# Sign Regulations in Trafalgar, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Trafalgar, Indiana regulates 31 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Incidental Sign - Parking Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 6 sq ft, with a 3 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. § 151.07(C)). Most commercial signs in Trafalgar require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 6 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 4 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| C-1, C-2, CB-1, CB-2, I-1 | 3 | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, CB-1, CB-2) | 7 | 20 ft above permitted building height | 40 sq ft | — |
| Unenclosed Shopping Centers | 2 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Enclosed Mall Shopping Centers | 2 | — | 400 sq ft | — |
| Business, Commercial and Industrial Parks | 2 | Up to 25 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 6 ft | 50% of window area max | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Per Dwelling Unit) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Affixed to dwelling unit structure | — | § 151.12(A), § 151.07(F), § 151.11(D) |
| Freestanding Sign (Church, Municipal, Public Building) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-site | — | § 151.12(B), § 151.11(D) |
| Wall Sign (Church, Municipal, Public Building) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Building wall, frontage | — | § 151.12(B), § 151.11(D) |
| Monument Sign (Subdivision or Multi-Family Project Identity) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project entrance/front | At subdivision or multi-family project main entrance(s) | — | § 151.12(D) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Window or Wall) | — | 2 sq ft (window); See wall sign dimensional requirements | — | — | 1 | Window facing public way; Wall under porch overhang if residence has a porch | — | § 151.12(E) |
| Business Identification Sign (Rental Office) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per rental office | Near building entrance or service entrance | — | § 151.12(F), § 151.07(A) |

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, CB-1, CB-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Portable Signs (A-Frame, Arrow, Message Board) | — | — | — | — | — | On-site | — | § 151.09(B)(1) |
| Banner (Temporary, Non-Rigid) | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | On-site | — | § 151.09(B)(2) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from public right-of-way | 1 per project | On-site, at least 10 ft from right-of-way | — | § 151.09(B)(3) |
| Real Estate Signs (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from public right-of-way | 1 per premises, extra sign allowed at discretion | On-site, at least 10 ft from right-of-way; extra sign may be allowed for corner lots/multi-complex/shopping center | — | § 151.09(B)(4) |
| Street Banner | — | — | — | — | — | Locations designated by Plan Commission or State agency | — | § 151.09(B)(5) |
| Produce Sign (Temporary) | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 | On-site, at least 10 ft from right-of-way | — | § 151.09(B)(6) |
| Inflatable Sign (Temporary) | 20 ft above permitted building height | — | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | On business district zoning lot | — | § 151.09(B)(7) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Incidental Sign - Business Identification | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On or near building entrance/service entrance (business, commercial, industrial) | — | § 151.07(A) |
| Incidental Sign - Integral Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Integral to building/structure | — | § 151.07(B) |
| Incidental Sign - Parking Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 3 ft from right-of-way | — | Set back 3 ft from right-of-way | — | § 151.07(C) |
| Incidental Sign - Private Traffic Directional Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 3 ft from curb/aisle | — | Leading edge minimum 3 ft from curb or aisle | — | § 151.07(D) |
| Incidental Sign - Public Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by order of public officers | — | § 151.07(E) |
| Incidental Sign - Window Sign | — | 50% of window area max | — | — | — | Inside building, on or in window | — | § 151.07(G) |
| Incidental Sign - Nameplate (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Each dwelling unit on structure | — | § 151.07(F) |

