# Sign Regulations in La Grange, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** La Grange, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/la-grange
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-22
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.lagrangecounty.org/egov/documents/1642529983_42811.pdf#page=94)

## At a glance

La Grange, Indiana regulates 19 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Special Event/Auctions in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 75 sq ft, with a >=10 ft from any lot line; not in public ROW setback (Sec. Article 5, Development and Design Standards, Section (D) Signs, (2)(a) and Table 5(d)(1); (7)(e) Lighting). Most commercial signs in La Grange require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 60 inches from ground | 75 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural Districts (A-1) | 3 | 15 ft above uniform finished grade | Up to 75 sq ft total for all wall signs (and no more than 20% of front face area) | — |
| Residential Districts (S-1, U-1, L-1) | 5 | 5 ft above uniform finished grade | 32 sq ft (message face) | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4) | 3 | 15 ft above uniform finished grade | Up to 75 sq ft total for all wall signs (and no more than 20% of front face area) | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-3) | 3 | 15 ft above uniform finished grade | Up to 75 sq ft total for all wall signs (and no more than 20% of front face area) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event/Auction | 15 ft | 75 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from any lot line; not in public ROW | No maximum sign limit | Not in the public right-of-way; minimum 10 ft setback from any lot line | — | Article 5, Development and Design Standards, Section (D) Signs, (2)(a) and Table 5(d)(1); (7)(e) Lighting |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | 15 ft | 75 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from any lot line; not in public ROW | No maximum sign limit | Not in the public right-of-way; minimum 10 ft setback from any lot line | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (2)(a) and Table 5(d)(1); (7)(e) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | >=10 ft from any lot line; not in public ROW | No maximum sign limit | Not in the public right-of-way; minimum 10 ft setback from any lot line | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (2)(a) and Table 5(d)(1); (7)(e) |
| Small Sign | 60 inches from ground | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (2)(b) |
| Governmental Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (2)(c); (7)(e) |
| Warning Signs | — | 3 sq ft (unless otherwise provided by state or federal law) | — | — | — | — | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (2)(e); (7)(e) |
| Banner (On-Premises) | — | 75 sq ft (total banner area) | — | — | — | On-premises only | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (2)(g); (7)(e) |
| Message Board Sign | — | 8 sq ft per street frontage (total message board signage) | — | — | — | In front of the business it represents; displayed during business hours only; taken inside during non-business hours; removed during high wind conditions | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (2)(h) i–iii; (7)(e) |

### Residential Districts (S-1, U-1, L-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Dwelling Parcel) | — | Combined wall + ground sign area may not exceed 4 sq ft per parcel | — | — | Not specified; subject to 4 sq ft combined cap | Affixed to dwelling or accessory building | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(c); (7)(e) |
| Ground Sign (Dwelling Parcel) | 5 ft above uniform finished grade | Combined wall + ground sign area may not exceed 4 sq ft per parcel | — | — | Not specified; subject to 4 sq ft combined cap | On-premises ground-mounted | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(c); (7)(e) |
| Residential Neighborhood Identification Sign (Entrance) | 5 ft above uniform finished grade | 32 sq ft (message face) | — | Must be outside public right-of-way | One per entrance street | At subdivision/development entrance; shall not extend into any public right-of-way | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(d)(i); (7)(e) |
| Wall Sign (Non-Dwelling Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One | Affixed to building for a non-dwelling use (e.g., school, religious facility, institutional use, clubhouse) | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(d)(ii); (7)(e) |
| Ground Sign (Non-Dwelling Use) | 5 ft above uniform finished grade | 12 sq ft (message area) | — | — | One | On-premises ground-mounted for a non-dwelling use (e.g., school, religious facility, institutional use, clubhouse) | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(d)(ii); (7)(e) |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Up to 75 sq ft total for all wall signs (and no more than 20% of front face area) | — | — | No explicit limit; subject to total area caps | Affixed to building wall (including signs placed inside window areas) | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(a) (wall sign limits and total area); (7)(e) |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft above uniform finished grade | 75 sq ft | — | Setback from property lines at least equal to the height of the sign (unless more restrictive zoning applies) | No explicit limit; subject to total area caps | On-premises ground-mounted | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(a) (ground sign size/height and setbacks); (7)(e) |
| Window Sign (Inside Window Areas) | — | — | — | — | No explicit limit; subject to total area caps | Placed inside the window areas of buildings | — | Article 5, Section (D) Signs, (3)(a) (note allowing signs inside window areas); (7)(e) |

