# Sign Regulations in Noblesville, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Noblesville, Indiana regulates 34 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Single-Tenant Building or Property, Externally Accessed Multi-Tenant Building or Property zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 45 sq ft, with a Min 10 ft ROW & driveway, 100 ft from another ground sign setback (Sec. § 159.166(D)). Most commercial signs in Noblesville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zone Districts | 1 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family, Two-Family or Multi-Family Subdivisions | 3 | 12 ft (only architectural elements above 6 ft allowed, no ID signage above 6 ft) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Institutional Uses | 2 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Single-Tenant Building or Property, Externally Accessed Multi-Tenant Building or Property | 6 | 5 ft | 45 sq ft | — |
| Internally Accessed Multi-Tenant Building | 2 | See Table § 159.172 | See Table § 159.172 (depends on street type, speed, and adjacency) | — |
| Integrated Development | 2 | See Table § 159.172 | See Table § 159.172 (depends on frontage, street type, speed, and adjacency) | — |
| Downtown Zoning District (DT) | 9 | 3 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Core Central Business District, Central Core Map (Appendix G, Unified Development Ordinance) | 3 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Local Business Zoning District (LB), General Business Zoning District (GB), Planned Business Zoning District (PB) | 1 | 3 ft | 6 sq ft (24 in x 36 in) | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts | 2 | 5 to 6 ft per Table | 30 to 300 sq ft depending on frontage, lanes, speed, adjacency; see § 159.172 Table | — |
| Corporate Campus Planned Development District, West Gateway Planned Development District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 42 inches (residential); 42 inches (non-residential); up to 6 ft during election period | 64 sq ft per street frontage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Single-Tenant Building or Property, Externally Accessed Multi-Tenant Building or Property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft | 45 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft ROW & driveway, 100 ft from another ground sign | 1 per street frontage (requires lot width min 100 ft and building setback min 35 ft) | Min 10 ft from street right-of-way; min 10 ft from leading edge of driveway; min. 100 ft separation from another ground sign on same ROW side | — | § 159.166(D) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Single Tenant: 1 per street frontage; Multi-Tenant: 1 per tenant per street | Per street frontage | — | § 159.166(D) |
| Suspended Porch Sign (Central Core Map, Appendix G) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per eligible property | Suspended from porch or overhang on converted residential structures (Central Core Map only) | — | § 159.166(D) |
| Placard Sign (Central Core Map, Appendix G) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per eligible property | Attached to face of business-converted residential structure (Central Core Map only) | — | § 159.166(D) |
| Projecting Sign (Option) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 159.166(D)(10) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign (Option) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 159.166(D)(10) |

### Downtown Zoning District (DT)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage or public parking lot (single tenant) or per tenant per street frontage (multi-tenant) | Not above sill of 2nd story for first floor activity; max 2/3 distance between lower window and sill of upper window | — | § 159.166(G) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Min clearance 8 ft above public ROW, may extend to within 1 ft of vertical plane of curb, min separation of 30 ft from another projecting sign | — | § 159.166(G) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | May extend to within 1 ft of curb vertical plane; min 8 ft clearance above ROW | — | § 159.166(G) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per street frontage | May extend to within 1 ft of curb vertical plane; min 8 ft clearance above ROW | — | § 159.166(G) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | May extend to within 1 ft of curb vertical plane; min 8 ft clearance above ROW | — | § 159.166(G) |
| Blade Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Ground floor locations. May extend to within 1 ft of curb vertical plane; min 8 ft clearance above ROW | — | § 159.166(G) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | — | 1 | Refer to Chapter 94 and sandwich board section; must be removed at end of business day | — | § 159.168(F), § 159.166(G) |
| Window Sign (Ground Floor Tenant) | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | § 159.166(G) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Availability Sign (<5 acres, local classified street) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft ROW | 1 per street frontage | Min 5 ft setback from right-of-way (all zone districts) | — | § 159.167(A)(1)(c) |
| Temporary Real Estate Availability Sign (<5 acres, collector/arterial/highway, min 45 mph) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | 10 ft setback from ROW (or at property line adjacent to limited access highway not in ROW) | — | § 159.167(A)(1)(d) |
| Temporary Real Estate Availability Sign (>5 acres) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | 10 ft setback from ROW (or at property line adjacent to limited access highway not in ROW) | — | § 159.167(A)(1)(e) |
| Temporary Yard Sign (Residential, Non-residential) | 42 inches (residential); 42 inches (non-residential); up to 6 ft during election period | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per property (except election period, see above) | Private property only; not in ROW; not blocking sight lines | — | § 159.167(A)(2)-(3) |
| Temporary Human Portable Sign | — | 3 sq ft (2 ft width max) | 2 ft | — | 1 per person | Not in public street; time-restricted for residential areas (7am/sunrise to 7pm/sunset) | — | § 159.167(B)(1) |
| Temporary Banner (Non-Residential Uses) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use (2 max for multi-tenant site) | On premises of the subject business | — | § 159.167(B)(2) |
| Temporary Lighter-Than-Air Display (Commercial Only) | 18 ft (top of display) | — | — | — | 1 per use (2 max for multi-tenant site) | Affixed to ground on property of business; not on rooftops | — | § 159.167(B)(3) |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft | 64 sq ft per street frontage | — | Min 10 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage (site/subdivision entrance) | Min 10 ft setback from ROW; can't be in ROW; must be removed before CO | — | § 159.167(B)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Noblesville

