# Sign Regulations in Overland Park, Kansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Overland Park, Kansas (KS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kansas/overland-park
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-23
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.opkansas.org/about-overland-park/maps/zoning-map/)

## At a glance

Overland Park, Kansas regulates 81 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Monument Sign - Generals in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Per zoning district unless otherwise specified tall and Per zoning district unless otherwise specified, with a ≥10 ft from property line or private drive curb (18.440.050.B) setback (Sec. 18.440.060.B (Detached Signs Table) and 18.440.060.B.1.a). Most commercial signs in Overland Park 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 | 23 | 10 ft | 32 s.f. | — |
| Agricultural District (A); Residential Estates District (RE); Single-Family Residential District (R-1, RP-1); Small-Lot Single-Family Residential District (R-1A, RP-1A); Planned Single-Family Infill Residential District (RP-1N); Two-Family Residential District (R-2, RP-2); Garden Apartment District (R-3, RP-3); Planned Cluster Housing District (RP-4); Apartment House District (RP-5); Planned High-Rise Apartment District (RP-6); Planned Residential Neighborhood District (PRN); Mobile Home Park District (MHP) | 11 | 6 ft | 50 s.f. | — |
| Office Building District (C-O, CP-O) | 14 | 12 ft | 50 s.f. | — |
| Restricted Business District (C-1, CP-1) | 12 | 12 ft | 50 s.f. | — |
| General Business District (C-2, CP-2); Commercial District (C-3, CP-3); Industrial Park District (M-1, MP-1); General Industrial District (M-2, MP-2); Business Park District (BP) | 17 | 30 ft (sign area height), 35 ft (overall structure), subject to roadway centerline measurement rules | 300 s.f. | — |
| Planned Mixed Use District (MXD) | 12 | Per 18.440.060 (e.g., Kiosk 10 ft; Parking Area 5 ft; Point-of-Activity 8 ft). | 50 s.f. | — |
| Planned Mixed Use District (Detached and Townhouse/Small Apartment Frontages) | 4 | Stake: 6 ft; Ground Banner: 5 ft | 50 s.f. | — |
| Downtown Form District (DFD) | 11 | Per 18.440.060. | 50 s.f. | — |
| Downtown Form District (Detached and Townhouse/Small Apartment Frontages) | 1 | Stake: 6 ft; Ground Banner: 5 ft | Stake: 9 s.f. total (or 9 s.f. single); Ground Banner: 24 s.f.; Wall Banner: 24 s.f. | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign - General | Per zoning district unless otherwise specified | Per zoning district unless otherwise specified | — | ≥10 ft from property line or private drive curb (18.440.050.B) | Per zoning district | Freestanding; not in paved parking stalls; protected from lawn maintenance; in designated landscape/hardscape area. | — | 18.440.060.B (Detached Signs Table) and 18.440.060.B.1.a |
| Parking Area Sign | 5 ft | 4 s.f. | — | — | 1 per development entry and at key internal intersections | At development entry and key parking area intersections; includes drive-through entries. | — | 18.440.060.B (Detached Signs Table) |
| Internal Subdivision Monument Sign | 5 ft | 6 s.f. | — | — | 1 per entry to each unique internal subdivision phase | Internal to subdivision at entries to unique phases. | — | 18.440.060.B (Detached Signs Table) |
| Kiosk | 10 ft | 20 s.f. | — | — | As approved by Planning Commission | As approved by Planning Commission per City regulations. | — | 18.440.060.B (Detached Signs Table) |
| Point-of-Activity Sign | 8 ft | 32 s.f. | — | — | 2 per customer interaction point | At each customer interaction point (e.g., menu board, ATM, gas pump). | — | 18.440.060.B (Point-of-Activity Sign Row) |
| Public/Semi-Public Facilities - Monument Sign - Option 1 (in lieu of wall signs) | 5 ft (see height bonus note) | 32 s.f. (<10 acres); 50 s.f. (>10 acres) | — | ≥10 ft; height bonus for additional setback | Up to 2 | Development frontage(s). | — | 18.440.070.A and notes |
| Public/Semi-Public Facilities - Permanent Display for Temporary Messages | 5 ft | 24 s.f. (<10 acres); 32 s.f. (>10 acres) | — | — | 1 per frontage; max 2 frontages | 1 per development frontage; max 2 frontages. | — | 18.440.070.A |
| Public/Semi-Public Facilities - Incidental Sign (Detached) | 5 ft | 20 s.f. | — | — | 1 per development | Per development. | — | 18.440.070.A |

