# Sign Regulations in Salem, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Salem, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/salem
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-02
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cityofsalemin.com/images/ordinances/SALEM153.pdf#page=53)

## At a glance

Salem, Indiana regulates 10 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Outdoor Advertising Signs in the Highway Business District (B-2) zoning district are capped at 25 feet tall and 600 square feet, with a 30 feet from right-of-way (measured to nearest point of sign structure to edge of right-of-way). If no right-of-way, Front 30 feet, Rear 30 feet, Side 15 feet. Not within 500-foot radius of another outdoor advertising structure (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 150-foot radius from any residential structure in a residential zone (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 500 feet to a park, school, or other publicly owned building (measured to leading edge). setback (Sec. § 156.074(H)). Most commercial signs in Salem require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (RR, R-1, R-2, R-3) | 3 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| General Business District (B-1) | 2 | 35 feet | The sum of the area of all on-premise signs does not exceed 200 square feet | — |
| Central Business District (CB) | 2 | Roofline | The sum of the area of all on-premise signs does not exceed 200 square feet | — |
| Highway Business District (B-2) | 3 | 50 feet | 600 square feet | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-1) | 3 | 35 feet | 600 square feet | — |
| Heavy Industrial District (I-2) | 3 | 35 feet | 600 square feet | — |

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

### Highway Business District (B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premise Sign | — | The sum of the area of all on-premise signs does not exceed 200 square feet | — | — | — | On-premise | — | § 156.074(G)(2) |
| Freestanding Identification On-Premise Sign | 50 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per separate commercial lot | On each separate commercial lot | — | § 156.074(G)(3) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 25 feet | 600 square feet | — | 30 feet from right-of-way (measured to nearest point of sign structure to edge of right-of-way). If no right-of-way, Front 30 feet, Rear 30 feet, Side 15 feet. Not within 500-foot radius of another outdoor advertising structure (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 150-foot radius from any residential structure in a residential zone (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 500 feet to a park, school, or other publicly owned building (measured to leading edge). | — | Off-premise | — | § 156.074(H) |

### Light Industrial District (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premise Sign | — | The sum of the area of all on-premise signs does not exceed 200 square feet | — | — | — | On-premise | — | § 156.074(G)(2) |
| Freestanding Identification On-Premise Sign | 35 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per separate commercial lot | On each separate commercial lot | — | § 156.074(G)(3) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 25 feet | 600 square feet | — | 30 feet from right-of-way (measured to nearest point of sign structure to edge of right-of-way). If no right-of-way, Front 30 feet, Rear 30 feet, Side 15 feet. Not within 500-foot radius of another outdoor advertising structure (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 150-foot radius from any residential structure in a residential zone (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 500 feet to a park, school, or other publicly owned building (measured to leading edge). | — | Off-premise | — | § 156.074(H) |

### Heavy Industrial District (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premise Sign | — | The sum of the area of all on-premise signs does not exceed 200 square feet | — | — | — | On-premise | — | § 156.074(G)(2) |
| Freestanding Identification On-Premise Sign | 35 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per separate commercial lot | On each separate commercial lot | — | § 156.074(G)(3) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign | 25 feet | 600 square feet | — | 30 feet from right-of-way (measured to nearest point of sign structure to edge of right-of-way). If no right-of-way, Front 30 feet, Rear 30 feet, Side 15 feet. Not within 500-foot radius of another outdoor advertising structure (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 150-foot radius from any residential structure in a residential zone (measured to leading edge). Not closer than 500 feet to a park, school, or other publicly owned building (measured to leading edge). | — | Off-premise | — | § 156.074(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Salem

- No sign shall be erected, hung, placed or painted in any district, except as provided in this section.
- No sign shall be erected or displayed until the sign has been approved by the City Building Inspector and a permit issued (except for specified exemptions).
- If a sign is allowed to become in a state of disrepair, the City Building Inspector shall issue a notice of violation, requiring correction within ten days or issuance of an order to comply.
- No sign erected before March 3, 1969 shall be altered or moved except in accordance with this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Salem

- Name and identification signs of two square feet or less (no permit required).
- Temporary business signs not maintained for a period in excess of ten days (no permit required).
- A temporary real estate sign advertising the sale or rental of the property on which it is located not to exceed six square feet in area (no permit required).
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter (no permit required).
- Directional or information signs of a public or quasi-public nature, erected and maintained by an official or civic body (no permit required).
- Any outdoor advertising sign erected and in existence on the effective date of this section which does not meet the requirements shall be considered a nonconforming structure and may be continued in use so long as it remains in a proper state of repair or is not structurally altered.

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

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