Sign Regulations in Frankfort, Indiana
Frankfort, Indiana has specific sign regulations covering 39 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Portable Sign, Wall Sign, Projecting Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 19, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Frankfort, Indiana
Sample Sign Requirements in Frankfort
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 ft x 6 ft (both sides included in overall max area) | — |
| Freestanding Sign - Square Area (Off the Square) | 25 ft | 100 sq. ft. per face | 15 ft from right-of-way and from adjacent property. |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 100 sq. ft. per face | 15 ft from right-of-way and adjacent property. |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for FrankfortFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
39
- Portable Sign
- Wall Sign
- Projecting Sign
- Canopy Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
6
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Other Cities in Indiana
Frequently Asked Questions
In Frankfort, monument signs are limited to 25 ft. Height limits vary by zoning district and sign type. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your specific location.
To get a sign permit in Frankfort, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Frankfort, regulated sign types include Portable Sign, Wall Sign, Projecting Sign, Canopy Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
In Frankfort, monument signs typically require a 15 ft from right-of-way and from adjacent property. setback from property lines. Setbacks may increase near residential zones or intersections. Wall signs attached to buildings generally don't have setback requirements. Use PermitPal for location-specific setback data.
Digital and LED signs in Frankfort are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Frankfort has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Frankfort, Indiana Sign Rules at a Glance
Frankfort, Indiana regulates 39 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Local and Roadside Business zoned districts, Business District zoning district are capped at 35 ft tall and 100 sq. ft. per face, with a 15 ft from right-of-way and adjacent property. setback (Sec. § 155.134(D)(1)-(2)). Most commercial signs in Frankfort require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Frankfort, Indiana
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Frankfort (6 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Downtown Area | 4 | 25 ft | 100 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Local and Roadside Business zoned districts, Business District | 9 | 35 ft | 100 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Industrial zoned districts, I-1 (Open Industrial) District, I-2 (Enclosed Industrial) District | 5 | 35 ft | 300 sq. ft. per face (up to two faces, each 12'x25') | — |
| Residential zoned districts | 6 | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — |
| State Road 28 Overlay District (Primary Tier) | 3 | 25 ft | 120 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 23 | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. each, total 60 sq. ft. per farm | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Frankfort(sample of 3 of 6 zones)
Local and Roadside Business zoned districts, Business District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Multiple allowed, limited by formula | Mounted on building. | — | Unlock | § 155.134(B) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 ft x 6 ft (both sides included in overall max area) | 6 ft | — | Multiple allowed, but total area must not exceed 4 sq. ft. per foot of building frontage. | Projecting from the building. | — | Unlock | § 155.134(C)(5) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | Multiple allowed, but total area must not exceed 4 sq. ft. per foot of building frontage. | On canopy. | — | Unlock | § 155.134(C)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 100 sq. ft. per face | — | 15 ft from right-of-way and adjacent property. | One per parcel; additional possible by Board of Zoning Appeals in unique circumstances. | Freestanding | — | Unlock | § 155.134(D)(1)-(2) |
| Message Sign (Permanent) | — | 20 sq. ft. per face | — | — | One permitted in addition to main sign; more possible if extra signs are allowed under multi-frontage provision. | On same pole/structure as main sign or on building. | — | Unlock | § 155.134(D)(5) |
| Pump Island Sign | 8 inches high for numerals | 6 sq. ft. per pump island | — | — | — | Pump islands/canopies | — | Unlock | § 155.134(E) |
| Wall Sign (Service Bay Identification) | — | 10 sq. ft. each | — | — | — | On building/service bays. | — | Unlock | § 155.134(G) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from adjacent property. | One per business | — | — | Unlock | § 155.133(L) |
Industrial zoned districts, I-1 (Open Industrial) District, I-2 (Enclosed Industrial) District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Multiple allowed, limited by formula | Mounted on building. | — | Unlock | § 155.134(B) |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 100 sq. ft. per face | — | 15 ft from right-of-way and adjacent property. | One per parcel; additional possible by Board of Zoning Appeals in unique circumstances. | Freestanding | — | Unlock | § 155.134(D) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from adjacent property. | One per business | — | — | Unlock | § 155.133(L) |
| Off-premises Sign (Freestanding) | 35 ft | 300 sq. ft. per face (up to two faces, each 12'x25') | — | 15 ft from right-of-way, 100 ft from residential/church/school/institution. | One per structure; structures 500' apart on same side of street | Freestanding, I-1 & I-2 districts | — | Unlock | § 155.135(A)-(B) |
| Off-premises Sign (Building-mounted) | 35 ft | 300 sq. ft. per face (one face per direction per building wall) | — | — | One face per direction per wall | Building wall | — | Unlock | § 155.135(A), (C) |
General Regulations For All Zones
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Mailbox, fence, structure, or freestanding | — | Unlock | § 155.131(A) |
| Institution Identification Sign (Public, School, Church) | 5 ft (freestanding) | 24 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft from right-of-way (freestanding) | — | No closer than 15 ft from right-of-way if freestanding. | — | Unlock | § 155.131(C) |
| Building Directory | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per entrance | On exterior for multi-tenant buildings. | — | Unlock | § 155.131(H) |
| Agricultural Use/Farm Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. each, total 60 sq. ft. per farm | — | Not in right-of-way | — | On parcels of 20+ acres. | — | Unlock | § 155.131(M)-(N) |
| Temporary On-site Sign (Temporary Use) | 8 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per use | Onsite; as approved by Building Inspector | — | Unlock | § 155.133(E) |
| Temporary Off-site Directional Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | Maximum 5 per site | Offsite for temporary sales (e.g., garage, real estate). | — | Unlock | § 155.133(F) |
| Political Campaign Sign | 8 ft (freestanding) | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Unlimited | At polling place (Election Day) or on property. | — | Unlock | § 155.133(H) |
| Political/Religious/Social Message Sign | 8 ft (freestanding) | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per property/year | On private property | — | Unlock | § 155.133(I) |
PermitPal covers all 6 zoning districts in Frankfort — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 6 zones for Frankfort — start freeProhibited Signs in Frankfort
- Any sign that does not meet electrical codes, is no longer functional, or is abandoned.
