# Sign Regulations in Winfield, Indiana

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

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

## At a glance

Winfield, Indiana regulates 25 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Principal Sign)s in the Commercial zoning district (C-1) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall, 24 sq ft (display area, not including architectural details), and 8 ft wide, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. § 156.082; § 156.097(E)(1)(b); Appendix D/E). Most commercial signs in Winfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 40 ft (flagpole) | 50 sq ft (total) | — |
| Agricultural zoning district (AG) | 5 | 40 ft | 24 sq ft (display area, not including architectural details) | — |
| Agricultural business zoning district (AG-B) | 5 | 40 ft | 24 sq ft (display area, not including architectural details) | — |
| Residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 7 | 40 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning district (MF) | 5 | 40 ft | 24 sq ft (display area, not including architectural details) | — |
| Commercial zoning district (C-1) | 10 | 40 ft | 64 sq ft (max total area for all signs on lot, except incidental, marker, nameplate, and flags) | — |
| Commercial zoning district (C-2) | 10 | 40 ft | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot) | — |
| Commercial zoning district (C-3) | 10 | 40 ft | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot) | — |
| Industrial/Manufacturing district (M-1) | 8 | 40 ft | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot except marker, nameplate, flag, and incidental signs) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Commercial zoning district (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Marker | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Appendix D/E; § 156.097(E) |
| Flag | 40 ft | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | Appendix D/E |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Business location | — | Appendix D/E |
| Wall Sign (Principal Sign) | — | 64 sq ft (max total area for all signs on lot, except incidental, marker, nameplate, and flags) | — | — | 1 per business with frontage | On businesses with frontage | — | § 156.097(E)(1)(b); Appendix D/E, Table 2 |
| Monument Sign (Principal Sign) | 5 ft | 24 sq ft (display area, not including architectural details) | 8 ft | 10 ft | 1 per business with frontage | 10 ft behind right-of-way/property/easement line | — | § 156.082; § 156.097(E)(1)(b); Appendix D/E |
| Canopy Sign (Principal Sign) | — | 64 sq ft (max total area for all signs on lot, see Table 2, note a) | — | — | 1 per business with frontage | — | — | Appendix D/E; Table 2; § 156.097(E)(1)(b) |
| Informational Sign (Drive-in/Drive-through) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-in/drive-through | For drive-in or drive-through businesses | — | § 156.097(E)(1)(c) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site for sale/lease | — | § 156.097(E)(2) |

### Commercial zoning district (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Marker | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Appendix D/E; § 156.097(F) |
| Flag | 40 ft | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | Appendix D/E |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Business location | — | Appendix D/E |
| Wall Sign (Principal Sign) | — | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot) | — | — | 1 per business with frontage | On business with frontage | — | § 156.097(F)(1)(b); Appendix D/E |
| Monument Sign (Principal Sign) | 5 ft | 64 sq ft (max total) | 8 ft | 10 ft | 1 per business with frontage | 10 ft behind right-of-way/property/easement line | — | § 156.097(F)(1)(b); § 156.082; Appendix D/E |
| Canopy Sign (Principal Sign) | — | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot, see Table 2, note a) | — | — | 1 per business with frontage | — | — | Appendix D/E; Table 2; § 156.097(F)(1)(b) |
| Informational Sign (Drive-in/Drive-through) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-in/drive-through | Drive-in or drive-through businesses. | — | § 156.097(F)(1)(c) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site for sale/lease | — | § 156.097(F)(2) |

### Commercial zoning district (C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Marker | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | — | — | Appendix D/E; § 156.097(G) |
| Flag | 40 ft | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | Appendix D/E |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Business location | — | Appendix D/E |
| Wall Sign (Principal Sign) | — | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot) | — | — | 1 per business with frontage | On business with frontage | — | § 156.097(G)(1)(b); Appendix D/E |
| Monument Sign (Principal Sign) | 5 ft | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot) | 8 ft | 10 ft | 1 per business with frontage | 10 ft behind right-of-way/property/easement line | — | § 156.097(G)(1)(b); § 156.082; Appendix D/E |
| Canopy Sign (Principal Sign) | — | 64 sq ft (max total for all signs on lot, see Table 2, note a) | — | — | 1 per business with frontage | — | — | Appendix D/E; Table 2; § 156.097(G)(1)(b) |
| Informational Sign (Drive-in/Drive-through) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-in/drive-through | Drive-in or drive-through businesses. | — | § 156.097(G)(1)(c) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site for sale/lease | — | § 156.097(G)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Winfield

