# Sign Regulations in Highland, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Highland, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/highland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-25
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.codepublishing.com/IN/Highland/#!/Highland18/Highland1885.html#18.85)

## At a glance

Highland, Indiana regulates 18 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Permanent Business Sign (Wall Sign)s in the PB Professional Business District (PB) zoning district are capped at No higher than second story tall, For single-use buildings: max 4 feet in height and width of the building less 2 feet on each side. For multi-use/mixed use: 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage or 150 sq ft, whichever is less., and Building width less 2 feet on each side (single-use) wide, with a On building wall setback (Sec. 18.85.030(B)). Most commercial signs in Highland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open Space District (OS) | 2 | 4 feet (median), 6 feet (elsewhere) | 48 square feet (not more than 4 feet in height in a median, not more than 6 feet in height elsewhere) | — |
| R-1A Single-Family Residence District (R-1A), R-1 Single-Family Residence District (R-1), R-2 Single- and Two-Family Residence District (R-2), R-3 Multiple-Family Residence and PUD Districts (R-3, PUD) | 4 | 4 feet (median), 6 feet (elsewhere) | 48 square feet (not more than 4 feet in height in a median, not more than 6 feet elsewhere) | — |
| PB Professional Business District (PB) | 6 | 15 feet | 24 square feet (display portion) | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Business District (B-1), B-3 General Business District (B-3), I-1 Light Industrial District (I-1) | 6 | 10 feet (B-1), 15 feet (B-3, I-1) | 24 square feet (display portion) | — |
| B-2 Central Business District (B-2) | 5 | — | Max 50% of sign area; see overlay limits | — |
| Floodplain Districts (F-1) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Zoning Overlay Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Overlay District | 2 | No sign above ground floor height | No principal sign exceeding 20% of ground floor wall area; no window sign exceeding 30 sq ft | — |
| Indianapolis Boulevard Overlay District | 2 | — | No principal sign exceeding 25% of ground floor wall area, no other sign exceeding 30 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 1 | — | Set by PUD plan; monument/wayfinding: exempt from permit if coordinated and unified; all other: follow code or PUD plan. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 3 feet general; temp construction: up to 32 sq ft, 8 ft width/4 ft height in nonresidential zones | 6 square feet general (yard, sandwich board, portable sign); see construction for exception | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### PB Professional Business District (PB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Business Sign (Wall Sign) | No higher than second story | For single-use buildings: max 4 feet in height and width of the building less 2 feet on each side. For multi-use/mixed use: 1 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage or 150 sq ft, whichever is less. | Building width less 2 feet on each side (single-use) | On building wall | One per frontage (max two per business if >1 street) | Above front entrance, on building facade (not projecting >8 inches). | — | 18.85.030(B) |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet (single-occupant), 8 feet (multi-occupant) | Single-occupant: max 6 ft height, 6 ft length. Multi-occupant: max 8 ft height, 12 ft length. | — | 10 feet from all ROW/driveway (20 ft in median) | 2 per property, 300ft apart | At street or primary entry, min 10-foot setback from ROW/driveways. | — | 18.85.030(I)(3)(b)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 24 square feet (display portion) | 8 feet | 10 feet from property line | Max 1 per 300 ft | Permitted only on lots >300 ft wide with building ≥50 ft from ROW. | — | 18.85.030(H) |
| Blade Sign/Projecting Sign | — | 16 square feet | 6 feet (projection) | At least 8 ft over sidewalk. No projection into ROW. | No two within 25 feet | On facade or under a marquee/canopy in right location. | — | 18.85.030(G) |
| Wall-Mounted Building Entry Sign | — | 6 square feet per use | — | — | 1 per use | At ground floor entrance. | — | 18.85.030(J)(3)(b) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | 18 in. height x 12 ft. length; max 50% of sign area | — | Part of larger sign placement/setback | 1 per lot | Integrated into allowed larger sign | — | 18.85.030(L) |

### B-1 Neighborhood Business District (B-1), B-3 General Business District (B-3), I-1 Light Industrial District (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Business Sign (Wall Sign) | No higher than 2nd story. | Single use: 4 ft height, full building width less 2 ft either side. Multi-use: 1 sq ft per linear foot of frontage or 150 sq ft max. | — | Building wall | Maximum 2 per business (each on a different frontage) | Above entrance on building facade. | — | 18.85.030(B) |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 feet (B-1), 15 feet (B-3, I-1) | 24 square feet (display portion) | 8 feet | 10 feet from property line | Max 1 per 300 ft | Minimum 10 ft from property line, not in required landscape buffer. Only if primary building ≥50 ft from ROW and lot is ≥300 ft wide. | — | 18.85.030(H) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft (single), 8 ft (multi) | Single-occupant: 6 ft height, 6 ft length. Multi-occupant: 8 ft height, 12 ft length. | — | 10 ft from ROW/driveways | Max 2 (300 ft apart or at different entrances) | Min 10 ft setback from ROW/driveways, min 20 ft if in median. | — | 18.85.030(I) |
| Blade Sign/Projecting Sign | — | 16 square feet | 6 ft projection | 8 ft min above sidewalk | No 2 within 25 ft | On facade or below marquee/canopy. | — | 18.85.030(G) |
| Wall-Mounted Building Entry Sign | — | 6 square feet per use | — | — | 1 per use | Building entrance wall, ground floor. | — | 18.85.030(J)(3)(b) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | 18 in x 12 ft, max 50% of allowed sign area. | — | As for larger sign | 1 per lot | Integrated into larger allowed sign. | — | 18.85.030(L) |

