# Sign Regulations in Tipton, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tipton, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/tipton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-24
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.tiptongov.com/egov/documents/1468947169_30138.pdf#page=9)

## At a glance

Tipton, Indiana regulates 33 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Institutional Identification Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 feet if freestanding (including structure) tall and 24 square feet, with a 15 feet from road right-of-way if freestanding setback (Sec. 505.02 B). Most commercial signs in Tipton 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 | 17 | 8 feet if freestanding | 32 square feet | — |
| Agricultural District (A-1) | 5 | 8 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| Residential District (S-1, R-1, R-2, R-3) | 3 | — | 7 square feet | — |
| Business District (B-1, B-2, B-4) | 13 | 35 feet (including structure) | 300 square feet per face (structure up to two faces in same direction, separated by no more than 12 inches); special exception up to 700 square feet per side | — |
| Industrial District (I-1, I-2) | 12 | 35 feet (including structure) | 300 square feet per face (structure up to two faces in same direction, separated by no more than 12 inches); special exception up to 700 square feet per side | — |
| Agribusiness District (AB) | 12 | 35 feet (including structure) | 300 square feet per face (structure up to two faces in same direction, separated by no more than 12 inches); special exception up to 700 square feet per side | — |
| Mobile/Manufactured Home Park District | 3 | — | 7 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institutional Identification Sign | 5 feet if freestanding (including structure) | 24 square feet | — | 15 feet from road right-of-way if freestanding | 1 (additional if multiple street frontage) | Freestanding (double-faced permitted) or mounted on building | — | 505.02 B |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to church, school, or similar public or semi-public structure | — | 505.02 C |
| Exterior Building Directory | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 | On multiple tenancy structure | — | 505.02 G |
| On-site Directional Sign | 4 feet (including structure) | 5 square feet | — | — | — | On same lot as the traffic/parking being directed; not in public right-of-way | — | 505.02 I |
| Temporary Event Sign | 8 feet if freestanding | 30 square feet | — | 10 feet from any lot line if freestanding | — | Freestanding, building-mounted, or banner | — | 505.04 B |
| Temporary Off-site Directional Sign | 4 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | 5 per use | Off-site, freestanding | — | 505.04 E |
| Temporary Civic Event Sign | 6 feet if freestanding | 16 square feet | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way if freestanding | — | On-site or off-site; building-mounted or freestanding | — | 505.04 F |
| Temporary Use Sign | 8 feet if freestanding | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | On-site, freestanding or building-mounted | — | 505.05 |

### Business District (B-1, B-2, B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 (additional under specified conditions) | Mounted on the building occupied | — | 505.03 A and B |
| Freestanding Logo Sign | 35 feet (including structure) | 25 square feet per face for each half acre of lot area, or 300 square feet, whichever is less | — | Not less than 10 feet from road right-of-way; not less than 10 feet from adjacent property | 1 per site or principal structure (additional under conditions) | On business or industrial site | — | 505.03 C 1 |
| Freestanding Message Sign | 35 feet (mounted on same structure as logo sign) | 20 square feet per face for each half acre of lot area, or 100 square feet, whichever is less | — | Same as Freestanding Logo Sign | 1 (additional if additional logo allowed) | On business or industrial site, mounted on same pole or structure as logo sign | — | 505.03 C 4 |
| Gas Station Hours Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Wall sign or window sign | — | 505.03 D 4 |
| Gas Station Owner Identification Sign | — | 2.5 square feet | — | — | 1 | Wall sign | — | 505.03 D 5 |
| Freestanding Off-Premise Sign | 35 feet above road grade | 300 square feet per face (structure up to two faces in same direction, separated by no more than 12 inches); special exception up to 700 square feet per side | — | 15 feet from right-of-way line to leading edge of sign structure | — | Freestanding | — | 505.03 E |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | Not in required side or rear yard | — | On property being sold, leased, or developed | — | 505.04 A |
| Portable Message Board | — | 6 square feet per single side (two-sided allowed) | — | Minimum 5 feet unobstructed sidewalk | 1 per business | On-site, in B-1 and B-2 districts | — | 505.06 B |

### Industrial District (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 (additional under specified conditions) | Mounted on the building occupied | — | 505.03 A and B |
| Freestanding Logo Sign | 35 feet (including structure) | 25 square feet per face for each half acre of lot area, or 300 square feet, whichever is less | — | Not less than 10 feet from road right-of-way; not less than 10 feet from adjacent property | 1 per site or principal structure (additional under conditions) | On business or industrial site | — | 505.03 C 1 |
| Freestanding Message Sign | 35 feet (mounted on same structure as logo sign) | 20 square feet per face for each half acre of lot area, or 100 square feet, whichever is less | — | Same as Freestanding Logo Sign | 1 (additional if additional logo allowed) | On business or industrial site, mounted on same pole or structure as logo sign | — | 505.03 C 4 |
| Gas Station Service Bay Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Wall signs on building facade above doorways | — | 505.03 D 2 |
| Gas Station Hours Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Wall sign or window sign | — | 505.03 D 4 |
| Gas Station Owner Identification Sign | — | 2.5 square feet | — | — | 1 | Wall sign | — | 505.03 D 5 |
| Freestanding Off-Premise Sign | 35 feet above road grade | 300 square feet per face (structure up to two faces in same direction, separated by no more than 12 inches); special exception up to 700 square feet per side | — | 15 feet from right-of-way line to leading edge of sign structure | — | Freestanding | — | 505.03 E |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | Not in required side or rear yard | — | On property being sold, leased, or developed | — | 505.04 A |

