# Sign Regulations in Frankfort, Indiana

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

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

## 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.

## Sign rules by zoning district (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 (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 | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Multiple allowed, limited by formula | Mounted on building. | — | § 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. | — | § 155.134(C)(5) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | Multiple allowed, but total area must not exceed 4 sq. ft. per foot of building frontage. | On canopy. | — | § 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 | — | § 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. | — | § 155.134(D)(5) |
| Pump Island Sign | 8 inches high for numerals | 6 sq. ft. per pump island | — | — | — | Pump islands/canopies | — | § 155.134(E) |
| Wall Sign (Service Bay Identification) | — | 10 sq. ft. each | — | — | — | On building/service bays. | — | § 155.134(G) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from adjacent property. | One per business | — | — | § 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 | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Multiple allowed, limited by formula | Mounted on building. | — | § 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 | — | § 155.134(D) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from adjacent property. | One per business | — | — | § 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 | — | § 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 | — | § 155.135(A), (C) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Mailbox, fence, structure, or freestanding | — | § 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. | — | § 155.131(C) |
| Building Directory | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per entrance | On exterior for multi-tenant buildings. | — | § 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. | — | § 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 | — | § 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). | — | § 155.133(F) |
| Political Campaign Sign | 8 ft (freestanding) | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Unlimited | At polling place (Election Day) or on property. | — | § 155.133(H) |
| Political/Religious/Social Message Sign | 8 ft (freestanding) | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per property/year | On private property | — | § 155.133(I) |

## Prohibited 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.

## Signs exempt from permit 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

- 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.

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

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