# Sign Regulations in Ellettsville, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Ellettsville, Indiana regulates 23 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Sign (C-1, C-2)s in the Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2) zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and 60 sq ft (Sec. § 152.262(B)(2)). Most commercial signs in Ellettsville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 26 feet above highest point on the adjacent street surface, or 26 feet above average elevation of ground for a 50-foot radius | — | — |
| Agricultural Districts (AG-1, AG-2) | 5 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2) | 16 | 26 feet | 120 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R1, R2, R3) | 2 | — | 24 sq ft | — |

_8 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Agricultural Districts (AG-1, AG-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding On-Premises Advertising Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises | — | § 152.261(B), (A)(1), (A)(6) |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq ft per sign | — | — | 3 per structure | On commercial or industrial structure | — | § 152.261(C), (A)(1), (A)(6) |
| Manual Changeable Copy Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Attached to freestanding sign support structure or on building side | — | § 152.261(D)(1), (A)(1) |
| Freestanding Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 3 per subdivision/neighborhood | At entrance to platted subdivision or recognized neighborhood | — | § 152.261(D)(2) |
| Roof Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | Not stated | On commercial or industrial structure roof | — | § 152.261(D)(3) |

### Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (C-1, C-2) | 15 feet | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot; one per lot | — | § 152.262(B)(2) |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (C-1, C-2) | 15 feet | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot; one per lot | — | § 152.262(B)(2) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (C-3, I-1, I-2) | 26 feet | 120 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 500 linear ft, max 2 | On lot; 1 per 500 linear feet frontage, max 2 | — | § 152.262(C)(2),(c) |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (C-3, I-1, I-2) | 26 feet | 80 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 500 linear ft, max 2 | On lot; 1 per 500 linear feet frontage, max 2 | — | § 152.262(C)(2),(d) |
| Wall Sign (C-1, C-2) | — | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per exterior wall | 2 per exterior wall | — | § 152.262(B)(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | Minimum 9 feet ground clearance | — | Projection over right-of-way requires written approval from Town Council or INDOT for state rights-of-way | — | § 152.262(B)(4) and (C)(4) |
| Roof Sign (C-1, C-2) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On roof | — | § 152.262(B)(5) |
| Roof Sign (C-3, I-1, I-2) | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On roof | — | § 152.262(C)(5) |

### Residential Districts (R1, R2, R3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 3 per subdivision/neighborhood | At entrance to platted subdivision or recognized neighborhood | — | § 152.263(A), (D) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 8 sq ft (standard); 32 sq ft (max, for up to 3 days, 4 times/year) | — | — | 1 per parcel (8 sq ft); 1 (32 sq ft, up to 3 days, 4 times/year) | — | — | § 152.260(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Ellettsville

- No sign or support structure may be placed in a public right-of-way or on public property except signs placed by units of government or with approval from Town Council.
- Signs shall not be attached to utility poles, traffic control signs, or permitted structures on public property or utility easements on private property.
- No part of any sign or support structure may be closer than ten feet to a street, alley, or back of curb, or five feet to a property line, whichever is more.
- Lamp bulbs and reflectors must not be visible from adjacent property or a street, and light must not glare into thoroughfares or onto residential property.
- Signs that create or cause a public safety concern, obstruct visibility at intersections, or do not meet clear vision requirements are prohibited.
- Signs must be maintained in a readable state of repair; abandoned or dilapidated signs must be removed within 30 days after notification.
- No sign shall extend more than 26 feet above the highest adjacent street or average ground elevation within 50 feet.
- Flashing, strobing, or blinking lights, beacons, or other non-illuminating lights used for purposes other than illuminating the face of a sign are prohibited.
- Devices or vehicles (including trailers) may not be used as temporary or permanent signs, except for licensed vehicles that are actually operated and in compliance with all laws.
- Changeable copy signs are prohibited in residential districts.
- All miscellaneous advertising devices not specifically authorized by the code are prohibited.
- Portable signs or signs with movable stands, legs, or wheels are prohibited.
- Signs attached to fences, trees, street signs, or utility poles are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Signs on or within parked vehicles, farm equipment, or ATVs, intended to be conspicuously visible for advertising, are prohibited except for lettering on mobile commercial vehicles and trailers.
- Signs that imitate or can be confused with traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Off-premises advertising is prohibited.
- Signs on microwave, radio, transmission or receiving towers, or satellite dishes are prohibited.
- Any sign not permitted or which does not conform with the regulations in the sign code is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ellettsville

- Government signs (except animated signs, balloons, or prohibited lights) installed by or permitted by units of government on property it owns or controls.
- Legal notices, no trespassing, no hunting signs, survey markers, information and warning signs, to the degree necessary to convey the intended message.
- Utility location markers installed by public utility organizations.
- Any sign completely within an enclosed building and not visible from outside of the building.
- Memorials, tablets, grave markers, headstones, statuary/memorial plaques, or similar remembrances of persons or events that are non-commercial in nature.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permanent sign permit applications must include scale drawings, graphic representations, construction specifications, electrical components, method of attachment, owner/contractor information, and other information as required by the Plan Commission or Director of Planning.
- A complete application is required and must be reviewed by the Director of Planning or their designee; approval is required before any sign is displayed or altered.
- Electronic changeable copy signs in the C-1 (Commercial) Zone require Plan Commission approval.
- A building permit and construction plans review may be required for all permanent freestanding signs.
- Revised applications following denial must be reviewed again before approval.
- If the sign applicant is denied or disputes a determination, appeals may be made to the Board of Zoning Appeals according to established procedures.
- Application does not constitute approval; an approved sign permit must be issued prior to manufacture or installation.
- Issued permits may be suspended or revoked by the Director of Planning for material misstatements or omissions.

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

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