## Prohibited signs in Trafalgar

- Any sign which is not included under the types of signs permitted in this chapter.
- Any portable or moveable sign, except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Any sign or sign structure affixed to a rooftop or known as a rooftop sign, which extends above the highest point on the roof.
- Any sign that projects over or into a public right-of-way.
- Off-premises signs as described further in this chapter, including billboards.
- Flashing and scrolling signs.
- Pennants, streamers, spinners or similar devices, balloons, inflatable devices, except as a temporary sign.
- Signs located within a public right-of-way or greenbelt, other than traffic or government signs or signals.
- Tacking, pasting or otherwise affixing of signs of an advertising or miscellaneous character, visible from a roadway, located on the walls of buildings, barns, sheds, utility poles, fences, mailbox posts, benches, trash containers, parking meters or other structures.
- No advertising sign shall be painted directly on an exterior wall of a building, fence or structure except to identify a residence or residential structure by means of posting the name of the occupant or structure and the street address.
- Business signs that advertise an activity, business, product, project or service no longer conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located within three months of the end of the business activity.
- Signs placed on parked vehicles or trailers where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product, candidate for election or to direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property. This includes motor vehicles with a sole apparent purpose to advertise business. Motor vehicles with the primary purpose of the cartage of goods and service vehicles are exempt from this restriction.
- Bear or contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, pornographic, immoral character, or which contain advertising matter that is untruthful and will offend public morals or decency.
- Signs which operate or employ any stereopticon or motion picture projection or media in conjunction with any advertisements, or have visible moving parts, any portion of which moves or gives the illusion of movement except as permitted in this chapter.
- Signs which involve revolving or rotating beams of light.
- Signs which emit audible sound, odor or visible matter.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals. Signs which are an imitation of or resemble an official traffic sign or signal, or which bear the words “Stop,” “Go Slow,” “Caution,” “Danger,” “Warning” or similar words; except as permitted in § 151.07(D).
- Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination, may be confused with or constructed as a traffic-control sign, signal or device, or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle or which hide from view any traffic or roadway sign, signal or device.
- No portion of any sign may be erected within ten feet of a public right-of-way.
- No portion of any sign may be erected so as to obstruct sight lines along any right-of-way or on a private drive so as to obstruct sight lines to traffic-control devices, street name signs, directional signs or signals, and/or crosswalks.
- Signs shall not be illuminated or placed to cause glare resulting in traffic hazards or interference with the use of nearby residences.

## Signs exempt from permit in Trafalgar

- Business identification sign: An identification sign on or near a building entrance or service entrance to a business in a business, commercial or industrial zone, stating only the street address and the name of the business or building, flush-mounted and not exceeding four square feet.
- Integral signs: Names of building, date of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, etc., when carved into stone, concrete, or similar material or made of permanent construction and made an integral part of the structure.
- Parking signs: Signs for public and private parking are permitted, with a three-foot setback from right-of-way, not used for advertising purposes, no higher than six feet, and no greater than six square feet in area, installed to not present a traffic hazard.
- Private traffic directional signs: Signs directing traffic movement onto or within a premises, with allowed illumination as listed, at least three feet from any curb or traffic aisle, no higher than three feet, no greater than six square feet in area, and conforming to State Standards for Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Public signs: Signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest erected by or on order of public officers in the performance of public duty (e.g. safety, danger, trespassing, traffic, memorial, historical, direction to public facilities or onto public buildings).
- Nameplate: A nameplate not to exceed two square feet for each dwelling unit, stating only the name and/or address of the occupant, with allowance for decorative ornamentation and/or placards identifying the presence of a security system, not prohibiting house numbering plates.
- Window signs: Signs located in or on windows do not require a permit if they are inside the building and do not cover more than 50% of the window area.
- On machines: Matter appearing on gasoline pumps, newspaper vending boxes, ATMs, vending machines, or adjacent to entry doors (e.g. “Push,” “Pull,” “Open,” “Closed”) or display windows or doors identifying hours of operation, credit cards accepted, and similar information.
- Historical markers: Historical markers, as long as all setback regulations are followed.
- Changing advertising copy or message on an approved sign does not require a permit.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure does not require a permit unless a structural change is involved.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signage shall be designed to be an integral part of the architectural and landscaping plans. The colors, materials, lighting and style of signage shall be harmonious with the building and the site to which it relates. The integration of project signage to identify multiple businesses on the same zoning lot is encouraged.
- Application for sign permits must be accompanied by clear and legible drawings showing the location of the sign which is the subject of the permit, and all other signs whose construction requires permits, when such signs are on the same premises.
- Drawings showing the dimensions, construction supports, sizes, wiring, method of attachment, and engineering data (if required by the Plan Commission) must be submitted for sign permit applications.
- Any individual or company seeking to erect, alter, repair, or maintain a sign visible from any state or federal roadway must provide a statement of necessary licenses/approvals from other governmental agencies.
- Subdivision construction signs are addressed when subdivision plans are approved by the town.
- The Plan Commission may require and review signage standards and placement as part of overall site plan review, particularly for subdivisions, shopping centers, multi-tenant sites, and similar coordinated developments.

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

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