# Sign Regulations in South Whitley, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

South Whitley, Indiana regulates 25 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Construction Signs in the Residential and Agricultural zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a Minimum 10 ft from property line (trailer-based construction signs, if visible from street). setback (Sec. § 154.202(A)(3) and (C)(1)). Most commercial signs in South Whitley require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential and Agricultural | 8 | 12 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Business, Industrial | 8 | 30 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (aggregate for both sides combined) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.196(B)(1) |
| Temporary Decoration/Display | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.196(B)(2) |
| Official Traffic/FIRE/POLICE Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.196(B)(3) |
| Garage/Patio/Yard Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Must be located upon premises where the sale is taking place. | — | § 154.196(B)(6) |
| Property Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | On each street frontage of a lot where the premises are advertised for sale, rental, or lease. | — | § 154.196(B)(7) |
| Bulletin Board | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of public, charitable, or religious institution. | — | § 154.196(B)(8) |
| Memorial Sign/Tablet or Building Name/Date | — | — | — | — | — | Cut into masonry surface or constructed of bronze/incombustible materials. | — | § 154.196(B)(9) |
| Professional Name Plate / Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Wall-mounted, unlit, adjacent to main entrance of building. | — | § 154.196(B)(10) |

### Residential and Agricultural

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Subdivision, Multi-family, Permitted Nonresidential) | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per perimeter street frontage (additional with approval) | Perimeter street frontage of development or nonresidential use. | — | § 154.202(A)(1) |
| Church/Public/Semi-public/Park Identification Sign | 12 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage. | — | § 154.202(A)(2) |
| Construction Sign | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from property line (trailer-based construction signs, if visible from street). | One per perimeter street | Perimeter street frontage of development. | — | § 154.202(A)(3) and (C)(1) |
| Directional Sign | 3.5 ft (above adjacent driveway elevation at street ROW) | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | Two per entry/exit | At entry/exit. | — | § 154.202(A)(4), (B)(4), (C)(4) |
| Memorial or Tablet Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | One, unless installed by government | — | — | § 154.202(A)(5), (B)(5) |
| Property Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | One per frontage | One per lot frontage. | — | § 154.202(A)(6), (B)(6), (C)(3) |
| Informational Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.202(A)(7) |
| Home Occupation Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One wall sign, one yard sign if allowed | Wall-mounted on dwelling, adjacent to main entrance. | — | § 154.202(A)(8) |

### Business, Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (aggregate for both sides combined) | — | Overhang minimum 1 ft from property line; must meet sight triangle requirements. | One per lot | One per lot. | — | § 154.203(A)(1), (B)(1) |
| Ground-mounted Sign | 6 ft | Up to 300 sq ft (aggregate for both sides combined) | — | Minimum 1 ft from property line; must meet sight triangle requirements. | One per lot | One per lot (substituted for pole sign). | — | § 154.203(A)(2), (B)(2) |
| Attached Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building side | One per building side. | — | § 154.203(A)(3), (B)(3) |
| Window/Door Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On any window/door (interior/exterior). | — | § 154.203(A)(4), (B)(4) |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | On building or canopy. | — | § 154.203(A)(5), (B)(5) |
| Directory Sign | As approved by Board of Zoning Appeals | As approved by Board of Zoning Appeals | — | — | Substitute for one pole sign | For buildings with multiple occupancies; substituted for pole sign. | — | § 154.203(A)(6), (B)(6) |
| Canopy Sign (Attached or Detached) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.203(C)(1) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | May be incorporated as part of permanent pole, ground, or attached signage. | — | § 154.203(C)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in South Whitley

