# Sign Regulations in New Carlisle, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

New Carlisle, Indiana regulates 30 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Identification Sign (Multi-Family)s in the R1 District, R2 District, MF District, Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft., with a 10 ft front setback; side/rear as for accessory structures setback (Sec. §152.233(B)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 4 ft. | 25% of the area of window or 12 sq. ft, whichever is less | — |
| R1 District, R2 District, MF District, Residential Districts | 9 | 8 ft. | Portion of awning/canopy sign area: ≤50% of awning/canopy; ≤75% of marquee; Total cannot exceed façade allocation | — |
| OB District, LB District, CB District, LI District, GI District, Industrial Districts, Community Business Districts (CB), Light Industrial Districts (LI), General Industrial Districts (GI) | 9 | CB: Monument 20 ft; Pole 40 ft; LI/GI: Monument 8 ft; Pole 25 ft | CB: 140/300/600 sq. ft. by frontage tier LI/GI: 64/150/300 sq. ft. (See table for all details) | — |
| TC - Town Center District | 6 | 4 ft. | 5% of total area of first 18 ft (or building height, if less) of façade | — |
| CB District, LI District, GI District, Community Business Districts (CB), Light Industrial Districts (LI), General Industrial Districts (GI) | 2 | 35 ft. | 672 sq. ft.; with temp extension/embellishment up to 200 sq. ft. additional (specific dimensional limits) | — |

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

### R1 District, R2 District, MF District, Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Identification Sign (Single/Two-Family) | 4 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per frontage | One per frontage; must not encroach in right-of-way | — | §152.233(A) |
| Monument Identification Sign (Multi-Family) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft front setback; side/rear as for accessory structures | 1 per frontage | One per frontage; must not encroach in right-of-way | — | §152.233(B) |
| Monument Identification Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | 8 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per entrance (1 per quadrant) | Two at each entrance, one per quadrant; not in right-of-way | — | §152.233(C) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Nonresidential Uses/Special Exception - School, Religious Use, Nursing Home) | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft front; side and rear as for accessory structures | 1 per frontage | Monument only; one per frontage; not in right-of-way | — | §152.233(D)(1)(c)1 |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Other Nonresidential/Special Exception) | 5 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft front; side and rear as for accessory structures | 1 per frontage | Monument only; one per frontage; not in right-of-way | — | §152.233(D)(1)(c)2 |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | — | — | — | Unlimited per façade, subject to total area | Building façade | — | §152.233(D)(2) |
| Incidental Sign (Directional, Parking, Loading - Residential Districts) | 4 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | 3 ft front; side/rear as for accessory structures | per driveway/turning point as specified | At driveways or turning points | — | §152.233(D)(3), (D)(3)(c), (D)(3)(e) |
| Suspended Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | One per front façade per grade-level tenant | One per front façade of tenant in building with 2+ separate uses | — | §152.233(F) |

