# Sign Regulations in Madison, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Madison, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/madison
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-22
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/madisonin/latest/madison_in/0-0-0-17617)

## At a glance

Madison, Indiana regulates 9 sign types across 1 zoning district. Freestanding Signs in the Historic District zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 16 sq ft per face, with a Not allowed on sidewalks. setback (Sec. § 151.36(C)(2)(e)1–6; § 151.36(5)(a)). Most commercial signs in Madison require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic District | 9 | 25 ft | 20% of window area (door sign: up to 50% of glass area) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Flat | — | — | Length ≤ two-thirds of narrowest building face width | — | Limit one sign per establishment per street frontage. | Affixed to an exterior wall with the face parallel to the building. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(a)1–5; § 151.36(4)(b); § 151.36(5)(a) |
| Wall Sign - Dimensional Surface | — | — | Length ≤ two-thirds of narrowest building face width | Bottom edge must be at least 9 feet above sidewalk. | Limit one sign per establishment per street frontage. | Affixed to an exterior wall with the face parallel to the building; may consist of three-dimensional letterforms, relief/depressed messages, or traditional 3D symbols (e.g., barber pole, clock, pawnshop symbol) if appropriate. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(b)1–6; § 151.36(5)(a) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft (surface area per sign) | — | Horizontal projection may not exceed 1/2 of sidewalk width from property line to curb. | Limit one sign per pedestrian-level tenant per street frontage and one sign for each upper-floor tenant. | Projecting from building face >12 inches; mounted with inside edge 6–12 inches from wall. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(c)1–6; § 151.36(5)(a)1–6 |
| Window Sign | Letter height: up to 8 inches (pedestrian/second level); up to 9 inches (third level and higher) | 20% of window area (door sign: up to 50% of glass area) | — | — | Limit one sign per window. | Painted/gold-leafed or attached onto glass area, or installed behind a window or in a showcase for viewing from outside. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(d)1–5; § 151.36(5)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | Not allowed on sidewalks. | Limit one sign per pedestrian-level street frontage establishment. | Anywhere within the front yard or side yard of the establishment; not permitted on a sidewalk. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(e)1–6; § 151.36(5)(a) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (A-shaped) | 4 ft | 10 sq ft per face | — | Sidewalk placement allowed only if unobstructed sidewalk width ≥ 8 ft. | Counts toward limit of one freestanding sign per pedestrian-level street frontage establishment. | May be located anywhere on the sidewalk directly in front of the establishment provided the unobstructed sidewalk width is at least 8 feet; may also be in the front yard. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(e)2–3; § 151.36(5)(a) |
| Awning Sign | Lettering height up to 24 inches | ≤ 1/3 of awning area (letters + symbols) | — | Bottom edge ≥ 7 ft above sidewalk. | Limit one sign per awning. | On awnings at pedestrian level only. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(f)1–4 |
| Temporary Sign - Mobile | 8 ft | — | — | — | Limit one mobile sign per pedestrian-level tenant or one sign for each upper-floor tenant. | Anywhere within the front yard of the establishment. | — | § 151.36(C)(2)(h)1–6; § 151.36(5)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Madison

- Roof signs are prohibited (signs placed on, over, or above the roof or parapet of a building).
- Billboards and other off-premises advertising signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited (signs advertising goods, services, facilities, events, or activities not related to the premises or directing persons to different premises).
- Flashing, blinking, revolving, moving, or variable-intensity signs are generally prohibited; exceptions only if the Board of Review deems them appropriate (e.g., traditional rotating barber pole).
- No sign or related apparatus may be kept or maintained by supports of permanent posts or poles in the area between the property line and the curb.
- No sign may conceal architectural details of a building.
- No sign may be erected or maintained that is unsafe, insecure, a fire or wind hazard, a barrier to needed light or air, or a menace to public safety or welfare.
- A maximum of four signs per building is permitted; corner buildings may have a maximum of three signs on each street-facing side (total of six).
- Changes to the message or design of a sign are not considered ordinary maintenance; any rewording, redesigning, or alteration must bring the sign into conformity with the chapter and obtain a certificate of appropriateness.
- Nonconforming signs may not be reworded, redesigned, or altered unless brought into conformity with this chapter.
- Sign messages are limited to on-premises content related to the business, profession, commodity, or service offered on the premises (off-premises advertising is prohibited).

## Signs exempt from permit in Madison

- Certificate of appropriateness not required for signs of duly constituted governmental bodies, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, and legal notices.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for flags or emblems identifying political, civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organizations located on the premises.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for memorial plaques, cornerstones, historical tablets, markers, and similar items, provided one face does not exceed 6 square feet.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for signs not visible off the lot.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for signs posted in conjunction with doorbells or mailboxes.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for signs required to be posted or maintained by law or government order, rule, or regulation (unless specifically prohibited, limited, or restricted).
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for signs displayed strictly for the direction, safety, or convenience of the public (e.g., restrooms, parking entrances/exits).
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for address signs showing only numerical address, street names, no trespass, and other warning signs, provided one face does not exceed 96 square inches.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for temporary real estate signs not exceeding 10 square feet per face and not illuminated.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for temporary construction site signs erected on the site during construction to announce the owner/developer/contractor/architect/engineer; such signs shall not be illuminated.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for temporary signs or displays located on the inside of store windows relating to the business conducted within.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for banners or flags of not-for-profit organizations of the community promoting a specific activity if temporary in nature and removed within three months.
- Certificate of appropriateness/permit not required for political signs for candidates placed in front yards within the historic district for a two-month period or as otherwise regulated by city ordinance.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for change of copy on a sign whose customary use involves frequent and periodic changes of copy, provided the Board indicated at initial approval that the sign is of such type.
- Certificate of appropriateness not required for ordinary maintenance or repair of any sign (excluding any rewording, redesign, or alteration beyond ordinary maintenance).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A certificate of appropriateness is required before any sign is constructed, erected, or altered unless the sign is specifically exempted.
- Each sign application must include a plan showing: exact location and height; area and size; exact message; color, materials, character, and method of illumination; method of fastening or supporting; and for projecting or freestanding signs, the vertical distance to finished grade and the horizontal distance to the curb.
- The Building Inspector may request additional information; if insufficient information is provided, the Board may deem the application incomplete and defer consideration until complete.
- For certificate of appropriateness applications generally, a front elevation drawing including proposed signage is required (side elevations where there are no adjoining buildings), along with a site plan and photographs.
- The Historic District Board of Review may adopt district-wide signage guidelines (e.g., shapes, colors, sizes, lettering, messages); if a proposed sign meets these criteria, the Building Inspector may issue a certificate of appropriateness administratively without a Board hearing.
- Variances must conform to the procedures of the Madison Zoning Ordinance §§ 11.31 through 11.39.
- Nonconforming signs may continue under applicable zoning provisions, but any rewording, redesign, or alteration requires bringing the sign into conformity with this chapter.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Madison, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Madison+IN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-madison

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