# Sign Regulations in Gary, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gary, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/gary
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-22
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://library.municode.com/in/gary/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADEOR_CH117SIBI)

## At a glance

Gary, Indiana regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. "To Rent" Signs in the Residence districts (R1, R1A, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7) zoning district are capped at Not higher than 7 feet above curb level tall and 16 sq ft, with a Shall not be closer than 8 feet to any other zoning lot. setback (Sec. Sec. 117-1(1)(b)). Most commercial signs in Gary require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | Over 45 feet above curb level triggers variance | Gross area of all diagonal signs on a zoning lot shall not exceed one-half of the total gross square feet area permitted on all frontages. | — |
| Residence districts (R1, R1A, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7) | 6 | Not higher than one story or 20 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 16 sq ft | — |
| B1 Limited retail districts (B1-1, B1-2) | 3 | Not higher than 30 feet above curb level | — | — |
| B2 General retail districts (B2-1, B2-2, B2-3); B3 Limited service districts (B3-1, B3-2); B4 General service districts (B4-1, B4-2, B4-3); B5 Wholesale and motor vehicle districts (B5-1, B5-2); M1 Limited manufacturing districts (M1-1, M1-2) | 5 | Not higher than 45 feet above curb level | 600 sq ft per single advertising sign | — |
| M2 General manufacturing districts (M2-1, M2-2); M3 Heavy industrial district (M3) | 3 | — | 600 sq ft per single advertising sign | — |
| Floodplain district (F1) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Marquee/Canopy Sign (Special Use) | — | — | — | — | — | On marquees and canopies. Projection restrictions across property lines into the public way do not apply in non-residential districts; they do apply in residence districts. | — | Sec. 117-5 |
| Awning Sign (Residence Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | On awnings. | — | Sec. 117-6 |
| Awning Sign (Nonresidential Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | On awnings; projection restrictions across property lines into the public way do not apply in nonresidential districts. | — | Sec. 117-6 |
| Diagonal Sign | — | Gross area of all diagonal signs on a zoning lot shall not exceed one-half of the total gross square feet area permitted on all frontages. | — | — | — | Corner lots, visible from both frontages. | — | Sec. 117-4 |
| Electric Sign (Clearance and Separation) | — | — | — | Shall not extend beyond the curbline. | — | Any district where electric signs are otherwise permitted. | — | Sec. 117-35; Sec. 117-36; Sec. 117-37(a)-(b) |
| Projecting Sign (Chain Supports and Fastenings) | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting signs attached to buildings. | — | Sec. 117-38(a)-(h); Sec. 117-39; Sec. 117-40 |
| Any Sign Over 45 Feet in Height | Over 45 feet above curb level triggers variance | — | — | — | — | Any zone | — | Sec. 117-8 |

### Residence districts (R1, R1A, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (One- and Two-Family Dwellings) | Not higher than one story or 20 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 1.5 sq ft per dwelling unit | — | — | Max 1 per dwelling unit; on corner lots, max 2 per dwelling unit (one facing each street) | Accessory sign on the premises of one- and two-family dwellings. | — | Sec. 117-1(1)(a) (first and third/fourth bullets) |
| Identification Sign (Multiple-Family, Apartment Hotels, and Buildings Other Than Dwellings) | Not higher than one story or 20 feet above curb level, whichever is lower | 9 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per lot; on corner lots, max 2 (one facing each street) | Accessory sign on the premises of multi-family dwellings, apartment hotels, and non-dwelling buildings. | — | Sec. 117-1(1)(a) (second, third and fourth bullets) |
| "To Rent" Sign | Not higher than 7 feet above curb level | 16 sq ft | — | Shall not be closer than 8 feet to any other zoning lot. | Max 1 per lot; on corner lots, max 2 (one facing each street) | Accessory sign on a lot in a residence district. | — | Sec. 117-1(1)(b) |
| Parking Area Entrance/Exit Sign | Not higher than 7 feet above curb level | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per entrance or 1 per exit | At each entrance or exit to a parking area. | — | Sec. 117-1(1)(c)1 and 117-1(1)(c)2-3 |
| Parking Area Conditions/Identity Sign | Not higher than 7 feet above curb level | 9 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per parking area; on corner lots, max 2 (one facing each street) | On the parking area. | — | Sec. 117-1(1)(c)1 and 117-1(1)(c)2-3 |
| Church Bulletin Sign | Not higher than 7 feet above curb level | 16 sq ft | — | Not closer than 8 feet to any other zoning lot. | Max 1 per lot; on corner lots, max 2 (one facing each street) | On a lot in a residence district. | — | Sec. 117-1(2) |

### B2 General retail districts (B2-1, B2-2, B2-3); B3 Limited service districts (B3-1, B3-2); B4 General service districts (B4-1, B4-2, B4-3); B5 Wholesale and motor vehicle districts (B5-1, B5-2); M1 Limited manufacturing districts (M1-1, M1-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business and Advertising Signs (Aggregate Area Limit) | — | — | — | — | — | On the zoning lot in B2, B3, B4, B5 and M1 districts. | — | Sec. 117-2(b)(1); 117-2(c); 117-2(d); 117-2(e); 117-2(f) |
| Projecting Business Sign (Public Way Projection) | Not higher than 45 feet above curb level | — | — | Must remain at least 18 inches inside the curbline/paved edge; projection limited to 15 feet. | — | Projecting across the property line into the public way in B2/B3/B4/B5/M1. | — | Sec. 117-2(b)(2)-(3); 117-2(c)-(f) |
| Advertising Sign (Projection into Public Way) | Not higher than 45 feet above curb level | — | — | — | — | On buildings or structures; projection over public way restricted. | — | Sec. 117-2(b)(2)-(3); 117-2(c)-(f) |
| Advertising Sign (Area and Spacing Controls) | Not higher than 45 feet above curb level (without variance) | 600 sq ft per single advertising sign | — | Angling requirement when lot’s total advertising sign area >300 sq ft: one end set back ≥ 7 feet from the other end. | Only one single ‘parallel’ advertising sign per frontage on a single zoning lot | On the zoning lot fronting a street. | — | Sec. 117-7(a)-(d) |
| Bench Sign (Public Convenience Bench at Bus Stop) | — | — | — | — | — | On public convenience benches at bus stops within business and manufacturing districts. | — | Sec. 117-7(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Gary

- No sign shall be placed upon any sidewalk, street, or other public way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs on marquees and canopies are treated as a special use subject to conditions prescribed by the common council (Sec. 117-5).
- All signs projecting higher than 45 feet above curb level require a variance governed by Sec. 123-108 (Sec. 117-8).
- Signs on public convenience benches at bus stops in business, manufacturing, and floodplain districts require approval of the board of public works and safety and issuance of a zoning clearance certificate (Sec. 117-7(e)).
- Alternative sign support methods may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the electrical inspector (Sec. 117-40).

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

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