# Sign Regulations in Winona Lake, Indiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Winona Lake, Indiana (IN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/indiana/winona-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IN/Winona_Lake/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH50SI)

## At a glance

Winona Lake, Indiana regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Home Occupation Sign (Detached)s in the Suburban resident district zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 4 sq. ft., with a 10 ft. from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 50-5(1)a.). Most commercial signs in Winona Lake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Suburban resident district | 6 | 6 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| Single-family resident district | 5 | 4 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| Two-family and multiple-family residence districts | 4 | 4 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| Central business districts, Highway commercial districts, Neighborhood commercial districts | 5 | 35 ft. | 500 sq. ft. | — |
| Light industrial districts, Heavy industrial districts | 5 | 35 ft. | 500 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Suburban resident district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign (Mounted on Residence) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Mounted directly on the residence | — | Sec. 50-5(1)a. |
| Home Occupation Sign (Detached) | 6 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from property line | 1 per home occupation | On premises, 10 ft. from property line | — | Sec. 50-5(1)a. |
| Agricultural Product Sign | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way and property lines | 1 per premises | On premises | — | Sec. 50-5(1)b. |
| Subdivision/Development and Multifamily Sign | 4 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way and property lines | 2 per premises | On premises, at least 10 ft. from right-of-way and property lines | — | Sec. 50-5(1)c. |
| Institutional Sign (Detached) | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from property line | 2 per property | On premises, 10 ft. from any property line | — | Sec. 50-5(1)d. |
| Institutional Sign (Wall) | — | — | — | — | 1 per property | Mounted on the building | — | Sec. 50-5(1)d. |

### Single-family resident district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign (Mounted on Residence) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Mounted directly on the residence | — | Sec. 50-5(2) |
| Agricultural Product Sign | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way and property lines | 1 per premises | On premises | — | Sec. 50-5(2), referencing Sec. 50-5(1)b. |
| Subdivision/Development and Multifamily Sign | 4 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way and property lines | 2 per premises | On premises, at least 10 ft. from right-of-way and property lines | — | Sec. 50-5(2), referencing Sec. 50-5(1)c. |
| Institutional Sign (Detached) | 4 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from property line | 2 per property | On premises, 10 ft. from any property line | — | Sec. 50-5(2), referencing Sec. 50-5(1)d. |
| Institutional Sign (Wall) | — | — | — | — | 1 per property | Mounted on the building | — | Sec. 50-5(2), referencing Sec. 50-5(1)d. |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Special Event for Public/Charitable/Religious/Fraternal Organization) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises, not blocking visibility | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(6) |
| Real Estate Sign (Acreage for Sale/ Rent - Non-residential) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(1)b. |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Structure for Sale) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(1)c. |
| Political Sign | — | Not to exceed maximum sign area for any sign in zone where sign is located | — | — | — | Not in public right-of-way; only on property with owner consent | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(2) |
| Historical Place Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(3) |
| Business Sign (Window/Door) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside windows or glass portions of doors | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(4) |
| Parking Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. per entrance | — | — | 2 per access | At each access | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(8) |
| Contractor Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises where work is being done | — | Sec. 50-4(a)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Winona Lake

- Signs shall not constitute traffic hazards.
- Signs shall not be erected at intersections in a way that obstructs free and clear vision.
- Signs shall not use any intensity, position, shape or color that would obstruct or interfere with vision at any intersection.
- Signs shall not use any word such as 'stop', 'look' or 'danger', or any word, phrase, symbol or character that would interfere with, misdirect or confuse traffic.
- No sign shall be erected without a permit issued by the town (unless exempted).
- Nonconforming signs may not be replaced or repaired if damaged more than 40 percent of their value, or if requiring structural repair or to restore readability; such signs must be removed or brought into compliance.
- Upon change of use, occupancy, or ownership of a property/structure, signs must be brought into compliance.
- All new signs using electricity must comply with the state building code.
- All signs shall be built in accordance with the state building code.
- All signs not requiring a permit shall be stand-alone signs with a post, frame or fixture and must not become a nuisance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Winona Lake

- A permit is not required for real estate signs that meet specified conditions.
- A permit is not required for political signs that meet specified conditions.
- A permit is not required for historical place signs (not exceeding two square feet).
- A permit is not required for business signs placed, hung or painted on the inside windows or glass portions of doors.
- A permit is not required for street numbers, as long as they are displayed prominently and not in a manner that poses risk or hazard.
- A permit is not required for temporary signs for special events for public, charitable, religious or fraternal organizations that meet specified conditions.
- A permit is not required for temporary residential garage sale signs that meet specified conditions.
- A permit is not required for parking signs with a maximum size of six square feet per entrance and up to two per access.
- A permit is not required for contractor signs that meet specified conditions.
- The exemption from permit requirements does not relieve the owner of the sign from compliance with all other ordinance requirements concerning erection, maintenance and appearance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement or reference to a master sign plan, sign plan, or variance meeting is mentioned in this ordinance for general sign installations.
- Signs required by law to be a specific size, composition or location may be permitted by the plan commission (Sec. 50-2(b)).
- The building commissioner has the authority to permit, prohibit, or send any sign permit request to the board of zoning appeals, which has final approval authority (Sec. 50-3(c)).

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

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