## Prohibited signs in La Grange

- Any sign that requires a permit but does not have one is prohibited.
- Any sign prohibited by federal or state law, or not complying with applicable federal, state, or local regulations, is prohibited.
- Roof signs that project from the roof of a building are prohibited.
- No portion of a privately owned permanent sign or its supports may be placed on public property, in a public right-of-way, or in a proposed public right-of-way.
- Signs whose size, location, movement, content, coloring, or illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device, or that hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal, are prohibited.
- Signs that contain strings of light bulbs not permanently mounted on a rigid background are prohibited.
- Revolving signs are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate or imitate the size, lettering, or design of a traffic sign in a manner that interferes, misleads, or confuses the public are prohibited.
- Any sign on a motor vehicle, trailer, farm implement, or other mobile equipment that is parked and visible to traffic for longer than six days in a 60-day period for the primary purpose of advertising is prohibited.
- Signs may not be placed so as to obstruct visibility of pedestrians and motorists at intersections and driveways.
- Signs may not obstruct free access or egress from any building, including fire escapes, required exit windows or doors, or prevent firefighter roof access.
- Signs generating noise, smoke, vapor, or odors are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited (residential lawn ornaments excepted).
- Flashing, rotating, and intermittent external lighting on signs is prohibited.
- No sign, including cables and supports, may be within six feet of any electrical conductor, electric light pole, street lamp, traffic light, or other public utility pole.
- Signs placed in public rights-of-way, attached to utility poles, or affixed to trees are deemed public nuisances and are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in La Grange

- Temporary signs are allowed without a permit if not in the public right-of-way, set back at least 10 feet from any lot line, and comply with Table 5(d)(1): Special event/auction signs up to 75 sq ft and 15 ft high, install up to 30 days before and remove within 7 days after the event; Construction signs up to 75 sq ft and 15 ft high, only after an improvement location permit is issued, remove within 30 days after occupancy; Real estate signs up to 16 sq ft and 5 ft high, remove within 15 days of sale closing or lease/rental.
- Small signs (non-illuminated, up to 9 sq ft, no higher than 60 inches from the ground) are allowed without a permit (e.g., no trespass/beware of dog, traffic/pedestrian control).
- Governmental signs do not require a permit.
- Flags: governmental flags and flags of any country, state, unit of local government, institution of higher learning, or similar institutional flags do not require a permit; flags containing commercial messages or logos are treated as signs and count toward allowed number/area; the Department may require large or numerous governmental flags to comply with the ordinance.
- Warning signs exclusively devoted to hazards (e.g., high voltage, fire danger) are allowed without a permit up to 3 sq ft unless otherwise provided by state or federal law.
- Historical, cultural, and natural site signs erected by a government agency are allowed without a permit.
- Banners up to 75 sq ft are allowed without a permit only as on-premises signs and must be kept in good repair.
- Message board signs are allowed without a permit if: total area does not exceed 8 sq ft per street frontage and they allow pedestrian passage; they are displayed only in front of the business during business hours and taken inside when closed; they are removed during high wind conditions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Sign Development Plan is optional and may be requested by a property owner in any zone where there are special or unusual development problems or needs for compatibility.
- The Plan Commission may approve a Sign Development Plan even if it deviates from the ordinance if the plan meets standards: signs are properly related to the use, site area, and building context; effectively communicate to motorists/pedestrians; are consistent with the ordinance’s purposes and architectural character; and are compatible with adjacent uses.
- A Sign Development Plan must include a visual representation and/or criteria for the design, area, height, placement, and location of proposed signs.
- Once approved, a use may display only signs that comply with the approved Sign Development Plan.
- Staff may approve minor modifications to an approved Sign Development Plan (per Article 7, Section A(5)(b)) only if they do not increase sign area by more than 5%, alter the relationship to neighboring property, or change locations in a way that increases setback nonconformity, interferes with traffic or pedestrians, interrupts architectural details, or otherwise significantly deviates from the Commission-approved plan.

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

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