### B-2 Central Business District (B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Business Sign (Wall Sign) | — | Same as PB (see above) | — | On building wall | See code | Above entrance on facade | — | 18.55.040(J), 18.85.030(B) |
| Blade Sign/Projecting Sign | — | 6 square feet (overlay district); 16 sq ft otherwise | Projection max 3 ft from wall (overlay limit) | 10 ft clearance | See overlay standards | On facade | — | 18.55.040(J)(11), 18.85.030(G) |
| Monument Sign | — | As above (overlay may limit location) | — | — | — | Per code, but generally not on pedestrian-intensive lots | — | 18.85.030(I), 18.55.040(J) |
| Window Sign (Permanent Painted) | — | Max 33% of glazing area per window | — | — | Not specified; area applies | Windows of business | — | 18.55.040(J)(7)-(8) |
| Changeable Copy Sign and Programming | — | Max 50% of sign area; see overlay limits | — | — | 1 per site, part of allowed sign | Part of monument/marquee if allowed | — | 18.55.040(J)(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Highland

- No sign shall be placed, constructed, or located on any property without the consent of the party having the right of possession.
- No person shall erect, alter, or relocate any permanent or temporary sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the town and payment of the required fee, unless otherwise exempted.
- Signs painted directly onto a building wall or facade are prohibited, except artistic murals on nonresidential buildings.
- Signs posted directly onto fences, utility poles, streetlights, or trees are prohibited (except approved light pole banners).
- Signs using reflective material are prohibited, except wall-mounted building entry signs.
- Signs using only a single pole as anchoring are prohibited.
- Signs that resemble highway traffic control or direction signals and might cause confusion are prohibited.
- Signs with obscene language or graphics are prohibited for public display.
- Moving signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited (except public safety signs and those for safety warnings).
- Mobile billboards are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Bench signs in a public right-of-way are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected in a manner that interferes with safe vehicular and pedestrian circulation, or with public safety signals and signs.
- No sign shall prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, fire escape, public walkway, or alleyway.
- Signs shall not be installed, placed on, or overhang any public right-of-way, public sidewalk, alley, or easement except as specifically permitted.
- Signs may not include internal lighting fixtures if they are yard signs.
- Signs using neon, mercury arc, or mercury vapor light sources are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs may not exceed the specified brightness limitations (illumination no more than 4 foot-candles at 8 feet, or as per listed district maximums).
- Temporary signs may not be placed in prohibited sign areas.
- No more than three yard signs may be erected on any single lot simultaneously.
- No yard sign shall be permanently anchored into the ground.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, public walkway, or alleyway.
- Any obsolete or abandoned sign that does not advertise any existing business or product, including its structure, must be removed by the property owner within 30 days of written notification from the town.

## Signs exempt from permit in Highland

- Temporary signs that do not exceed six square feet in area and three feet in dimension on any side are exempt from the sign permit requirement.
- Signs authorized and erected by a governmental unit for safety or informational purposes are exempt from the sign permit requirement.
- Utility markers necessary to mark cables and lines for public and private utilities, as determined required for public safety and welfare, are exempt from the sign permit requirement.
- Flags of the United States, the state, foreign nations, and any other flag are exempt from the sign permit requirement.
- Nonstructural repairs of a lawful sign do not require a sign permit, except as may be required for an electrical system repair of an illuminated sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Multi-tenant or multi-business developments must submit a signage plan for total development; signs must be coordinated in a uniform manner and sign sharing is required.
- A planned signage district may be proposed by property owners for sites larger than three acres, and is subject to approval by the plan commission; subsequent sign applications in such a district are approved administratively if compliant.
- Applicants whose proposed signs do not comply with ordinance provisions may submit an application to the building commissioner/chief inspector or their designee and the board of zoning appeals for variance consideration.
- Sign construction permits are required for most new or altered signs, and must be obtained before installation.
- Any sign types not specifically provided for in the title may be permitted pending plan commission approval, and must include size, placement, and design documentation in the submitted plan.
- If a building or development is in an overlay district (such as Downtown or Indianapolis Blvd.), a coordinated signage plan may be required, and the overlay district’s standards will apply.

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

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