# Sign Regulations in Kendallville, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kendallville, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/kendallville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IN/Kendallville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CICOKEIN_CH3ADSI)

## At a glance

Kendallville, Indiana regulates 16 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Electronic Message Center (Local Street)s in the Commercial District (C-1A, C-1B, C-1C, C-3) zoning district are capped at District max height applies tall and 50 sq ft, with a No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies setback (Sec. Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07). Most commercial signs in Kendallville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, RS, AR) | 2 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C-1A, C-1B, C-1C, C-3) | 8 | 12 ft (per face); overall structure: 28 ft from road grade | 300 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (I-1, I-2) | 7 | 12 ft per face, or overall 28 ft from road grade | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Agricultural District (A) | 1 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 12 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Commercial District (C-1A, C-1B, C-1C, C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 150 sq ft | — | May not encroach onto any ROW or easement; Vision clearance applies | 1 per 500 ft of frontage; corner lots: 1 per frontage if each frontage >100 ft | On-site, may not encroach into public/private ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(1-4) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft (whichever is lesser) | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | Sec. 7.07(5) |
| Shopping Center Complex Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per 1,000 ft of road frontage | Shopping center complex | — | Sec. 7.07(6) |
| Electronic Message Center (Local Street) | District max height applies | 50 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07 |
| Electronic Message Center (Collector Street) | District max height applies | 65 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07 |
| Electronic Message Center (Arterial Road) | District max height applies | 85 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07 |
| Electronic Message Center (County Maintained) | District max height applies | 65 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07 |
| Off-Premise Sign | 12 ft (per face); overall structure: 28 ft from road grade | 300 sq ft per face | 25 ft per face | No extension into ROW/easement; consistent with state law | — | On-site, not encroaching into ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.13-7.17 |

### Industrial District (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 150 sq ft | — | May not encroach onto any ROW or easement; Vision clearance applies | 1 per 500 ft of frontage; corner lots: 1 per frontage if each frontage >100 ft | On-site, may not encroach into public/private ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(1-4), 7.08 |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft (whichever is lesser) | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | Sec. 7.07(5), 7.08 |
| Electronic Message Center (Local Street) | District max height applies | 50 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07, 7.08 |
| Electronic Message Center (Collector Street) | District max height applies | 65 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07, 7.08 |
| Electronic Message Center (Arterial Road) | District max height applies | 85 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07, 7.08 |
| Electronic Message Center (County Maintained) | District max height applies | 65 sq ft | — | No encroachment into ROW; vision clearance applies | 1 per lot/parcel | On-site, not encroaching on ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.07(7), Table 7.07, 7.08 |
| Off-Premise Sign | 12 ft per face, or overall 28 ft from road grade | 300 sq ft per face | 25 ft per face | No extension into ROW/easement; consistent with state law | — | On-site, not encroaching into ROW/easement | — | Sec. 7.13-7.17, 7.08 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| "For Sale" or "For Rent" Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | No more than 2 per property | On the property being advertised | — | Sec. 7.10(1) |
| Contractor/Developer Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On the property where work is being done | — | Sec. 7.10(2) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per property | On property; must not create vision clearance obstruction | — | Sec. 7.10(3) |
| Political/Charitable/Religious/School/Governmental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property | — | Sec. 7.10(4) |
| Garage Sale/Yard Sale Sign (Right-of-way) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | In right-of-way, on independent pole or stick | — | Sec. 7.10(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Kendallville

- Attention-getting devices are prohibited.
- Any sign or sign structure determined by the building inspector to be structurally unsafe or a hazard to safety or health due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment is prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs the vision of drivers or detracts from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device due to size, color, location, or illumination is prohibited.
- Any advertising sign in or on the city's park property without the consent of the city is prohibited.
- Obsolete signs advertising a business no longer conducted or a product no longer for sale on the premises, except temporary 'move' indications for up to 90 days, are prohibited.
- Any sign on a motor vehicle parked within fifteen feet of a street for the purpose of advertising a business, product, or service located on the premises is prohibited.
- Any sign installed on fences, temporary structures, or accessory buildings with less than twenty foot setback from a property line or street right-of-way is prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited in agricultural, residential, and C-1A, Local Commercial—Professional Office zoned areas.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained where, by reason of its position, wording, illumination, size, shape, or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall contain or use any phrase, symbol, shape, or character in a manner as to mislead or confuse moving traffic.
- No exterior sign shall display flashing, intermittent, or animated lighting or illumination, nor any illumination simulating or displaying motion, except permitted electronic message centers.
- Except as elsewhere permitted, portable signs are prohibited.
- All signs not expressly exempted or permitted by this section are prohibited.
- No freestanding sign may be erected or maintained on or within any public or private right-of-way or easement without special permission in writing from the designated enforcement official.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kendallville

- Construction signs required by law.
- Real estate signs of customary size and nature located on the advertising property and real estate directional signs that do not create a vision clearance hazard and are placed/removed in accordance with time restrictions.
- Government signs including but not limited to road signs.
- Signs promoting civic affairs or charitable activities previously approved by the board of public works and safety.
- Special project signs such as political signs, garage sales, and similar, pursuant to requirements elsewhere in this article.
- Signs not exceeding one square foot with only property numbers, box numbers, or names of residents.
- Directional signs in commercial or industrial districts designating enter/exit, not greater than three square feet, not obstructing vision clearance, containing no additional advertising except an identifying logo.
- Flags and insignias of any government.
- Legal notices, identification, information, or directional signs erected by or by order of governmental bodies.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement is given in this ordinance text for a 'master sign plan,' 'sign plan,' or other general sign plan requirement. Variances and appeals may be sought for nonconforming signs through the board.
- Permit (improvement location/building permit) must be applied for and obtained prior to placement, construction, or relocation of any sign.

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

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