# Sign Regulations in New Castle, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

New Castle, Indiana regulates 22 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Multiple Family/Neighborhood/Subdivision)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RS, MHP) zoning district are capped at 5 ft; 6 ft if part of approved landscape screen tall and 20 sq ft; 32 sq ft if part of approved landscape screen, with a No closer than 10 ft to any lot line setback (Sec. §152.30(9)(a)). Most commercial signs in New Castle require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RS District, IR District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RS, MHP) | 7 | 8 ft | 75 sq ft (including supports) | — |
| Business Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4) | 6 | 35 ft | Up to 200 sq ft for up to 50 linear ft; plus 1 sq ft per additional linear ft over 50 up to 350 ft; then up to 900 sq ft for over 1,100 linear ft (with limits as cited). | — |
| Central Business District (Downtown Area) | 4 | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-R) | 5 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| Flood Plain Zoning District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | Not higher than district building height; must be 1 ft below top roofline if on slope | Directional: 6 sq ft/3 ft height; Mural: max 120 sq ft not including sign copy area; Warning: 4 sq ft/3 ft height | — |

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

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RS, MHP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premises Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | Per dwelling unit | — | §152.30(6)(a)-(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Family/Neighborhood/Subdivision) | 5 ft; 6 ft if part of approved landscape screen | 20 sq ft; 32 sq ft if part of approved landscape screen | — | No closer than 10 ft to any lot line | Up to 2 per entrance | At each entrance; within required front yard only at entrance from major street | — | §152.30(9)(a) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 5 ft | 75 sq ft (including supports) | — | Not closer than 5 ft to front and side lot lines | 1 per main entrance | At each main entrance | — | §152.30(9)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Church/School) | 7 ft | 50 sq ft (including structure) | — | Not closer than 5 ft to front and side lot lines | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | §152.30(9)(c)1 |
| Wall Sign (Church/School) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises | — | §152.30(9)(c)2 |
| Temporary Sign (Church/School Event) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Not closer than 5 ft to front and side lot lines | 1 | On-premises | — | §152.30(9)(c)3 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-premises; in required yard | — | §152.30(10)(a)1 |

### Business Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | No specified limit, area per facade applies | On building facade or mansard roof, parallel | — | §152.30(7)(a)1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front and side lot lines | 1 per street frontage | Min 5 ft from front and side lot lines, per street frontage | — | §152.30(7)(a)2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Integrated Center) | — | Up to 200 sq ft for up to 50 linear ft; plus 1 sq ft per additional linear ft over 50 up to 350 ft; then up to 900 sq ft for over 1,100 linear ft (with limits as cited). | — | At least 5 ft from front and side lot lines | 1 per street frontage; up to 2 if frontage exceeds 500 ft | No closer than 5 ft from front and side lot line | — | §152.30(7)(a)2b |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft; 75 sq ft if combined for multiple businesses | — | — | 1 per business | Projects from building, may project into required front yard | — | §152.30(7)(a)3 |
| Marquee Sign | 5 ft | — | — | — | 1 per marquee | Attached to marquee | — | §152.30(7)(a)4 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 35 ft (min 7 ft bottom) | 100 sq ft per direction | — | No closer than principal structure setback | No specified limit, but spacing and proximity regulations apply | Not within Central Business District. Not within 300 ft radius/600 ft lineal of residential, churches, schools, governments. | — | §152.30(7)(b)3 |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, I-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | No specified limit, area per facade applies | On building facade or mansard roof, parallel | — | §152.30(8)(a)1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 50 ft | 300 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front and side lot lines | 1 per street frontage | Min 5 ft from front and side lot lines, per street frontage | — | §152.30(8)(a)2 |
| Marquee Sign | 5 ft | — | — | — | 1 per marquee | Attached to marquee | — | §152.30(8)(a)3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Projects from building | — | §152.30(8)(a)4 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 35 ft (min 7 ft bottom) | 300 sq ft per direction | — | No closer than principal structure setback; no closer than 15 ft to front lot line. | No specified limit, spacing/proximity applies | Not within Downtown Area; not within 300 ft/600 ft of residential, listed institutions. | — | §152.30(8)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in New Castle

