# Sign Regulations in Clearwater, Kansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clearwater, Kansas (KS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kansas/clearwater
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/KS/Clearwater/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH38ZO_ARTIIISIRE)

## At a glance

Clearwater, Kansas regulates 17 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Advertising Signs in the A-L zoning district are capped at Top edge not to exceed 10 ft above average ground, bottom at least 3 ft above ground. tall and 50 sq ft, with a See location requirement (500 ft from intersections). setback (Sec. Sec. 38-362(1)(a)-(c)). Most commercial signs in Clearwater require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-L | 7 | Top edge not to exceed 10 ft above average ground, bottom at least 3 ft above ground. | Max 300 sq ft per side | — |
| C-S | 3 | — | — | — |
| C-1, C-2 | 4 | — | 300 sq ft | — |
| I-1, I-2 | 4 | — | — | — |
| R-L, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3 | 5 | Affixed to building: max 10 ft; ground sign: max 4 ft. | 40 sq ft/face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 ft | 45 sq ft | — |

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

### A-L

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign | Top edge not to exceed 10 ft above average ground, bottom at least 3 ft above ground. | 50 sq ft | — | See location requirement (500 ft from intersections). | Not more than one such sign per roadside per mile. | Must not be located closer than 500 feet from two or more intersecting roads. | — | Sec. 38-362(1)(a)-(c) |
| Business Sign | — | Max 300 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-362(2)-(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed flat against building only. | — | Sec. 38-362(4) |
| Nameplate | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-362(16) |
| "For Sale" or "For Rent" Sign | If affixed to building: not higher than 10 ft; ground sign: not higher than 4 ft. | 4 sq ft | — | 5 ft from any property line. | One per lot. | No closer than 5 ft from any property line; not to obstruct traffic view. | — | Sec. 38-362(17) |
| Accessory Business Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per residential building lot. | — | — | Sec. 38-362(18) |
| Bulletin Board/Church/Public Institution Sign | If ground sign, max 6 ft; if affixed to building, max 10 ft above ground. | 24 sq ft | — | 8 ft from side/rear property line; front yard, at least half the required yard setback. | One per street side. | Not closer than 8 ft from side/rear property line; in front yard, no closer than half the required front yard. | — | Sec. 38-362(19) |

### R-L, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-362(16) |
| "For Sale" or "For Rent" Sign | Affixed to building: max 10 ft; ground sign: max 4 ft. | 4 sq ft | — | 5 ft from any property line. | One per lot. | No closer than 5 ft from property line; not to obstruct traffic view. | — | Sec. 38-362(17) |
| Bulletin Board/Church/Public Institution Sign | If ground sign, max 6 ft; affixed to building, max 10 ft. | 24 sq ft | — | 8 ft from side/rear property line; front yard, at least half the required yard setback. | One per street side. | Not closer than 8 ft from side/rear property line; front yard, no closer than half the required front yard. | — | Sec. 38-362(19) |
| Business Sign (Manufactured Home Park/Multi-Family) | Ground sign max 10 ft | 40 sq ft/face | — | — | One per street frontage (business sign). | — | — | Sec. 38-362(20) |
| Directional/Informational Sign (Manufactured Home/Multi-Family) | — | — | — | — | Unlimited | — | — | Sec. 38-362(20) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft | 45 sq ft | — | — | One per location. | Cannot extend over or into public right-of-way without approval; cannot obstruct wall opening. | — | Sec. 38-362(21), Sec. 38-363(h) |
| Private Informational/Directional Sign | — | 32 sq ft/face | — | — | One per location. | — | — | Sec. 38-362(22) |
| Yard Sign (School Activity/Political) | — | 3 sq ft (18'' × 24'') | — | — | No limit (subject to other regulations) | Not permitted on public property by private individuals. | — | Sec. 38-362(23) |

## Prohibited signs in Clearwater

- It is unlawful to erect, move, alter, change, repair, place, suspend, or attach any sign in violation of the sign ordinance.
- It is unlawful to fasten, paste, place, post, paint, or attach any sign, handbill, poster, advertisement, or notice of any kind on any curbstone, lamp post, telephone, telegraph, or electric light pole, tree, or bridge.
- It is unlawful to paste, place, paint, or attach any sign on any building, street, or property of the city (except address painting on curbing by property owners or occupants with approval from the building official).
- Billboards (signs advertising off-premises products or services and 300 square feet or more per face) are not permitted in any city zones.
- No sign is permitted to overhang a road, street, or alley right-of-way, and no sign shall be located in a manner as to constitute a traffic hazard (except as provided for temporary signs with governing body approval).
- All signs must be constructed, located, and placed in accordance with local ordinances and state laws.
- No sign may beam direct rays of light upon any existing residential district or into any street.
- Lighted signs in direct vision of a traffic signal shall not use red, green, or amber illumination.
- Flashing, moving, or animated signs are generally prohibited in some districts without special approvals and are not allowed where rays beam on any residential district.
- Flashing signs are not allowed for private informational or directional signs.
- No private informational or directional sign (except by governing body approval) shall project over or into any street, alley, sidewalk, or public thoroughfare, nor obstruct any wall opening.
- No yard sign supporting school activities or political advertisements may be placed on public property by private individuals.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clearwater

- Property owners or occupants may paint or stamp the address of their property on the curbing directly in front of the building with approval by the building official.
- Clocks and/or thermometers installed for public convenience and information are exempt from light beaming/illumination restrictions.
- All advertising signs, business signs, or bulletin boards not in compliance with the ordinance but in existence at the adoption date are exempt unless there is a change of ownership or exterior remodeling exceeding 50% of the building.
- Address painting on curbing is exempt, subject to approval.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For an advertising sign (in A-L district), a special use permit application must include a plot plan showing the location, size, and construction details of the proposed sign installation, and a letter from the property owner indicating intent to lease, with a copy of the lease terms. The board of zoning appeals must review and approve.
- In the C-1 district, an additional number of business signs may be allowed by special use permit when submitted, reviewed, and approved by the board of zoning appeals and under such conditions as the board may impose.
- Applications for sign permits by persons other than property owner must provide a letter from the owner or a lease showing the applicant's right to place the sign.

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

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