### OB District, LB District, CB District, LI District, GI District, Industrial Districts, Community Business Districts (CB), Light Industrial Districts (LI), General Industrial Districts (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Single-use Site) | OB: 5 ft. (Monument Only); LB: 6 ft. (Monument Only); CB/LI/GI: 8 ft. (Monument), 25 ft. (Pole) | OB: 32 sq. ft. (≤500ft frontage), 32 sq. ft. (>500–1,000ft), 48 sq. ft. (>1,000ft) LB: 64/100/200 sq. ft. CB: 100/150/300 sq. ft. LI/GI: 64/100/200 sq. ft. See table in ordinance for all details | — | Front: 5 ft from proposed ROW; side/rear: per structure requirement | 1 per 500ft frontage per street | At rate of 1 sign/500ft or portion of frontage per street abutted; oriented to street; 5 ft front setback | — | §152.234(A) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign (Integrated Center) | CB: Monument 20 ft; Pole 40 ft; LI/GI: Monument 8 ft; Pole 25 ft | CB: 140/300/600 sq. ft. by frontage tier LI/GI: 64/150/300 sq. ft. (See table for all details) | — | Front: 5 ft from ROW; side/rear: per structure requirement | 1 per 500ft of frontage per street | Same spacing and orientation as single-use, 1 per 500ft; 5 ft front setback | — | §152.234(B) |
| Monument Identification Sign (Outlot in Integrated Center) | CB: 6 ft.; LI/GI: 4 ft. | CB: 48 sq. ft.; LI/GI: 32 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft front setback; side/rear per structure requirement | Per outlot (see details for counts) | 1 per outlot if wall signs are on 0–2 façades; 1 additional per abutting street; 100 ft min separation | — | §152.234(C) |
| Wall Sign (Front Façade) | — | OB: 5% of front façade; LB, CB, LI, GI: 10% of front façade | ≤80% of linear width of façade | — | Unlimited per façade, up to max area | Building façade (front) | — | §152.234(D)(3)(a)1 |
| Wall Sign (Side/Rear Façade) | — | OB: 3% of side/rear façade; LB, CB, LI, GI: 5% of side/rear façade; 10% if oriented to parking area or street | ≤80% of width of façade | — | Unlimited per façade, up to max area | Building façade (side or back) | — | §152.234(D)(3)(a)2 |
| Incidental Sign (Directional, Parking, Loading, Menu Board) | Incidental: 4 ft.; Menu board: 7 ft. | OB/LB: 2 sq. ft.; CB/LI/GI: 6 sq. ft.; Menu board: up to 48 sq. ft. | — | Front: 3 ft; side/rear: per structure requirement | Per driveway/turn as specified | At driveways, turning points, or at drive-throughs (menu board) | — | §152.234(E) |
| Suspended Sign (Integrated Center) | — | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | One per front façade per grade-level tenant | One per front façade per grade-level tenant in buildings with 2+ separate tenants | — | §152.234(F) |
| Outdoor Display Area Banner Sign | 8 ft. (if 3x8 option); 5.5 ft. (if 3.5x5.5 option) | Banner size: 3ft x 8ft or 3.5ft x 5.5ft; total area: 3 sq. ft. per 1,000 sq. ft. of outdoor display area | 3 ft or 3.5 ft | — | No more than one per light pole | On light poles within/adjacent to outdoor display area | — | §152.234(G) |

### TC - Town Center District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Lower Level Identification Sign) | — | 5% of total area of first 18 ft (or building height, if less) of façade | — | — | Unlimited per façade, up to area | Front, side, or rear façade, first 18 ft or building height (whichever is less) | — | §152.235(B)(1), (D) |
| Wall Sign (Upper Level Identification Sign) | — | 3% of area of façade above 18 ft above grade | — | — | Unlimited per façade, up to area | Façade above 18 ft above grade | — | §152.235(B)(2), (D) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign (TC District - Lower Level Only) | — | ≤5% of applicable façade, and ≤50% of awning/canopy, or ≤75% of marquee; max width 80% of awning/canopy/marquee | — | — | — | On awning/canopy/marquee; integrated into building as lower level sign | — | §152.235(B)(4) |
| Projecting Sign (Lower/Upper Level) | Not to extend above roofline | Matches lower/upper level building id sign area for location | — | — | 1 per 200ft of building width (front façade) | Projecting from façade, up to 5 ft from façade, not within 3 ft of curb/street edge, potentially may encroach ROW with permission | — | §152.235(B)(3) |
| Suspended Sign (TC District) | — | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | One per front façade per grade-level tenant | One per front façade per grade-level tenant in buildings with awning/canopy | — | §152.235(B)(5) |
| Incidental Sign (TC District) | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | No required min, but not in ROW | As specified per driveway/turn | At driveway entrance/exit, or critical turning points | — | §152.235(C) |