- It is unlawful to erect, alter, construct, or relocate any sign or structure subject to the terms of the sign ordinance without first obtaining a sign erection permit from the Building Administrator.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway, any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
- Off-premise signs: billboards, posterboards, panels, except as permitted in § 156.096(J), are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs which advertise a business no longer conducted or a product no longer offered for sale on the premises are prohibited, except for a sign indicating a move for no more than 90 days.
- Exterior banners, pennants, spinners, and streamers, other than those specifically permitted, are prohibited.
- Any sign, sign structure, or flag deemed by the Building Administrator to be structurally unsafe, constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or abandonment, or capable of causing electrical shocks is prohibited.
- Any sign which obstructs the vision of drivers or obstructs/detracts from the visibility of any traffic sign or traffic-control device by reason of its size, coloring, or illumination is prohibited.
- Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exitway is prohibited.
- Signs which make use of the words stop, danger, or similar (or symbols suggesting such) so as to imply the need or requirement of stopping or the existence of danger are prohibited.
- Any sign unlawfully installed, maintained, or erected is prohibited.
- Any sign which is constructed or installed to overhang a public street, easement, or road right-of-way is prohibited.
- Any sign which obstructs vision between a height of two and one-half feet and ten feet within the triangular area formed by intersection of any street right-of-way lines (sight triangle) is prohibited.
- Any sign on a motor vehicle, semi-trailer, or trailer which can be seen from the street with the primary use being advertising of a business, product, or service of a business on the premises is prohibited, except for construction purposes during construction.
- Any sign with moving parts or flashing lights is prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs and advertising structures are prohibited.
- Signs using reflective material are prohibited, except governmental signs and name plate signs displaying address.
- Signs on fences, street lights, utility poles, trees, or flag poles, including painted signs, are prohibited.
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs on any property without the consent of the owner are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited, except for educational institution use.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Nonconforming signs may not be changed to another nonconforming sign, have message/words/symbols changed unless specifically designed for periodic changes, be structurally altered or repaired to prolong life or change size, shape, or design, be established after the associated activity has been discontinued for 30 days, be reestablished after damage exceeding 25% of reproduction cost, or be expanded, moved, or relocated.
- The use of any portion of a communications facility for signs other than warning or equipment information signs is prohibited.
- No person may, without lawful authority, alter, deface, injure, obscure, knock down, or remove any official traffic-control device, sign, street name sign, or railroad sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Winfield

- No permit shall be required for building markers (not larger than six square feet per display surface).
- No permit shall be required for necessary traffic and/or directional signs erected by a governmental unit.
- No permit shall be required for flags of governmental units, accredited schools, and churches (flagpoles not exceeding 40 feet and flags proportionate for safe display).
- No permit shall be required for private informational signs necessary to inform the public (e.g., 'no trespassing', 'no dumping'), not exceeding two square feet each.
- No permit shall be required for construction signs authorized by the Building Administrator for a specific project (not exceeding 36 sq ft; removed within 15 days after construction).
- No permit shall be required for signs advertising private garage sales (§ 156.158).
- No permit shall be required for posters advertising special programs or events.
- No permit shall be required for political campaign signs as discussed in § 156.099 (if 8 sq ft or less).
- No permit shall be required for window signs, except if permanently affixed or within 3 ft of the window and exceeding 25% of the window area (these require a permit).
- No permit shall be required for newspaper dispensing machines in commercial districts, provided only the name of the newspaper and price is displayed.
- Any exceptions above do not relieve the owner from responsibility for safe erection/maintenance or compliance with other requirements relating to size, lighting, or location.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permit for any individual sign requiring a permit shall be issued unless and until a Master Signage Plan or Common Signage Plan for the zoning lot on which the sign will be erected has been submitted to and approved by the Building Administrator.
- A Master Signage Plan is required for any zoning lot where the owner proposes to erect one or more signs requiring a permit (unless the lot is included in a Common Signage Plan).
- For situations in which owners of two or more contiguous lots sharing a monument sign or for a lot with multiple tenants, a Common Signage Plan must be filed (and approved) with the Planning and Zoning Administrator.
- A Common or Master Signage Plan must be included in any development plan submitted under §§ 156.250 through 156.265 regarding planned developments.
- Amendments to a Master or Common Signage Plan must be filed as a new plan conforming with all requirements and procedures.
- Permit applications require inclusion of the Master or Common Signage Plan.

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

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