- No sign or part thereof shall be erected or maintained except in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
- No lighting of signs shall be permitted to be used in any way in connection with a sign unless it is effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at vehicles traveling on a street, or of such low intensity or brilliance so as not to cause glare or impair the vision of drivers, or to otherwise interfere with drivers' operation of a motor vehicle.
- Signs that incorporate flashing, moving or revolving illumination are not permitted, except as provided in this chapter, and illumination of any sign shall not exceed 300 foot lamberts as measured at any point on the property line.
- No sign shall blink or flash, nor be illuminated by any device so as to appear to blink or flash, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter.
- No sign shall be erected upon, maintained in, encroach upon, or overhang any public right-of-way without approval of the Board of Public Works, except as expressly provided in this chapter, and state and federal laws as amended.
- No sign shall be painted on or attached to rocks, trees, or any other natural object, except monument signs.
- No sign shall be erected in the designated Flood Plain.
- It shall be illegal for any sign to be placed, erected or constructed except as provided in this chapter.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain any awning, or sign which projects over the sidewalks of the city except where the same is securely anchored to the adjacent building by a strong, firm metal framework.
- No part of any sign or awning projecting over a sidewalk shall be less than seven feet above the sidewalk over which it is constructed.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Castle

- Signs placed on the inside of a building and directed towards the building's interior are not restricted by this division.
- Official signs authorized by any government or subdivision thereof, including traffic, directional, and warning signs, public notices, and proclamations erected or displayed in discharge of any government functions or where required by law, ordinance or regulations.
- Flags or banners of any government or subdivision thereof, or of any educational, charitable, religious, political, civic or service organization.
- Historical or commemorative plaques or tablets.
- Memorial plaques, tablets or building cornerstones, when cut or carved into a masonry surface, or made of incombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure it identifies.
- Street names and numbers.
- Reflectors and other safety signs or devices used to mark driveways, towers, airport approaches, and other potentially dangerous structures or situations; as well as warning signs for underground public utilities.
- Murals (not to exceed 120 square feet) painted on the wall of a building, fence or similar structure. Any exception subject to approval of Board of Public Works.
- Historically significant signs may be exempted from the provisions of this chapter after being reviewed and approved by the Historic Preservation Review Board, and in conformance with any historic preservation ordinance adopted by the city.
- Information and/or direction signs (directing traffic within premises, or identifying the location of restrooms, telephone, freight entrances, etc.), not exceeding six square feet and three feet in height. May include name or logo.
- Temporary institutional signs announcing a campaign drive or other event of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, not to exceed 32 square feet, permitted not more than 30 days prior to the event and removed within seven days after.
- Warning signs not exceeding four square feet and three feet in height.
- Holiday decorations are permitted; such decorations may blink, flash, or move, and may be located in a required yard, provided they do not interfere with traffic or present any hazard to public safety or welfare.
- Signs painted, printed, or mounted on licensed, operable vehicles, incidentally displayed in connection with the use of such vehicle for transportation purposes.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit shall be required before the erection, construction, placing or locating of all signs regulated by this chapter, except as otherwise exempted herein.
- A permit shall be issued by the Building Commissioner for outdoor advertising structures in those districts to be built up to the established building line or existing building line whichever is closer to the right-of-way.
- A Master Sign Plan is not mentioned, but variances from sign standards require approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals at a public hearing, with findings of fact and may include reasonable conditions.
- Any extension of time for removal of nonconforming or abandoned signs is subject to approval of the Board of Public Works.
- Any exception to mural size is subject to approval of Board of Public Works.
- Historically significant signs may be exempted from the provisions of this chapter after being reviewed and approved by the Historic Preservation Review 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 7 zoning districts in New Castle — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=New+Castle+IN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-new-castle

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