- Signs that are materially obstructed from view, have essential elements no longer readable, have been left by a business which has ceased to operate at that location, or show deterioration or dilapidation.
- Any sign constructed, altered, located, or illuminated in any manner that causes undue glare, distraction, confusion, nuisance, noise, or hazard to traffic or other properties.
- Signs illuminated after 11:00 p.m. if located within or adjacent to a residential district, except those businesses remaining open beyond that time; in such cases, illumination must cease upon closing.
- Signs attached to a tree or other living vegetation, utility pole, rock, curbstone, sidewalk, lamppost, hydrant, bridge, highway marker, or another sign (except for specific public information signs).
- Any sign that is not expressly listed in this subchapter.
- Signs advertising activities which are illegal under federal, state, or local laws or regulations.
- Any sign obstructing any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, opening or access intended for light, air, ingress to, or egress from any building.
- Any signs that violate any provision of I.C. 8-23-20 or I.C. 9-21-4-6.
- No sign shall be permitted in any district except as provided in the code.
- No sign shall be erected unless a sign permit has been issued by the Building Inspector, except as specifically exempted.
Exempt Signs in Frankfort
- One residential identification sign, not to exceed two square feet in area, for each residential dwelling.
- One sign not exceeding two square feet for any permissible home occupation.
- Property address numbers not to exceed two square feet in residential areas or four square feet in commercial or industrial areas.
- Signs identifying the name of schools, churches, community buildings, other public or semi-public institutional buildings, residential subdivisions, apartments, or mobile home parks, meeting specified size and location requirements.
- One bulletin board, not illuminated except by indirect light and not exceeding 24 square feet in surface area, is allowed with any church, school, or similar public or semi-public structure.
- Permanent off-site directional signs for civic or public facilities, not exceeding six square feet in area and not causing a traffic hazard.
- Signs erected by the city, county, state, or public utility, including traffic-control and safety signs, handicapped parking signs, railroad signals, entrance and exit signs, scenic or historical place signs, welcome signs, public directional signs, and memorial plaques.
- Show window displays, including displays of merchandise, photographs, drawings, prices, promotional statements or messages designed and intended to be viewed from outside the building.
- An exterior building directory, on a multiple tenancy structure, provided it does not exceed one sign per entrance and six square feet in area.
- Flags bearing the official design of a nation, state, city, organization, corporation, or school, or decorative flags.
- On-site directional signs for traffic and parking on the same lot, not exceeding five square feet and four feet in height, and not located in public right-of-way.
- Signs warning against hunting, fishing, dumping, trespassing, dangerous animals, swimming, or the like, either freestanding or attached to a fence.
- Names of buildings, dates of construction, commemorative tablets carved in stone, concrete, bronze, aluminum, or similar material, made as an integral part of the building or structure.
- Signs accessory to an agricultural use on parcels not less than 20 acres, for identification or advertising agricultural products, subject to limits on size, area, and height.
- Signs erected by farm operators on their barns or other accessory buildings giving the operator’s name, the farm’s name, and the year established.
- Changing of advertised copy or message on any approved sign (including billboards, theater marquees, and similar signs designed for replaceable copy).
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of an approved sign or sign structure, unless a structural alteration is made.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Frankfort
- Applications for sign permits shall include drawings of the sign and be accompanied by a fee established by the Common Council.
- In the Historic Downtown District, projecting signs and canopy signs require application for recommendation from the City Plan Commission prior to submission to the Board of Works for approval.
- For off-premises freestanding signs, Board of Public Works approval following recommendation by the City Plan Commission is required.
- A signage plan is required as part of a development plan application in the primary tier Overlay Zone; the applicant must submit a signage plan pursuant to the process in § 155.172.
- A sketch of the sign and landscaped area must be submitted with the sign permit application for review when landscaping is required for unified freestanding signs.
- Additional freestanding signs may be approved as a special exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals where special circumstances warrant.
- Permits are not required for certain exempt signs as specified; however, all other signs require a permit issued by the Building Inspector.