## Prohibited signs in New Carlisle

- Signs located on, in or above the right-of-way of any street or alley, except for official signs or signs erected on behalf of or pursuant to authorization of a governmental body, and projecting signs as expressly permitted by ordinance.
- No sign, permanent or temporary, shall be erected so that it interferes with the sight distance as specified in § 152.020.
- Signs that interfere with, obstruct the view of, imitate, copy, purport to be, or may be confused with any authorized official sign, traffic sign, traffic signal, or traffic-control device.
- Portable signs, including but not limited to: A-frame, T-frame, menu board, and sandwich board signs (except as expressly authorized by the ordinance); signs on portable trailer frames; and signs attached to or painted on a vehicle parked and visible from the public right-of-way (with exceptions for business vehicles parked beside or behind the building and certain small signs).
- Windblown devices, including but not limited to any banner, pennant, spinner, streamer, propeller, disc, moored blimp, gas balloon, or flag that is designed to inform or attract attention (except exempt flags).
- Signs attached to trees.
- Signs attached to utility poles, except for signs erected on behalf of or pursuant to authorization of a governmental body or the utility company having jurisdiction over the poles.
- Signs that bear or contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, pornographic, immoral character, or which contain advertising matter which is untruthful or will offend public morals or decency.
- Any sign that obstructs or substantially interferes with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress to any building.
- Any changeable copy sign, including without limitation an electronic variable message sign, on which the message changes more than 6 times per minute.
- Any rotating beam, beacon, intermittent light, lights of changing degrees of intensity, or flashing illumination in connection with any sign surface, except as part of an electronic variable message sign on which the message does not change more than 6 times per minute.
- Roof signs.
- Any other type of sign located on private property outside of a public right-of-way not expressly permitted by the ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Carlisle

- Highlighting of structural/architectural elements of buildings by illumination, provided such highlighting does not contain text or logos and is not flashing or animated; if text or logos are present, the item is regulated as a sign.
- Integral, decorative, or architectural features of buildings that do not contain logos, letters, or trademarks (except as noted in sign regulations).
- Interior signs located within the interior of any building or within an enclosed lobby or court, not viewable or intended to be viewable from the public right-of-way and not qualifying as window signs.
- Signs giving property identification, occupant names, or numbers, and containing 2 square feet or less in sign surface area.
- Signs posted on private property only to identify or warn about 'Private Property,' 'Private Parking,' 'No Trespassing,' or 'Danger' from animals, containing 2 square feet or less in sign surface area.
- Signs indicating the location of public telephones and restrooms, underground public utilities, or similar location signs containing 4 square feet or less in sign surface area.
- Signs integral to the building indicating name of building, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, etc., when carved into stone, concrete, or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent construction and made an integral part of the building.
- Signs authorized by a government or governmental unit which give traffic, directional, or warning information.
- Signs of public service companies indicating danger.
- Signs erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of public duty which aids service or safety.
- Signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance; such signs may be any type, number, area, height, location, or illumination required by the authorizing law, statute or ordinance.
- Holiday displays which contain no commercial message, are primarily decorative in nature, and are clearly incidental and commonly associated with national or religious holidays, erected not more than 30 days prior to and removed not more than 15 days after the holiday.
- Tombstones.
- Works of art (three-dimensional or two-dimensional murals, etc.) that clearly are artistic in nature and do not promote on-site activities or commercial interests; with limitations on size and location for two-dimensional works.
- Window signs, provided the signs do not exceed the lesser of 25% of the window area or 12 square feet in sign surface area.
- Temporary signs as detailed in the ordinance provisions, with certain time, place, and manner restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The ordinance does not explicitly require a master sign plan or sign plan for all properties; however, signs must comply with regulations for the type and district in which they are located.
- If two-dimensional works of art exceed 5% of the side or rear façade of a building, approval as a wall sign is required.
- Two-dimensional works of art, regardless of size, are not permitted on the front façade of any building.
- Variance(s) may be needed to authorize nonconforming signs to become permitted signs, particularly for off-premises signs not in compliance with sign regulations.
- Removal of nonconforming off-premises signs is required if they are not brought into compliance or do not obtain necessary variances within 5 years of the effective date of the ordinance or future zone map amendment/annexation.

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

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