# Sign Regulations in New Palestine, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Palestine, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/new-palestine
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-04
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newpalestine/latest/newpalestine_in/0-0-0-5677)

## At a glance

New Palestine, Indiana regulates 31 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Advertising Sign or Billboards in the Business District (B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4), Industrial Zones zoning district are capped at 40 ft (from street elevation) tall, 18 ft (vertical) x 55 ft (horizontal); can be 22 ft vertical if only 1 sign per face and viewing distance is 500 ft, and 55 ft wide, with a 50 ft or minimum district setback, whichever is greater setback (Sec. Section 1.09(G)(1)). Most commercial signs in New Palestine require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R, R-1, R-2, R-3) | 13 | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Business District (B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4), Industrial Zones | 22 | 40 ft (from street elevation) | Part of total allowed sign area per site; e.g. up to 120 sq ft per tenant | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | Not to exceed height of freestanding sign allowance | As required by law | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Name Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residential building | On residential property | — | Section 1.09(D)(5) |
| Real Estate Sign (<1 acre, Residential Use) | 6 ft (if freestanding) | 12 sq ft | — | 1 ft | 1 per street frontage | Not less than 1 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(D)(4) |
| Construction Announcement Sign (<1 acre) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Not less than 5 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(D)(10) |
| Construction Announcement Sign (≥1 acre) | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Not less than 5 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(D)(10) |
| Institutional Sign | 5 ft (if freestanding) | 64 sq ft (aggregate) | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Not less than 5 ft inside property line; not within visibility triangle or right-of-way | — | Section 1.09(E)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (≥1 acre, Residential District) | 12 ft (if freestanding) | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage | Not less than 10 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(E)(2) |
| Residential Identification Sign | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | Not less than 5 ft inside property line; not within visibility triangle or right-of-way | — | Section 1.09(F)(1) |
| Subdivision Model Home Sign | 3 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per model home | On premises of model home | — | Section 1.09(F)(2) |

### Business District (B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4), Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (<1 acre, Nonresidential) | 10 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq ft | — | 1 ft | 1 per street frontage | At least 1 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(D)(4) |
| Construction Announcement Sign (<1 acre) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 1 ft | 1 per frontage | At least 1 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(D)(10) |
| Construction Announcement Sign (≥1 acre) | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 1 ft | 1 per frontage | At least 1 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(D)(10) |
| Advertising Sign or Billboard | 40 ft (from street elevation) | 18 ft (vertical) x 55 ft (horizontal); can be 22 ft vertical if only 1 sign per face and viewing distance is 500 ft | 55 ft | 50 ft or minimum district setback, whichever is greater | 1 per 300 ft, with additional for each 300 ft extra | On lots with min. 300 ft frontage on arterial road; not within 100 ft of residential unless landscaped | — | Section 1.09(G)(1) |
| Banner/Flag/Pennant (Business Promotion) | No extension above building roof | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per center at a time | Attached to building; in all commercial and/or industrial zones | — | Section 1.09(G)(3) |
| Freestanding Business Center Identification Sign | Min 8 ft base to bottom, max 30 ft | — | — | 1 ft | 1 per center or parcel | In all business and industrial zones, at least 1 ft inside property line | — | Section 1.09(G)(5) |
| Freestanding Individual Business Sign | 6 ft | — | — | 1 ft | 1 per lot (with additional per wider frontages) | At least 1 ft inside property line; in business and industrial zones | — | Section 1.09(G)(6) |
| Off-Site Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 8 ft | 25 sq ft (total for both sides) | — | — | 1 per business | Business/industrial zones; as approved for traffic safety | — | Section 1.09(G)(7) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Governmental or Required by Law Sign | Not to exceed height of freestanding sign allowance | As required by law | — | — | — | As required by law | — | Section 1.09(D)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in New Palestine

- Bench signs are prohibited in all zones.
- Flashing signs containing lights which flash, blink, or give the appearance of movement are prohibited, except for time and temperature signs as allowed.
- Illuminated signs which are not constant in intensity and color and which consist in whole or in part of flashing, animated, chasing, or scintillating lights, and/or lights that flash, blink, or give the appearance of movement are prohibited, except for time and temperature signs as allowed.
- Moving, inflating, or rotating signs are prohibited, except for barber poles as allowed.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs that project above the roof line of the building are prohibited.
- Signs interfering with vehicular traffic and pedestrian safety are prohibited.
- Signs placed or displayed on a vehicle parked primarily for the purpose of displaying the sign are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs and sign structures that no longer identify a business, profession, or industry on the premises must be removed within ninety (90) days following the cessation or relocation of the identified activity.
- Freestanding individual business signage with a height, measured from grade, of more than six (6) feet is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Palestine

- Barber poles may be installed in all zones without a permit, subject to specified size, location, and movement limitations.
- Governmental or other signs required by law may be installed in all zones without a permit.
- Political signs are allowed on private property in all zones, subject to quantity, size, and duration limits, but are prohibited on public property or right-of-way.
- Real estate signs for property less than one (1) acre may be installed without a permit in all zones, with restrictions on number, size, location, and illumination.
- One residential name sign per residential building, maximum aggregate area two (2) square feet, is allowed in all zones without a permit.
- Help-wanted signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet on non-residential property are allowed without a permit.
- Holiday decorations are allowed in all zones without a permit.
- Temporary window signs covering less than 25% of window area, announcing sales, management changes, or similar information for up to thirty (30) days per sign, are allowed without a permit.
- Incidental window signs intended for pedestrians and not visible from public rights-of-way or parking lots are allowed without a permit.
- Construction announcement signs are allowed on real property upon which construction is taking place, with limits on size, height, quantity, illumination, removal upon project completion, and setback.
- Temporary signs for birthdays, anniversaries, and similar events are allowed on the site of the activity for up to two (2) days without a permit. Community activity signs are allowed as specified, with further requirements if located in residential zones.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Commercial centers are required to have an overall sign plan.
- Only one sign permit is required for each sign plan; applicants shall provide a sign plan as opposed to obtaining single permits for commercial centers, groups of businesses, professional offices, or industrial complexes.
- Applicants are required to apply for permits prior to undertaking any construction, and application procedures are determined by the Zoning Administrator.
- Signs requiring Board of Zoning Appeals approval for a special exception must first receive board approval prior to permit issuance.

## Full detail

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

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