# Sign Regulations in Merriam, Kansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Merriam, Kansas (KS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kansas/merriam
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-23
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/merriam-ks/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-1143)

## At a glance

Merriam, Kansas regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Sandwich Board Signs in the Commercial Districts (C-O, CP-O, C-1, CP-1, C-2, CP-2, C-3, CP-3) zoning district are capped at 42 inches tall, 8 square feet, and 2.5 feet wide, with a Not in street or driveway setback (Sec. Sec. 53-35.24 and Sec. 53-3). Most commercial signs in Merriam require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, CRD) | 8 | 5 feet | 24 square feet for complexes of 16 or fewer units; 36 square feet for complexes over 16 units | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-O, CP-O, C-1, CP-1, C-2, CP-2, C-3, CP-3) | 9 | 42 inches | 36 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, IP-1) | 4 | 42 inches | 36 square feet | — |
| PUD Districts | 3 | 12 feet | As per equivalent district (e.g., 36 sq ft for commercial equivalent) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 25 feet above lane centerline, max 35 feet | 128 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, CRD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 square feet for single residential units; 6 square feet for multi-family buildings with a single street address | — | — | 1 per unit or building | Mounted on building or adjacent to entrance | — | Sec. 53-35.8 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | 1 | Facade of residence | — | Sec. 53-35.22 |
| Political Sign | 4 feet for tracts of 1 acre or less; 8 feet for tracts greater than 1 acre | 6 square feet for single-family, duplex, multi-family unit or tract of 1 acre or less; 16 square feet for multi-family tract greater than 1 acre | — | 5 feet from right-of-way for freestanding | Based on parcel size, multiple allowed if spaced per public notice rules | On private property, not on public right-of-way or city-owned property | — | Sec. 53-35.9 |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 feet for tracts of 1 acre or less; 8 feet for tracts greater than 1 acre | 6 square feet for single-family, duplex or multi-family tract of 1 acre or less; 16 square feet for multi-family tract greater than 1 acre | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per 1,000 feet of public street frontage | Freestanding or wall-mounted | — | Sec. 53-95.a.1 and a.2 |
| Garage Sale Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | 15 feet from paved street; 20 feet from pavement of intersection | 1 at sale location; 1 at subdivision entrance or nearest intersection | Freestanding on private property | — | Sec. 53-35.14 |
| Monument Sign - Subdivision | — | Size determined by planning commission review based on subdivision size, roadway classification, adjacent uses, and compatibility | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per public street entrance | At each public street entrance | — | Sec. 53-93.a |
| Monument Sign - Multi-Family Complex | 5 feet | 24 square feet for complexes of 16 or fewer units; 36 square feet for complexes over 16 units | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per public street entry | At each public street entry | — | Sec. 53-93.b |
| Facade Sign - Multi-Family Clubhouse | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 | On clubhouse or leasing office facade, oriented to internal road | — | Sec. 53-94.a |

### Commercial Districts (C-O, CP-O, C-1, CP-1, C-2, CP-2, C-3, CP-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign - Individual Commercial Building | 12 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per primary frontage; optional second reduced | On primary street frontage | — | Sec. 53-93.d |
| Monument Sign - Shopping Center | 12 feet | — | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per primary; optional second | On primary street frontage | — | Sec. 53-93.f |
| Facade Sign - Shopping Center Tenant | — | — | 80% of tenant facade width | — | 1 per tenant entrance; 2 for corner | On entrance facade | — | Sec. 53-94.d |
| Monument Sign - Service Station | 12 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1; optional second | Primary frontage | — | Sec. 53-93.e |
| Under-Canopy or Awning Sign - Shopping Center | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per business with canopy | Under canopy or awning, right angle to front wall | — | Sec. 53-35.17 |
| Menu Board - Drive-Through | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per window | Adjacent to drive-through lane | — | Sec. 53-35.15 |
| Now Hiring Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per facility | Freestanding | — | Sec. 53-35.23 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches | 8 square feet | 2.5 feet | Not in street or driveway | 1 per business with street frontage | Directly in front of business, on sidewalk or right-of-way | — | Sec. 53-35.24 and Sec. 53-3 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign - Public Institution | 12 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1; optional second | Primary frontage | — | Sec. 53-93.c |
| Facade Sign - Public Institution | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage | Per public street frontage | — | Sec. 53-94.b |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet from right-of-way | 1 per permit | On property with 200+ ft frontage | — | Sec. 53-96.2 |
| Freeway Frontage Monument Sign | 25 feet above lane centerline, max 35 feet | — | — | 10 feet | 1 per qualifying property | For properties with 200+ ft I-35 frontage | — | Sec. 53-93.g |
| Construction Site Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per frontage | Freestanding per street frontage | — | Sec. 53-95.e |
| Semi-Permanent Leasing Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per frontage | Freestanding per street frontage | — | Sec. 53-95.b |
| Future Project Identification Sign - Freeway | 16 feet | 128 square feet | — | 20 feet from property line | 1 per frontage | Per freeway frontage for 800+ ft frontage | — | Sec. 53-95.c |
| Incidental Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | Mounted adjacent to tenant entrance | — | Sec. 53-35.18 |

