# Sign Regulations in Marion, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Marion, Indiana regulates 27 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Advertising Structure (Off-premises, Non-Interstate Road)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 30 ft above roadway grade to top of sign tall and 378 sq ft per face (excl. up to 20% ornamental/structural elements), with a 10 ft front; 5 ft side and rear setback (Sec. § 153.067). Most commercial signs in Marion require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 30 ft above roadway grade to top of sign | 672 sq ft per face (excl. up to 20% ornamental/structural elements) | — |
| AG Districts (AG) | 3 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| RS Districts (RS), R1 Districts (R1), R2 Districts (R2), R3 Districts (R3), R4 Districts (R4), R5 Districts (R5), MH Districts (MH), PR Districts (PR) | 1 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| PB District (PB) | 4 | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| AB Districts (AB) | 5 | — | 150 sq ft | — |
| LB Districts (LB), CC Districts (CC) | 5 | — | 60 sq ft | — |
| GB Districts (GB), CB Districts (CB), SC Districts (SC), I1 Districts (I1), I2 Districts (I2), I3 Districts (I3) | 2 | — | — | — |
| AZ District (AZ) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial (PC), Industrial (PI) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Advertising Sign (60 days prior) | 4 ft to top of sign | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Confined within private property, not in corner vision clearance, not in street right-of-way. | — | § 153.073(A), (F), (G) |
| Political Advertising Sign (30 days prior) | 6 ft to top of sign | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Confined within private property, not in corner vision clearance, not in street right-of-way. | — | § 153.073(B), (F), (G) |
| Advertising Structure (Off-premises, Non-Interstate Road) | 30 ft above roadway grade to top of sign | 378 sq ft per face (excl. up to 20% ornamental/structural elements) | — | 10 ft front; 5 ft side and rear | — | — | — | § 153.067 |
| Advertising Structure (Off-premises, Interstate 69) | 30 ft; up to 40 ft with BZA approval if topography requires | 672 sq ft per face (excl. up to 20% ornamental/structural elements) | — | 10 ft front; 5 ft side and rear | — | — | — | § 153.067 |
| Subdivision Sign (On-site Real Estate) | — | 480 sq ft | — | — | 2 per subdivision <5 acres; plus 1 per extra 5 acres | On property to be sold/leased | — | § 153.062(A) |
| Subdivision Model Home Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | 4 per model home lot | Same lot as model home | — | § 153.062(A)(7) |
| Subdivision Temporary Off-site Real Estate Directional Sign | Minimum 6 ft, maximum 18 ft above crown of adjacent road | 60 sq ft | — | 8 ft front | — | Off-site, directing to subdivision. | — | § 153.062(B) |
| Institutional Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft (or larger if district allows) | — | — | 1 per main use per frontage | Per main use per frontage | — | § 153.063(A) |

### AB Districts (AB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Name/Nature of Occupancy or Owner) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | § 153.065(D)(1)(a)(1) |
| For Rent/For Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot, building, or occupancy | On subject lot or building | — | § 153.065(D)(1)(a)(2) |
| Directional Sign | — | Not specified in text, but must be for location of buildings/activities on property | — | — | — | On property | — | § 153.065(D)(1)(a)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | § 153.065(D)(1)(a)(4) |
| Sign (General Cap per Occupancy) | — | Max 150 sq ft per frontage; Min 40 sq ft | — | — | See formula and rules | Parallel to building face (fin signs allowed for auto stations). | — | § 153.065(D)(1)(b) |

### LB Districts (LB), CC Districts (CC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Name/Nature of Occupancy or Owner) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | § 153.065(E)(1)(a)(1) |
| For Rent/For Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot, building, or occupancy | On subject lot or building | — | § 153.065(E)(1)(a)(2) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property | — | § 153.065(E)(1)(a)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | § 153.065(E)(1)(a)(4) |
| Sign (General Cap per Occupancy) | — | Max 60 sq ft per frontage; Min 40 sq ft | — | — | See formula and rules | Blade signs extending over sidewalk max 20 sq ft, min 10 ft clearance below sign. | — | § 153.065(E)(1)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Marion

- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision of operators of motor vehicles, or at any location where it may interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of words or symbols that could mislead or confuse traffic.
- Lights used to illuminate signs or advertising structures must be installed to minimize glare on public streets or adjacent property.
- No sign or part thereof shall be attached to or extend over any public street right-of-way, unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
- No sign shall be hung from the underside of a marquee unless it meets the minimum height limitations applicable to a marquee.
- No signs shall be placed on the roof of a marquee.
- No sign shall be built, continued, erected, or maintained on the sidewalk or street within the city.
- The use of any portion of a tower for signs other than warning or equipment information signs is prohibited.
- No off-premises advertising sign structure shall be constructed which resembles any official marker or could conflict with the functioning of any official traffic control device.
- No sign which contains, includes, or is illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights is permitted.
- No sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with, impairs, or obscures an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- No outdoor advertising sign structure shall be permitted if it is located within 300 feet of any property zoned or platted for residential use (RS, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, MH and PR).
- Double deck advertising sign structures are prohibited.
- No portion of an off-premises advertising sign structure may overhang into or be placed in the public right-of-way unless allowed by the public entity.
- No sign or advertising structure may be erected or maintained that violates the provisions of The Highway Advertising Control Act of 1967, as amended.
- No blinking, flashing, rotating, or animated signs are permitted on the exterior of any building in certain districts as specified in the general requirements.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marion

- A political advertising sign shall be permitted by right and does not require a sign permit.
- Reasonable repair and maintenance of legal nonconforming advertising structures, not constituting a substantial increase or change, does not terminate nonconforming status.
- Street regulatory signs required by the jurisdictional engineer in subdivisions are not subject to the general sign permit process.
- Warning or equipment information signs on towers are exempt from the prohibition on other signs.
- Existing legally nonconforming advertising structures may be maintained and repaired as outlined, provided they meet certain legal status conditions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Approval of the location, size, and design of any sign or advertising structure is required before erection or maintenance in any permitted district.
- No off-premises sign and/or structure shall be erected without securing improvement location and sign permits from the City of Marion Advisory Planning Department and the City of Marion Building Department.
- Stamped structural engineering plans must accompany advertising sign structure permit applications.
- Applications for real estate within the jurisdictional limits of the Indiana Department of Transportation must provide an approved INDOT outdoor advertising structure permit.
- Nonconforming advertising sign structures require a certificate of legally established nonconforming status upon request from the Director of Planning and Zoning.
- Permit revocation, required alteration, or removal of signs/structures may be ordered after proper notice and public hearing by the Board of Zoning Appeals if requirements or conditions are violated.
- In AZ district, signs may be permitted by special exception only and are subject to restrictions imposed by the Board.

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

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