- Animated signs.
- Any sign erected in a location prohibited by this subchapter.
- Any sign erected in a public easement or right-of-way.
- Any sign erected so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door or window, or any other exit-way required by the Building or Fire Codes of the town.
- Any sign attached to any public utility pole, tree, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk, or other surface located on public property.
- Any sign erected in any location where, by reason of its location, will obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal, or other traffic-control device; nor may any sign, by reason of its shape, position, or color interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic signal sign or device. Further, no sign shall be erected in a location where it will obstruct vision of the public right-of-way to a vehicle operator during ingress to, egress from, or while traveling on the public right-of-way.
- Any on-premises sign advertising an article or product not manufactured, assembled, processed, repaired or sold, or a service not rendered upon the premises upon which the sign is located, and not located or constructed such as to qualify as a standard outdoor advertising structure or billboard.
- Any sign or advertising device such as banners and pennants affixed on poles, wires, ropes or streamers, wind-operated devices, fluttering signs, pinwheels, streamers, banners, street banners, and “A” frames or other portable signs of like nature, and other similar contraptions or techniques except that these devices may be used for a period of 30 days in any 12-month period by permit from the Department and must be kept in a safe and orderly fashion.
- Vehicle signs, except for standard advertising or identification markings that are painted on or permanently attached to the side of a business or commercial vehicle. Such business or commercial vehicles shall not be parked in any required parking space, nor in any excess parking space adjacent to a street right-of-way.
- Off-site or off-premises signs except as provided in this section.
- Flashing signs, including electronic message centers; however, not including digital time and temperature signs, involving only that information and no further or additional information of an advertising nature. Such time/temperature signs shall be constant or steady in nature, and shall not grow, melt, x-ray, up or down scroll, write on, travel, inverse, roll, twinkle, snow, or present pictorials or other animation.
- Portable signs, signs not permanently affixed to the ground.
- Signs which contain characters or cartoons, or contain statements, words, or pictures of any obscene, indecent, prurient, or immoral character.
- It is unlawful to commence or to proceed with the erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension, or moving of any sign or sign structure or any portion thereof without first having applied in writing to the Commission for a sign permit to do so and a sign permit has been granted therefor.
- All signs shall comply with the pertinent requirements of the town’s Building Code.
- Any existing sign which is or becomes an immediate danger or hazard to persons or property because of being in an unsafe condition, or which obstructs any fire escape, window, or door, is subject to immediate removal without notice and at the expense of the property and/or sign owner.
- No sign shall project over any city or county public right-of-way.
- Signs shall not project over lot lines.
- It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation to post or place upon any utility poles owned by the municipal plant of the town any printed sign or advertising.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Whitley

- Flags of any nation, state, county, city, or other governmental unit and any not-for-profit organization.
- Temporary decorations or displays celebrating the occasion of traditionally accepted patriotic, religious, or local holidays or events.
- The erection, construction, and maintenance of official traffic, fire and police signs, signals and devices, and markings of the state, county, or city.
- Non-illuminated directional or informational signs of a public nature.
- Political signs or signs announcing political candidates or issues, provided that such signs must be removed within ten days after the election.
- Residential garage, patio, or yard sale signs not to exceed six square feet and located upon the premises where the sale is taking place.
- Property real estate signs not exceeding six square feet in area on each street frontage of a lot, which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located only. The real estate signs shall not exceed six feet in height and shall not be illuminated in any way.
- Bulletin boards not over 32 square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions that are located on the premises of said institutions. The bulletin board shall not exceed 12 feet in height and illumination, if any, shall be by constant light.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
- Professional name plates or occupational signs, and home occupation signs not exceeding two square feet in area, wall-mounted and unlit, adjacent to the main entrance of the building.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The Plan Commission shall not approve plans or issue any permits or certificates for any sign until such plans have been inspected in detail and found to be in conformance with this subchapter.
- Any permit application for a sign requires submission of plans for review. There shall be a separate permit for each sign to be constructed, altered, or erected.
- Directory signs for buildings with multiple occupancies may be substituted in lieu of the allowable pole sign subject to review and approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals as to height and overall square footage.
- Review and approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals is required for extensions beyond 90 days for temporary signs as a special exception.
- Appeals or variances (for undue hardship) are reviewed by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

## Full detail

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

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