sign not lower than 9 ft above grade; side setback 35% of frontage but not less than 15 ft. | — | §110.53(B)(1)(a), §110.53(D)(1)(a)-(c) |
| Wall Sign (Freestanding Building) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business per frontage (2 per building for corner lots) | Flush mounted, shall not project above roof line; location as explained in §110.53(D). | — | §110.53(B)(1)(b), (B)(1); (C), (D)(2) |
| Pole Sign (Strip Shopping Center/Industrial Zone) | — | 200 sq ft (increased up to 350 sq ft for multiple businesses per §110.53(C)(2)-(3)) | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way; 100 ft between pole signs | 1 per frontage (more possible with approval) | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way; min 100 ft between signs if more than one approved. | — | §110.53(B)(2)(a), (B)(2)(a)4-6, (C) |
| Wall Sign (Strip Shopping Center/Industrial Zone) | — | 200 sq ft (can be increased for multiple businesses) | — | — | 1 per business | Flush mounted, shall not project above roof line; location as explained in §110.53(D). | — | §110.53(B)(2)(b), (C), (D)(2) |
| Pole Sign (Enclosed Mall Shopping Center) | 35 ft | 300 sq ft (up to 400 sq ft if more than 3 businesses per §110.53(C)) | — | — | 1 per street or highway right-of-way, additional with approval and sufficient frontage | One allowed per street/highway frontage, additional with over 600 ft; distance between such signs not less than 500 ft. | — | §110.53(B)(3)(a), (C) |
| Wall Sign (Enclosed Mall) | — | 400 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall facing parking lot | On each wall facing the parking lot, flush mounted, not above roof line. | — | §110.53(B)(3)(b), (D)(2) |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign (Commercial/Industrial Park) | Minimum 9 ft above grade | 100 sq ft | — | Max setback 10 ft from street right-of-way; min distance 500 ft from residential zone and other such signs. | — | Max setback 10 ft from street right-of-way; minimum 500 ft from residential and other such signs. | — | §110.53(B)(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft per firm | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | Confined to site of construction, minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | §110.42(A) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft face | — | Minimum 10 ft from public right-of-way and adjoining residential lot. | 1 | Minimum 10 ft from any public right-of-way; not less than 10 ft from adjoining residential lot | — | §110.42(D) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per premises | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | §110.42(E) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per premises | Minimum 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | §110.42(E) |
| Parking Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 3 ft from right-of-way | — | 3 ft setback from right-of-way | — | §110.41(D) |
| Private Traffic Direction Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Leading edge at least 3 ft from any curb or traffic movement aisle | — | §110.41(E) |
| Small Sign (Rental/For Rent) | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way | — | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way | — | §110.41(G) |
| Social/Charitable Organization Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from right-of-way, 500 ft from another such sign | — | At least 10 ft from street right-of-way; as off-premise sign with 500 ft min spacing from another such sign. | — | §110.41(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Edinburgh

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign without first obtaining a sign permit for each sign from the Town Building Commissioner, unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
- A frame signs, sandwich board, sidewalk, or curb signs are prohibited in all zone districts.
- Abandoned signs advertising activities, businesses, products, or services no longer conducted or available are prohibited and may be removed by the town.
- No sign shall be permitted which is animated by flashing, scintillating, blinking, or traveling lights or any device not providing constant illumination.
- Tacking, pasting, or otherwise affixing signs visible from a roadway to walls, trees, poles, posts, fences, or other structures is prohibited unless otherwise permitted.
- No sign or portion thereof shall be permitted which moves, assumes any motion, or gives the illusion of moving (moving signs prohibition).
- Off-premise signs are prohibited except as expressly permitted in the code.
- No sign shall project over or into the street right-of-way.
- No sign shall be placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other public property or over or across any street or roadway except as expressly authorized.
- Swinging (overhead) signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed on any tower or tank without the approval of the Town Plan Commission.
- Signs bearing or containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, pornographic, or immoral character, or untruthful or offensive to public morals or decency are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to any fence or wall not structurally part of a building are prohibited except for residential identification.
- Signs employing any motion picture projection, visible moving parts, or which move or give the illusion of movement are prohibited unless permitted.
- Signs emitting audible sound, odor, or visible matter are prohibited.
- Signs imitating traffic signs/signals or bearing words like stop, go slow, caution, danger, warning, or similar (unless permitted) are prohibited.
- Signs which may be confused with traffic-control devices, or obstruct traffic or roadway signs/signals, or efficiency of traffic/roadway devices are prohibited.
- Signs obstructing any door, fire escape, stairway, or opening intended for air, egress, or ingress are prohibited.
- Signs erected before the code's adoption without a proper permit are prohibited.
- Signs not included under the types of signs permitted in the code are prohibited.
- Signs illuminated or animated by means of flashing, fluctuating, scintillating, blinking, or traveling lights (not providing constant illumination) are prohibited.
- Signs advertising illegal activities, or that are obscene, untruthful, improperly mounted or erected, or represent a traffic hazard, are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to maintain any awning, sign, or overhanging structure above a sidewalk with any part less than seven feet above the surface of the sidewalk.

## Signs exempt from permit in Edinburgh

- Changing advertising copy or messages on an approved sign, such as a theater marquee or electronic message center specifically designed for replaceable copy, does not require a permit.
- Normal maintenance tasks like painting, repainting, cleaning, or other maintenance and repair do not require a permit unless a structural change or a change in copy is involved.
- Temporary signs listed in §110.42 and exempt signs per §110.41 are exempt from permit requirements, unless otherwise specified.
- Business identification signs (on or near public or service entrances) not exceeding four square feet, flush against the wall, stating only the street address or business/building name, in a business, commercial, or industrial zone.
- A legally permitted sign that is damaged or destroyed may be replaced or restored to its original size, shape, and location without an additional permit (so long as size, shape, and location are unchanged).
- Integral signs: names of building, date, citations, commemorative tablets, and the like, when carved into the structure or made of permanent materials as integral parts of the structure.
- Parking signs for public and private parking (not advertising), subject to three-foot setback, max six feet in height/area, and not presenting a traffic hazard.
- Private traffic direction signs (traffic movement within premises), subject to illumination and size/location limits.
- Public signs of a noncommercial/public interest nature erected by or on order of public officers in duty.
- Nameplates for single-family or row structure dwelling units not exceeding two square feet, stating only the name or address of the occupant or legal customary home occupation, and house number plates.
- For rent signs not exceeding four square feet, and minimum 10 feet from right-of-way.
- Signs indicating names and locations of churches, charitable, and community groups not exceeding four square feet and meeting location/spacing requirements.
- Vehicle signs painted on or permanently attached to original vehicle body, not projecting beyond vehicle; vehicles/semitrailers with sale items may be used as signs for special events/sales for up to 30 days.
- Window signs conforming to safety and construction regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Pole signs at strip shopping centers and in industrial zones may be made a part of the site development plan, or if erected at a later date, are subject to approval by the Town Planning Commission.
- All pole signs at enclosed mall shopping centers are to be made a part of the site development plan, subject to approval by the Town Plan Commission.
- Additional pole (freestanding) signs in a shopping or industrial center require Town Plan Commission approval.
- No sign shall be placed on any tower or tank without approval by the Town Plan Commission.
- Engineering data on plans must be supplied and certified by a licensed engineer if required by the Town Building Commissioner as part of the permit application.
- Permission in writing from the owner or manager is required for signs in shopping centers or industrial premises as part of the permit application.

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

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