## Prohibited signs in Tipton

- No sign shall be permitted in any district except as herein provided.
- No sign shall be permitted which creates a safety hazard.
- No sign shall be permitted in the road right-of-way or between the street and the sidewalk.
- Any sign which is in need of maintenance, or which is no longer functional or is abandoned.
- Any sign which is constructed, altered, located, or illuminated in any manner which causes undue glare, distraction, confusion, nuisance, noise, or hazard to traffic or to other properties. No sign may be illuminated after 11:00 P.M. if it is located within or adjacent to any residential district, except those businesses remaining open beyond that time, in which case illumination shall cease upon closing.
- No sign which has a rotating beam, beacon, flashing or alternating illumination shall be permitted for advertising or identification purposes where no hazard or need for caution exists (exceptions for time/temperature devices and barber poles).
- Any sign that is attached to a tree or other living vegetation, utility pole, rock, curbstone, sidewalk, lamppost, hydrant, bridge, highway marker, or other sign, except for public informational signs.
- Any sign displayed on a stationary vehicle, container or trailer when said vehicle or trailer is used primarily for the purpose of and serving the function of an off-site sign.
- Any sign so placed that it obstructs any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, opening, or access intended for light, air, ingress to, or egress from any building.
- Any portable, mobile, or “tow-in” sign unless otherwise permitted as a temporary sign.
- Signs advertising activities which are illegal under federal, state, city or county laws or regulations.
- Any sign that violates any provision of IC 9-21-4-4/IC 9-21-4-5.
- Any sign that is not expressly listed in this Ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tipton

- Changing of the advertised copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign or billboard or a theater marquee and similar approved signs which are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy (no permit required).
- Painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of an approved sign or sign structure, unless a structural alteration is made (no permit required).
- One residential identification sign, not to exceed 2 square feet in area, for each residential dwelling (no permit required).
- House numbers not to exceed 2 square feet depicting the address of the property (no permit required).
- Sign for an allowable home occupation as specified in Section 512 (no permit required).
- Signs identifying the name of schools, churches, community buildings, or other public or semi-public institutional buildings, residential subdivisions, apartments or townhouse developments, or mobile home parks, not exceeding 24 square feet, with specified location and height restrictions (no permit required).
- One bulletin board, not illuminated except by indirect light and not exceeding 24 square feet, with any church, school, or other similar public or semi-public structure (no permit required).
- Permanent off-site directional signs for civic or public facilities, not exceeding 1 square foot, not creating traffic hazard, and permitted by relevant authorities (no permit required).
- Signs erected by a duly constituted governing body or a public utility, such as traffic control and safety signs, handicapped parking signs, railroad signals, entrance and exit signs, signs indicating scenic or historical places, welcome signs, city or county facilities and public directional signs, and memorial plaques (no permit required).
- Show window displays, including displays of merchandise, photographs, drawings, prices, promotional statements, etc. (no permit required).
- An exterior building directory on a multiple tenancy structure, not to exceed 6 square feet (no permit required).
- Any flags bearing the official design of the nation, state, city, community, organization, corporation, or school, and up to one decorative flag per property (no permit required).
- On-site directional signs for directing traffic and parking, not exceeding 5 square feet, not in public right-of-way, not exceeding 4 feet in height (no permit required).
- Signs warning the public against hunting, fishing, dumping, trespassing, dangerous animals, swimming or the like (no permit required).
- Names of buildings, dates of construction, commemorative tablets, and the like, when carved into stone, concrete, or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type of construction and made an integral part of the building or structure (no permit required).
- Signs accessory to an agricultural use on a parcel of not less than 20 acres, not exceeding 30 square feet per sign or 60 square feet total, not exceeding 8 feet in height, not closer than 10 feet to street right-of-way (no permit required).
- Signs erected by farm operators on their barns or other accessory buildings giving their name, the name of their farm and the year of the farm establishment (no permit required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs within a given development shall be coordinated with the architecture of the principal use in such a manner that the overall appearance is harmonious in color, form, and proportion.
- Additional freestanding signs may be approved as a special exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals where specific and special circumstances warrant.
- A freestanding sign not exceeding 700 square feet in area per side may be permitted by special exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals for off-premise signs.
- Nonconforming off-premise sign structures may be continued but may not be extended, expanded, replaced, or otherwise increased in nonconformity except as specified or as permitted by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

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

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