## Prohibited signs in Merriam

- Snipe signs attached to trees, shrubs, telephone poles, benches, street lights or placed on any public property or right-of-way, except warning signs issued by public utility companies or signs erected by public authorities for public purposes.
- Portable signs (except sandwich board signs) or attention-attracting devices.
- Signs posing traffic or pedestrian hazards, including those that constitute a traffic hazard by size, location, movement, content, coloring or illumination; obstruct vision; use flashing, moving, rotating, blinking lights (except time/temperature displays); cause glare; use bare bulbs over 25 watts; or use words/symbols that interfere with traffic control.
- Abandoned signs advertising activities no longer conducted on the premises, to be removed within three months.
- Moving signs with visible moving, revolving, rotating parts or illusion of movement.
- Roof-mounted signs.
- Off-site signs directing attention to businesses, products or services not on the premises.
- Attention-attracting devices unless otherwise approved.
- Illegal signs prohibited by law.
- Vehicles used as signs within 150 feet of public street right-of-way, except for vehicles in construction, delivery, screened parking, or standard passenger vehicles with limited signage.

## Signs exempt from permit in Merriam

- Government traffic-control signs and devices.
- Flags (up to three per business/development, specific types, size and height limits).
- Directional and instructional signs (size and placement limits).
- Public notice signs (size limits based on property size).
- Memorial signs or tablets (up to six square feet).
- Works of fine art (non-commercial).
- Required notices authorized by law.
- Address signs (size limits based on building type).
- Political signs (size and placement limits, not on public property).
- Official public notices by public officers.
- Window signs (nonilluminated up to 20% of window area; illuminated up to 50% of that).
- Real estate signs (as permitted in section 53-95).
- Construction site signs (as permitted in section 53-95).
- Garage sale signs (size, timing and placement limits).
- Menu-boards for drive-throughs (size and location limits).
- Special event signs approved by community development director.
- Under-canopy or awning signs (size and placement limits for multi-tenant centers).
- Incidental identification signs (up to two square feet at tenant entrances).
- Signs on machinery and equipment (product identification only).
- Signs on vehicles (not prohibited otherwise).
- Other governmental signs for public purposes.
- Home occupation signs (one square foot, nonilluminated).
- Now hiring signs (up to six square feet).
- Sandwich board signs (specific size, placement and usage rules).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign scheme required for every multi-tenant building or coordinated development (e.g., office parks, shopping centers, business parks) as part of final development plan approval.
- Preliminary sign scheme submitted with preliminary plan review and approved by planning commission.
- Final sign scheme submitted with final plan review, including details on dimensions, colors, materials, etc., and approved by planning commission.
- Minor modifications to sign scheme approved by community development director; major modifications by planning commission.
- Deviations from sign regulations may be granted by planning commission during sign scheme review, based on criteria including purpose/intent, impacts on adjacent properties, safety, visual clutter, site constraints, lighting, and promotion of high-quality design.

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

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