# Sign Regulations in Lowell, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lowell, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/lowell
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Lowell, Indiana regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Multi-Tenant Joint Entrance Signs in the Planned Business District (PB), Business District (B1, B2) zoning district are capped at 18 ft. tall and 18 ft. max height; 24 sq. ft. avg per tenant, with a 10 ft. from right-of-way setback (Sec. §155.104(A)(1), (b)7). Most commercial signs in Lowell require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District (AG), Residential District (R1, R2, R3, R4, MH) | 10 | — | 64 sq. ft. | — |
| Planned Business District (PB), Business District (B1, B2) | 8 | 18 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per wall sign | — |
| Light Industrial District (LI), Heavy Industrial District (HI) | 9 | 18 ft. | 75 sq. ft. per wall sign | — |
| Town Center District (TC) | 7 | — | 75 sq. ft. per wall sign | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts | 2 | 40 ft. | 300 sq. ft. per side, 60 ft. max length, 25 ft. max height (of sign face) | — |
| Non-residential Zoned District | 1 | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. per side, 2 ft. max length, 2 ft. max height (of sign face) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Agricultural District (AG), Residential District (R1, R2, R3, R4, MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - For Sale/For Rent or Lease | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises for sale or lease | — | §155.103(A) |
| Temporary Sign - Open House | — | 6 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Up to 3 | On premises during open house, and off premises to direct public | — | §155.103(B) |
| Temporary Sign - Contractor's Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises under construction | — | §155.103(C) |
| Temporary Sign - Lot Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | Only on the lot being advertised for sale | — | §155.103(D) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per event | On premises of event | — | §155.103(E) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event Banner | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per event | — | — | §155.103(F) |
| Subdivision Sign - On Premise (Temporary) | — | 64 sq. ft. | — | — | 2, plus one for each 5-acre increment over 5 acres | Within development for which the sign advertises | — | §155.103(J) |
| Subdivision Sign - Off Premise (Temporary) | — | 64 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft min. from front property line | 2, plus one for each 5-acre increment over 5 acres | On private property, 8 ft min. from front property line; cannot obstruct traffic sight distance | — | §155.103(K) |

### Planned Business District (PB), Business District (B1, B2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 75 sq. ft. per wall sign | — | — | — | Building facade of primary structure | — | §155.104(A)(1), (b)1 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Printed on awnings on primary facade | — | §155.104(A)(1), (b)2 |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign face | — | 5 ft. min. from right-of-way | — | Min. 5 ft. from public right-of-way, not in sight visibility triangle | — | §155.104(A)(1), (b)4 |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §155.104(A)(1), (b)5 |
| Time and Temperature Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §155.104(A)(1), (b)5 |
| Multi-Tenant Joint Entrance Sign | 18 ft. | 18 ft. max height; 24 sq. ft. avg per tenant | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way | 1 per entrance | At each entrance, min. 10 ft. from all public rights-of-way | — | §155.104(A)(1), (b)7 |
| Window Sign (Non-Illuminated) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | §155.104(A)(2) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft. from right-of-way | — | Min. 2 ft. from right-of-way | — | §155.104(A)(3) |

### Light Industrial District (LI), Heavy Industrial District (HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 75 sq. ft. per wall sign | — | — | — | Facade of primary structure | — | §155.104(B)(1), (b)1 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Printed on awnings on primary facade | — | §155.104(B)(1), (b)2 |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way | — | Min. 10 ft. from public right-of-way, not in required sight triangle | — | §155.104(B)(1), (b)3 |
| Free-standing Sign | 15 ft. | 40 sq. ft. per sign face | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way | — | Min. 10 ft. from public right-of-way | — | §155.104(B)(1), (b)4 |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §155.104(B)(1), (b)5 |
| Multi-Tenant Joint Entrance Sign | 18 ft. | 18 ft. max height; 40 sq. ft. avg per tenant | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way | 1 per entrance | At each entrance, min. 10 ft. from right-of-way | — | §155.104(B)(1), (b)7 |
| Window Sign (Non-Illuminated) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | §155.104(B)(2) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft. from right-of-way | — | Min. 2 ft. from right-of-way | — | §155.104(B)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Lowell

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign within the jurisdiction of the Plan Commission without first obtaining a sign permit from the Planning Director, except as otherwise provided.
- Signs that move or utilize any animation, motion picture, laser, or visual projection of images or copy in conjunction with any business or advertisement are prohibited.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor or visible matter are prohibited.
- Signs that purport to be or are in imitation of, or resemble an official traffic sign or signal or which bear the words 'Stop,' 'Slow,' 'Caution,' 'Danger,' 'Warning,' or similar words are prohibited.
- Signs that may be construed as a light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle are prohibited.
- Signs that hide any traffic or roadway sign, signal or device from view are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with the sight visibility area as defined in § 155.083 are prohibited.
- Signs that are located in any right-of-way, non-sign easement, or septic field are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct any door, fire escape, stairway, or any opening intended to provide entrance or exit for any structure are prohibited.
- Signs placed on vehicles parked on public or private property primarily for the purpose of displaying the sign are prohibited, except for vehicles used for deliveries, sales, service, transportation of persons or property, or parked at a driver’s residence or for incidental purposes.
- Signs consisting of banners, streamers, pennants, and/or inflatable devices used alone or in combination with other such signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be permitted which contains, includes, or is illuminated by a flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights.
- No sign shall be permitted which moves or has any animated or moving parts.
- Advertising signs with rotating, louvered (vertical and/or horizontally), moving parts or elements shall not be permitted.
- No sign shall be permitted which displays or projects video or emits graphics, such as LED, LCD or similar digital or electrically-powered technology.
- Mobile off-premise signs, inflatable off-premise signs, and off-premise signs placed on vehicles or trailers are prohibited.
- Double stacked signs are prohibited.
- All signs and their components must be kept in good repair and in safe, neat, clean and attractive condition.
- Abandoned signs must be removed within 30 days from the date the business it advertises is no longer conducted on the premises.
- Temporary signs shall not be placed upon public property, public easements, public utility poles, traffic poles or standards, or other public structures or buildings.
- All temporary signs shall not contain illumination.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lowell

- Flags of any country, state, unit of local government, institution of higher learning, or similar institutional flags.
- Names of buildings, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure.
- Public signs erected by or on the order of public officer(s) in the performance of public duty, such as signs to promote safety, no trespassing, or traffic signs, memorial plaques, signs of historical interest, and signs directing people to public and quasi-public facilities.
- Utility signs are permitted to mark cables and lines for public and private utilities unless determined to be a hazard by the Planning Director.
- Seasonal or holiday signs, including lighting erected in connection with the observance of holidays, provided that such signs shall be removed no later than 30 days following the holiday.
- Political signs and other signs of expression, provided that they are not posted more than two months before the next election day and are removed ten calendar days after each election.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign within the jurisdiction of the Plan Commission without first obtaining a sign permit from the Planning Director, except as otherwise provided.
- All signs (unless otherwise specified, such as certain window or directional signs) require a sign permit.
- The sign permit application must include clear and legible drawings with descriptions showing the location of the sign and all signs on the same parcel or owned by the same business.
- The sign permit application must include dimensioned drawings showing the size of the sign face area and the height of the sign.
- A separate permit is required for temporary signs, specifying the type, period of use, and location.
- A permit is required for all off-premise signs from the Planning Director.
- Class III off-premise signs (small off-premise signs) require approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals as a special use.
- Permit fees apply for all permanent and temporary signs, as set by ordinance.

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

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