# Sign Regulations in North Manchester, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

North Manchester, Indiana regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Sign (General)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 20 square feet (Sec. § 156.407(F)). Most commercial signs in North Manchester require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 6 feet | No more than 50% of the area of the window | — |
| Residential District | 2 | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Business District (B-L, B-G, CBD), Industrial District (L-I, I) | 8 | — | 100 square feet combined (max 2 signs) | — |
| Agricultural District (A) | 3 | — | 30 square feet | — |
| Industrial District (L-I, I), Agricultural District (A) | 1 | — | 1,000 square feet per face (max 2 faces) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No part of any sign which is attached to the exterior wall of a building shall be erected to a height in excess of the roof or parapet line of such building. | — | — | — | — | On or formed by the surface of the wall of a building or mansard roof facade | — | § 156.403(B)(5), (5); § 156.409; § 156.405(C); § 156.403(A)(5), (8) |
| Freestanding Sign | No part of any freestanding sign shall be erected to a height greater than that specified for other structures in the district in which the sign is located. | — | — | Area < 5 sq ft: 2 ft; 5–14.9 sq ft: 10 ft; 15–49.9 sq ft: 20 ft; 50+ sq ft: 30 ft from right-of-way | — | Detached from any building, not in any easement or right-of-way without special permission. | — | § 156.403(A)(7)-(11); § 156.409 |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 50% of the area of the window | — | — | — | Installed inside a window, intended to be viewed from the outside | — | § 156.402(F) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 9 square feet (for each parcel with dwelling unit, garage, or other living quarters) | — | — | One per parcel | On premises being for sale/rent/lease | — | § 156.407(A) |
| Construction Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per construction/development site | On property undergoing construction/development | — | § 156.407(B) |
| Portable/Temporary Sign (In Lieu of Permanent) | — | — | — | — | Not to exceed the permitted number of permanent signs | On-premise, temporary use up to 45 days | — | § 156.407(C) |
| Portable Sign (Event Temporary Sign) | — | 50 square feet | — | — | One per event | On premises of the event | — | § 156.407(D) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (General) | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | One per major entrance | At major entrance to a real estate subdivision | — | § 156.407(F) |

### Business District (B-L, B-G, CBD), Industrial District (L-I, I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (B-L) | — | 40 square feet | — | Area < 5 sq ft: 2 ft; 5–14.9 sq ft: 10 ft; 15–49.9 sq ft: 20 ft; 50+ sq ft: 30 ft from right-of-way | — | Accessory uses for non-residential uses. | — | § 156.405(B), (E)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (B-G) | — | 60 square feet | — | Area < 5 sq ft: 2 ft; 5–14.9 sq ft: 10 ft; 15–49.9 sq ft: 20 ft; 50+ sq ft: 30 ft from right-of-way | — | Accessory uses for non-residential uses. | — | § 156.405(B), (E)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (CBD) | — | 40 square feet | — | Area < 5 sq ft: 2 ft; 5–14.9 sq ft: 10 ft; 15–49.9 sq ft: 20 ft; 50+ sq ft: 30 ft from right-of-way | — | Accessory uses for non-residential uses. | — | § 156.405(B), (E)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (L-I and I) | — | 60 square feet | — | Area < 5 sq ft: 2 ft; 5–14.9 sq ft: 10 ft; 15–49.9 sq ft: 20 ft; 50+ sq ft: 30 ft from right-of-way | — | Accessory uses for non-residential uses. | — | § 156.405(B), (E)(1) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Wall or facade of building (cannot project >2 ft into required yard or over lot line) | — | § 156.405(C), (E)(2) |
| Identification Sign (Industrial District) | — | 100 square feet combined (max 2 signs) | — | — | No more than two | On the lot for each business or industrial use | — | § 156.405(D) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window area | — | — | — | In any business or industrial district | — | § 156.405(F) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (CBD) | — | 12 square feet per face | — | — | — | Sidewalk in CBD (Central Business District) | — | § 156.405(G) |

### Agricultural District (A)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Use Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | One | On premises for agricultural use | — | § 156.406(A) |
| Business Use Sign (Agricultural District) | — | 30 square feet per sign | — | — | Two | On premises of business use | — | § 156.406(B) |
| Identification Sign (Non-residential use) | — | 12 square feet (if street ≤ 40 mph); 30 square feet (if abutting street >40 mph) | — | — | One per street frontage (additional sign per 500 feet for extended frontage) | For other non-residential uses; on premises | — | § 156.406(C) |

## Prohibited signs in North Manchester

- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, wording, illumination, size, shape or color, may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall contain or make use of any phrase, symbol, shape, form or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse moving traffic.
- No exterior sign shall be permitted to display flashing, intermittent, revolving, rotating or animated lighting or illumination, nor any illumination which simulates or displays motion in the Central Business District (CBD). (All other districts subject to variance approval.)
- Except as may be permitted herein, portable signs are prohibited.
- All signs not expressly exempted or permitted by this chapter are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected in the town unless it is in full compliance with these sign regulations.
- No sign shall be erected unless it is in compliance with all applicable regulations of the town’s Building Code.
- No sign shall be permitted as the principal use on any property. Signs shall only be permitted as accessory uses, except as provided in § 156.408.
- No part of any sign attached to the exterior wall of a building shall be erected to a height in excess of the roof or parapet line of such building.
- No illuminated sign shall be permitted within 50 feet of property in any residential district unless the illumination is designed so light does not reflect or shine onto such property.
- No part of any freestanding sign shall be erected to a height greater than that specified for other structures in the district.
- Rooftop sign structures shall not extend above the roof line, nor extend beyond or overhang any exterior wall of the building.
- No freestanding sign shall be erected or maintained on or within any easement on right-of-way, public or private, without special written permission from the appropriate person(s).
- No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway an unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be, is an imitation of, or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or hides from view/interferes with official traffic-control devices.
- No person shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit, upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing any commercial advertising.
- No sign shall be abandoned for at least six consecutive months in any 18-month period; abandonment is a nuisance and must be abated.
- No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down or remove any official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield or insignia thereon.
- No non-conforming sign shall have any changes made in words, symbols, or messages unless designed for periodic message change.
- No non-conforming sign shall be structurally altered to change shape, size, type or design, nor relocated.
- No non-conforming sign shall remain after the related use has been discontinued or abandoned.
- No wall-mounted sign shall project over a lot line and no sign shall project into a required yard by more than two feet.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Manchester

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area, bearing only property or address numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants or home occupations when affixed flat to the face of a building or structure.
- Flags and insignia of any government.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, logos, moving parts or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter, including logos.
- Signs no larger than two square feet identifying or providing directions for historical sites, governmental buildings, churches, retirement homes/communities or similar buildings.
- Window signs for all uses, in all districts, not occupying more than 50% of the window area.
- Commemorative plaque, historical sign, cornerstone or similar sign, not exceeding nine square feet and not illuminated.
- Signs identified in § 156.407 (which includes real estate, construction, portable/temporary event, political, and subdivision entry signs under specific conditions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Freestanding sign area bonuses (increases for design excellence) require approval of colors and/or design by the Plan Commission; this implies design review/sign plan submission for certain bonus requests.
- Sign area increases for signs installed in landscaped planters or constructed of specific materials require Plan Commission approval.
- Signs with illumination (or without) may be subject to special approval or design review when increases or exceptions are sought.
- Variances for flashing/animated signs in districts other than the Central Business District (CBD) require Board of Zoning Appeals approval after an application for variance.

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

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