- Signs which by color, location, or design resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or signals, or obstruct the view of an intersection of a street or highway with a railroad crossing, or which are located upon, over or in any street right-of-way.
- Signs attached to light poles or standards.
- Portable signs.
- Signs which advertise activity, business, project, or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located within six months of the end of the business activity.
- Signs that give the appearance of movement such as undulation, swinging, rotation, or oscillation by natural or artificial means including pennants, feather banners, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similar devices, except as permitted by this subchapter.
- Signs containing running lights, give the illusion of movement or have moving parts except for barber poles. Electronic signs or lighting that flashes, scrolls, twirls, changes color, fades in or out, has transitional elements between copy changes, or in any manner imitates movement at any time.
- Roof signs.
- Off-premise signs, except as provided in this subchapter for temporary signs.
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying said sign.
- Motor vehicles whose apparent primary purpose is to advertise business. Motor vehicles engaged in the cartage or goods or the transport of passengers are exempt from this restriction.
- Inflatable images such as balloons, beer cans, gorillas, bunny, etc., except as provided § 159.167.
- Pole signs.
- Cabinet signs except as authorized elsewhere in this subchapter.
- External neon lighting or LED lighting either used as a part of a sign or distributed around a building or structure.
- Signs with decorative backers.
- Signs displayed for pay or other compensation.
- Signs located within the public right-of-way (except traffic control and government information signs).
- Weekend directional signs.
- Window signs are prohibited except those areas located in the Downtown (DT) Zoning District.
- Signs more than 25 feet in height.
- Signs placed on private or public property without the consent of the owner, owner's representative, holder, lessee, trustee, or other party controlling the use of such property.
- Signs painted on, attached to, or maintained upon trees, rocks, or other natural features.
- All signs must comply with applicable provisions of the Indiana Building Code and the National Electrical Code.
- Permanent signs shall be kept and maintained in a good state of repair and safe condition at all times. When not maintained, must be removed, repaired, or altered within 60 calendar days upon notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Noblesville

- Government signs and legal notices.
- Memorial plaques and cornerstones and governmental historical markers.
- Flags of any country, state, unit of local government or not-for-profit organization (not to exceed a total of four flags on a property).
- Nameplates that do not exceed two square feet in size and are permanently affixed upon a building or structure.
- Address numbers.
- Public information signs identifying telephones, restrooms, and similar facilities, provided advertising copy is not permitted on these signs.
- Menu sign.
- Traffic control and government information signs.
- Letters or numbers less than three inches in height, if a part of a wall sign or window sign.
- Letters less than 19 inches in height carved into or securely attached in such a manner that they are an architectural detail of a building, provided they are not illuminated apart from the building, are not made of reflective material, and are the same color as the building, and do not exceed one inch in thickness.
- Incidental signs.
- A sign that does not advertise or identify goods, a service, or an enterprise and which is provided solely for the convenience or education of the public; may include building's date of construction, monument citation, commemorative inscription, or similar historic information.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any sign unless it is exempt under § 159.169.
- A Program of Signs (sign plan) may be submitted for one or more adjacent activities not located in an 'Area of Special Control' and must include visual representation of lettering, illumination, color, area, height, placement and location; all signs must comply with the approved program.
- Approval of a Program of Signs (sign plan) is at the discretion of the Plan Commission, based on consistency with the purposes of the sign ordinance, appropriateness to the building(s), and compatibility with adjacent activities.
- A sign permit will only be issued if the sign complies with relevant regulations, a Program of Signs (if applicable), any authorized variance, and special regulations for an Area of Special Control (if applicable), or is approved as a sign package for a planned development.
- Signs in Planned Developments or Areas of Special Control may be subject to unique sign package requirements or further approval procedures.
- A variance granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals may allow for installation of a sign that otherwise does not comply.
- Signs listed as exempt in § 159.169 do not require a permit or sign plan.

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

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