# Sign Regulations in Hobart, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hobart, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/hobart
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-01
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.cityofhobart.org/DocumentCenter/View/39/Title-XV-Chapter-154-April-2025?bidId=#page=168)

## At a glance

Hobart, Indiana regulates 22 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Nameplate (1-2 Dwellings)s in the R-1 Single-Family (Large Lot) Residence District, R-2 Single-Family (Small Lot) Residence District, R-3 Single to Four-Family Residence District zoning district are capped at 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower tall and 2 sq ft (Sec. § 154.377(A)). Most commercial signs in Hobart require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-1 Agricultural District | 3 | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-1 Single-Family (Large Lot) Residence District, R-2 Single-Family (Small Lot) Residence District, R-3 Single to Four-Family Residence District | 6 | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 45 sq ft total for all signs on premises | — |
| R-4 Multiple-Family Residence District | 5 | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 45 sq ft total for all signs on premises | — |
| OS-1 Office Service District, OS-2 Office Service District | 3 | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 45 sq ft total for all signs on premises | — |
| B-1 Neighborhood Business District, B-2 Central Business District, B-3 Highway Oriented Business District, PBP Planned Business Park District | 6 | 6 ft above curb level for exposed pole/pylon/standard/support signs; monument/unexposed signs up to 35 ft | 45 sq ft total on-premise; OR formula: total gross area (sq ft) <= footage of lot frontage; if lot frontage <= 50', max gross area (sq ft) = 50 | — |
| M-1 Light Manufacturing District, M-2 Heavy Manufacturing District | 5 | 50 ft above curb/average ground level | up to 200 sq ft (for 100 ft frontage, via formula) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 45 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### R-1 Single-Family (Large Lot) Residence District, R-2 Single-Family (Small Lot) Residence District, R-3 Single to Four-Family Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (1-2 Dwellings) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On dwelling | — | § 154.377(A) |
| Identification Sign (Multi-Family Dwellings, Apartment Hotels, Non-dwellings) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building | — | § 154.377(B) |
| Identification Sign (Apt/Condo Complex-Bldg) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On each building | — | § 154.377(C) |
| Identification Sign (Entire Complex) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At complex | — | § 154.377(C) |
| Identification Sign (Home Occupations) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | § 154.377(D) |
| Identification Sign (Public/Quasi-public Buildings) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 45 sq ft total for all signs on premises | — | — | May be multiple, up to 45 sq ft total | On premises | — | § 154.377(E) |

### R-4 Multiple-Family Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Multi-Family Dwellings, Apartment Hotels, Non-dwellings) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building | — | § 154.377(B) |
| Identification Sign (Apt/Condo Complex-Bldg) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On each building | — | § 154.377(C) |
| Identification Sign (Entire Complex) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At complex | — | § 154.377(C) |
| Identification Sign (Home Occupations) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | § 154.377(D) |
| Identification Sign (Public/Quasi-public Buildings) | 1 story or 15 ft above curb, whichever is lower | 45 sq ft total for all signs on premises | — | — | May be multiple, up to 45 sq ft total | On premises | — | § 154.377(E) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Rent/Lease) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | § 154.381(A) |
| Temporary Sign (Open House) | — | 6 sq ft each | — | — | Up to 3 | On premises; during daylight hours on day of event | — | § 154.381(B) |
| Temporary Contractor Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises; during construction | — | § 154.381(C) |
| Special Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | Multiple possible | On premises, before event | — | § 154.381(D-E) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | Multiple possible | On private property | — | § 154.381(F) |
| Public Expression Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not closer than 10 ft from property line | Multiple possible | Private property | — | § 154.381(G) |
| Business Special Event Sign | — | 45 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per frontage per event | Each platted frontage | — | § 154.381(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Hobart

- Advertising signs, including billboards and poster panels, directing attention to a business or commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than the premises where such sign is located or to which it is affixed, except as expressly permitted in manufacturing districts.
- Signs that have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights, lasers and visual projections or lights resembling emergency or road equipment vehicles.
- Signs bearing the words: Slow, Stop, Caution, Danger, Warning or similar words not associated with emergency or alert situation.
- Signs that have changing light intensity, brightness or color, or give such illusion.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter.
- Signs which display motion pictures, unless in manufacturing, business or office service zoning districts, separate still images are serially displayed electronically upon a sign and are changed not less than every ten (10) seconds. All electronic signs are prohibited in residential zoning districts.
- Inflatable displays used in connection with advertising purposes, excluding inflatable displays used in connection with nationally recognized holiday seasons, not containing advertising purposes.
- Signs with obscene content.
- Signs mounted on exposed poles, pylons, standards or separate supports, except as expressly permitted in business and manufacturing districts.
- Portable signs, except as expressly permitted in temporary signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hobart

- Inflatable displays used in connection with nationally recognized holiday seasons, not containing advertising purposes, are exempt from prohibition.
- Portable signs may be permitted as temporary signs as expressly permitted in the temporary sign section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new cellular antenna towers for cellular telecommunication services or personal communication services are permitted in an M-1 or M-2 manufacturing zone or B-3 highway oriented business zone after being granted a site plan approval by the Plan Commission.
- Unless co-locating or using a multiple use facility, a development plan (site plan) of the entire lot upon which the cell tower is proposed to be located is required.
- All facilities shall be approved pursuant to the site plan review process required by the Hobart Zoning Code.
- Screening and fencing for towers must be provided in accordance with the required site plan approval.
- Amendments to plans, except for minor adjustments as determined by the Planning Commission or its representative, shall be made in accordance with the same procedure as the original approval.
- When a modification or waiver of design standards is requested for wireless communications facilities, a public hearing is required before the Plan Commission.
- If previously approved sites or multiple use facilities do not conform to regulations, the applicant may file an application for a developmental standards variance.

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

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