# Sign Regulations in Paoli, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Paoli, Indiana regulates 32 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Permanent Changeable Copy Sign (Monument)s in the SF District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 20 sq ft per side, with a 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther setback (Sec. §155.098(B)(1)). Most commercial signs in Paoli require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 42 inches | 100 sq ft | — |
| AG District | 9 | 20 ft | 40 sq ft per side | — |
| SF District | 9 | 20 ft | 40 sq ft per side | — |
| MF District | 8 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — |
| TWN District | 13 | 10 ft (bottom min. 9 ft above ground, top ≤15 ft) | Up to 100% of permanent wall sign | — |
| GC District, HC District, GI District, LI District | 16 | 12 ft | Wall: up to 100% of wall sign area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### SF District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Changeable Copy Sign (Monument) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 | Accessory to a primary institutional use on site. | — | §155.098(B)(1) |
| Permanent Changeable Copy Sign (Wall) | 20 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 | Accessory to a primary institutional use on site. | — | §155.098(B)(1) |
| Permanent Marker Sign | 12 ft | 16 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 | Agricultural uses only; lot must have 500 ft road frontage. | — | §155.098(B)(2) |
| Permanent Monument Sign | 6 ft | 40 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per road frontage | Subdivision/neighborhood entryways and for institutional uses. | — | §155.098(B)(3) |
| Permanent Wall Sign | 15 ft (not above eave) | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 per facade, max 2 | Accessory to primary institutional use. | — | §155.098(B)(4) |
| Temporary Changeable Copy Sign (Monument) | 4 ft | 5 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 per road frontage | Accessory to institutional use. | — | §155.098(C)(2) |
| Temporary Marker Sign | 8 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 60 per 300 ft road frontage | Agricultural uses only; lot must have at least 300 ft of road frontage. | — | §155.098(C)(3) |
| Temporary Monument Sign | 4 ft | 5 sq ft per side | — | 1 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 per road frontage | Adjacent to public right-of-way. | — | §155.098(C)(4) |

### TWN District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Hanging Sign | 2 ft (bottom min. 9 ft above ground, top ≤15 ft) | 10 sq ft (single or multi-tenant) | — | — | 1 per tenant | — | — | §155.100(B)(4) |
| Permanent Mural Sign | 4 ft (not above 16 ft elevation) | Single: 65 sq ft; Multi-tenant: 50 sq ft/tenant | — | — | 1 per facade (single)/tenant (multi); max 2/3 | — | — | §155.100(B)(5) |
| Permanent Projecting Sign | 10 ft (bottom min. 9 ft above ground, top ≤15 ft) | Single: 15 sq ft; Multi-tenant: 10 sq ft/tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant | — | — | §155.100(B)(6) |
| Permanent Unified Development Sign (Monument) | 4 ft | 25 sq ft/side (max 5 sq ft/side for each tenant) | — | — | 1 per development | Primary entrance | — | §155.100(B)(7)(b)1 |
| Permanent Unified Development Sign (Wayfinding) | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per curb cut | 1 per curb cut from public street | — | §155.100(B)(7)(b)2 |
| Permanent Wall Sign | 4 ft (not above 16 ft elevation) | Single: 60 sq ft; Multi-tenant: 40 sq ft/tenant | — | — | Single: 1 per facade, max 2; Multi:1 per tenant, max 3 total | On facade | — | §155.100(B)(8) |
| Temporary Banner Sign | 7 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | In window or on entrance door | — | §155.100(C)(1) |
| Temporary Marker Sign | 8 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 60 per 300 ft road frontage | Agricultural uses only; lot must have at least 300 ft of road frontage. | — | §155.100(C)(2) |

