# Sign Regulations in Middlebury, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Middlebury, Indiana regulates 8 sign types across 1 zoning district. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Signs <30 inches high if within 10 ft of street corner, or must have 10 ft clearance above grade. tall and 250 sq ft per sign; allocation among users based on share of lot occupied., with a 10 ft from buildings or structures, 10 ft from curb line. setback (Sec. §151.02(E), (G), (I), (J), §151.08). Most commercial signs in Middlebury require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | Signs <30 inches high if within 10 ft of street corner, or must have 10 ft clearance above grade. | 250 sq ft per sign; allocation among users based on share of lot occupied. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to extend above the height of the building to which attached; Lettering and numerals max 18 inches, or 24 inches if sign is >180 ft from road centerline. Minimum 7 ft 6 in clearance above grade for exterior wall signs. | ≤ 50 ft frontage: 75 sq ft max per frontage; > 50 ft frontage: 125 sq ft max per frontage. | — | — | — | Attached to building wall; must not project across property lines. | — | §151.01, §151.02(A), (B), (C), (D), (G), (I), (J), (K), (L), §151.08 |
| Freestanding Sign | Signs <30 inches high if within 10 ft of street corner, or must have 10 ft clearance above grade. | 250 sq ft per sign; allocation among users based on share of lot occupied. | — | 10 ft from buildings or structures, 10 ft from curb line. | — | Minimum 10 ft from any building or structure, and 10 ft from curb line of any street/highway/alley. | — | §151.02(E), (G), (I), (J), §151.08 |
| Window Sign | Letters/numerals on window: max 6 inches high. | ≤35% of the total area of the window in which the sign is located. | — | — | — | Affixed to, or within 12 inches of, an exterior window. | — | §151.01, §151.02(F) |
| Awning Sign | — | Counts toward building's total wall signage allowance. | — | — | — | On awning in compliance with building code. | — | §151.02(K) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per party at one time | — | — | §151.04, §151.06(B)(7) |
| Directional and Information Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §151.03(B) |
| Street Number Sign | 6 inches | — | — | — | — | — | — | §151.03(C) |
| Municipal, County, and State-Owned Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As authorized by proper officials | — | §151.03(A) |

## Prohibited signs in Middlebury

- No exterior sign attached to a building may project across property lines or project more than 36 inches into a public right-of-way.
- No message may be contained on any portion of the sign supports.
- All exterior signs attached to the wall of a building must provide a minimum of seven feet, six inches clearance above grade.
- No sign shall extend above the height of the building to which it is attached.
- Letters and numerals on signs shall not exceed 18 inches in height (or 24 inches if more than 180 feet from the centerline of public highways), except as otherwise provided.
- No sign or any part of a sign which is visible from public property or a public right-of-way shall move or create the illusion of movement in any manner (excluding hands of a clock).
- Illuminated signs or lighting devices visible from public property or a public right-of-way shall employ only lights of constant intensity and shall not be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights, or lights creating the illusion of movement.
- No sign shall be illuminated with such intensity as to adversely affect the use and enjoyment of nearby public or private property.
- Signs painted or applied directly on the surface of an exterior wall of a building are prohibited.
- All signs shall be constructed and installed according to the provisions of state and local building and electrical codes.
- All signs shall be maintained in a neat and attractive condition by their owners.
- Frames and structural supports shall be kept treated or painted to prevent rust, deterioration, rotting, and corrosion.
- Dangerous, insecure, or unlawfully installed, erected, or maintained signs must be made to conform or be removed upon written notice by the town.
- Any sign advertising a business, product, or service no longer being conducted, sold or provided from the premises, or referring to a past event, shall be taken down and removed after written notice from the town.
- No person shall deface, remove, set fire to, tamper with, damage or destroy any sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Middlebury

- Traffic control signals and signs, street signs, flags, emblems, memorials, plaques, and other signs designed and intended for the safety and convenience of the public placed by municipal, county, or state officials are exempt.
- Directional and information signs not exceeding six square feet in surface area displayed strictly for direction, safety or convenience of the public, such as signs identifying restrooms, parking area entrances or exits, freight entrances, addresses, or similar signs, are exempt from surface area limitations and location provisions.
- Street numbers are exempt from surface area limitations but must not exceed six inches in height.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no explicit requirement for a master sign plan; however, a sign permit is required for any new or replacement non-portable sign (except for exempt and portable signs), as described in §151.08.
- A variance may be sought by application if compliance with the sign ordinance would create practical difficulties or particular hardships, and such variances require a public hearing (§151.07).
- The Signage Review Board reviews sign permit referrals and variance requests and recommends action to the Town Manager or Town Council.
- Sign permit applications must include: applicant/owner name and address, legal description and street address of subject property, concise written statement of compliance with the chapter, and photographs and/or scale drawings as appropriate (§151.08).

## Full detail

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

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