### GC District, HC District, GI District, LI District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Marker Sign | 12 ft | 16 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 | Agricultural uses only; lot must have 500 ft road frontage. | — | §155.101(B)(5) |
| Permanent Monument Sign | 6 ft | Single: 60 sq ft/side | — | 10 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | On principal public street frontage(s) | — | §155.101(B)(6) |
| Permanent Unified Development Sign (Monument) | 6 ft | 100 sq ft/side (max 30 sq ft/tenant) | — | — | 1 per development | Primary entrance | — | §155.101(B)(8)(b)1 |
| Permanent Unified Development Sign (Wayfinding) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per curb cut | 1 per curb cut from public street. | — | §155.101(B)(8)(b)2 |
| Permanent Wall Sign | 6 ft (not above 20 ft elevation) | Single: 90 sq ft; Multi: 50 sq ft/tenant | — | — | Single: 1 per facade, max 2; Multi:1 per tenant, max 3 | On facade | — | §155.101(B)(9) |
| Temporary Banner Sign | 7 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | In window or on entrance door | — | §155.101(C)(1) |
| Temporary Marker Sign | 8 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 60 per 300 ft road frontage | Agricultural uses only; lot must have at least 300 ft road frontage. | — | §155.101(C)(2) |
| Temporary Monument Sign | 4 ft | 5 sq ft per side | — | 5 ft from right-of-way or sidewalk, whichever is farther | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | — | — | §155.101(C)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Paoli

- Signs that utilize any motion picture, laser, or visual projection of images or copy.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor or visible matter.
- Signs that have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or which have a changing light intensity, brightness or color, or give such illusion.
- Signs that purport to be or are in imitation of, or resemble an official traffic sign or signal or which bear the words 'stop', 'slow', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning', or similar words.
- Signs that may be construed as or have on it a light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle.
- Signs to be placed on the roofs of structures and signs that extend above the roof line or parapet of a building.
- Vehicle signs that are parked on public or private property for the primary purpose of displaying the sign.
- Trailblazer or point of destination signs.
- Search lights.
- Pennants, streamers, and/or spinners.
- Bench signs.
- Signs with moving or movable parts.
- Obscene signs that contain profane language, male genitalia and/or female genitalia.
- No sign may be installed in any public right-of-way, unless specifically authorized by the Town Council or their designee.
- No sign may be installed in any utility easement unless authorized by the Town Council or their designee.
- No sign may be installed in any no-build or no-disturb zone.
- No sign may be installed in any public park or other public property, except signs specifically permitted in this chapter.
- No sign may be installed on any traffic control signs, highway construction signs, fences, utility poles, street signs, trees or other natural objects.
- No sign may obstruct any door, fire escape, stairway, or any opening intended to provide entrance or exit for any building or structure.
- No sign may be installed in a manner that obstructs or interferes with safe movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Pole signs shall not have poles or support structures that are wooden.
- All signs and components thereof must be kept in good repair and condition; a sign not properly maintained is classified as abandoned.
- All on-site signs and mounting must be removed within six months after the business it identified is no longer conducted.
- Failure to comply with these sign regulations is a violation and subject to penalties.
- It is a violation for anyone except a town employee to post any item, including signs, on any utility pole and/or road sign post owned by the town.

## Signs exempt from permit in Paoli

- Building addresses, installed using specified minimum and maximum heights and visible from the street.
- Directional devices indicating points of entry or exit for a business, public amenity, or parking area, provided they meet area, height, placement, and quantity limitations.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any nation, state, city or other political unit, with specified height and area limits.
- Holiday decorations that do not contain the name or logo of an establishment or any type of advertising.
- Informational signs.
- Murals that do not contain the name or logo of an establishment or any type of advertising, and that present non-commercial messages.
- Informational signs on residential private property if they do not exceed one square foot in area.
- Religious symbols incorporated into the architecture of places of worship or structures owned and operated by religious organizations, not accompanied with text.
- Scoreboards used in conjunction with a legally established sport field, not containing commercial messages, not exceeding 20 feet in height and 100 square feet in area, and are single sided.
- Wayfinding signs erected by the municipality.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all signs located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, and altered unless otherwise stated in the subchapter.
- Signs specifically exempted in Section 155.096(A)(3) do not require a permit.
- There is no explicit requirement for a master sign plan across all zones in the provided text.
- Applications for signs not meeting the standards in a specific zoning district may require special exception or use variance, though the specific reference to a master sign plan, sign plan, or required variance meeting is not provided in the provided text.

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

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