### Office Building District (C-O, CP-O)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Per building) | — | 5% of facade area | — | — | 2 per facade; max 3 facades | On building facades. | — | 18.440.090.B.1 (C-O and CP-O Table) |
| Monument Sign - Option 1 (in lieu of wall signs on 1 facade) | 5 ft (see height bonus) | 50 s.f. | — | ≥10 ft from ROW/private street curb; height bonus for additional setback | 1 per building | On site, freestanding. | — | 18.440.090.B.1 (C-O and CP-O Table, Note 1) |
| Permanent Display for Temporary Messages | 5 ft | 32 s.f. | — | — | 1 per development | Per development. | — | 18.440.090.B.1 |
| Incidental Sign (Detached) | 5 ft | 20 s.f. | — | — | 1 per building | Per building. | — | 18.440.090.B.1 |
| Other Allowed Sign Types (C-O/CP-O): Under Canopy; Parking Area; Point-of-Activity | Parking Area: 5 ft; Point-of-Activity: 8 ft; Under Canopy: 7-ft clearance required | Under Canopy: 9 s.f.; Parking Area: 4 s.f.; Point-of-Activity: 32 s.f. | — | — | Per sign type limits in 18.440.060 | Per sign type placement standards. | — | 18.440.090.B (Other Allowed Sign Types reference) and 18.440.060 |
| Temporary Signs (Commercial/Office in this zone) - Stake Sign | 6 ft | 32 s.f. total for all stake signs | — | — | Up to 3 per lot/development | On lot/development (not in ROW). | — | 18.440.130.C (Temporary Signs - Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural) |
| Temporary Banner - Ground-Mounted (Commercial/Office) | 5 ft | 32 s.f. | — | — | Up to 3 per development (in lieu of stake signs) | On development property. | — | 18.440.130.C |
| Temporary Feather Sign (Commercial/Office) | 12 ft | 32 s.f. | — | — | Up to 3 per development | On development property. | — | 18.440.130.C (Feather Sign row) |

### General Business District (C-2, CP-2); Commercial District (C-3, CP-3); Industrial Park District (M-1, MP-1); General Industrial District (M-2, MP-2); Business Park District (BP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign - Option 1 (in lieu of wall signs on 1 facade) | 10 ft (see height bonus) | 50 s.f. | — | ≥10 ft; bonus height with greater setback | 1 | On site; freestanding. | — | 18.440.090.D (Table) and Notes 2–3 |
| Permanent Display for Temporary Messages | 5 ft | 32 s.f. | — | — | 1 per development | Per development or per street frontage (varies by table version; use per development unless shopping center standards supersede). | — | 18.440.090.D (Table) |
| Incidental Sign (Detached) | 5 ft | 20 s.f. | — | — | 1 per building | Per building. | — | 18.440.090.D (Table) |
| Other Allowed Sign Types: Painted Wall; Projecting; Under Canopy; Detached Canopy; Parking Area; Point-of-Activity | Parking Area: 5 ft; Point-of-Activity: 8 ft; Under Canopy: 7-ft clearance; Detached Canopy: n/a height | Painted Wall: 10 s.f.; Under Canopy: 9 s.f.; Detached Canopy: up to 20 s.f. or 10% fascia; Parking Area: 4 s.f.; Point-of-Activity: 32 s.f. | — | — | Per sign type limits | Per sign type placement. | — | 18.440.090.D (Other Allowed Sign Types) and 18.440.060 |
| Development Entry Monument Sign | 10 ft (<150,000 s.f. development); 20 ft (≥150,000 s.f.) | 50 s.f. (<150,000 s.f. development); 100 s.f. (≥150,000 s.f.) | — | — | 1 (<400,000 s.f.); 2 (>400,000 s.f., max 1/frontage) | At development entries in office, commercial, and industrial districts. | — | 18.440.090.E (Development Entry Monument Signs) |
| Highway Monument Sign | 30 ft (sign area height), 35 ft (overall structure), subject to roadway centerline measurement rules | 300 s.f. | — | Per general sign setbacks; SUP digital displays must also meet 18.440.050.B | 1 (150,000–399,999 s.f.); 2 (>400,000 s.f.) with 500-ft separation | Along highway frontage (I-35, I-435, I-635, U.S. 69) where development has ≥200 ft of highway frontage. | — | 18.440.090.F |
| Expanded Sign Package - Development Entry Monument Sign | 10 ft | 50 s.f. | — | — | 1 per development entry | 1 per development entry. | — | 18.440.090.G |
| Temporary Signs (Commercial/Industrial/Agricultural) - Stake Sign | 6 ft | 32 s.f. total for all stake signs | — | — | Up to 3 per lot/development | On lot/development (not in ROW). | — | 18.440.130.C |

## Prohibited signs in Overland Park

- Off-site commercial signs are prohibited citywide unless specifically allowed (e.g., billboards by Special Use Permit, certain off-site signs at sports venues, limited off-site temporary signs per 18.440.130.G).
- Attention-attracting devices (e.g., pennants, streamers, searchlights, air/gas-filled balloons/figures) are prohibited unless allowed by a Special Event Permit.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Directly illuminated signs are prohibited unless approved by the Planning Commission or City Council as architectural lighting for a building.
- Digital displays are prohibited unless allowed for specific sign types (point-of-activity, kiosk, detached canopy) or approved by Special Use Permit or Special Event Permit.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited except where specifically allowed in the Mixed Use District and Downtown Form District standards.
- Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited (except government signs).
- Abandoned or obsolete signs are prohibited.
- Signs containing false or misleading statements are prohibited and subject to liability.
- Signs posing traffic, pedestrian or other hazards are prohibited.
- Signs that are illegal under federal, state, or local law are prohibited.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Illuminated signs shall not use rotating beams or flashing beacon lights.
- Illuminated signs shall not blink, flash, or display intermittent lighting sequences or simulate motion.
- Signs shall not be illuminated by flashing, intermittent, or moving lights, and shall not consist of a projected static image.
- Except as provided in MXD/DFD, sign or building illumination sources must be concealed from ground-level view.
- Where digital displays are allowed, they must be static (no movement, flashing, or scrolling), hold for at least 1 minute, transition in 2 seconds or less, and be turned off if malfunctioning.
- No sign may obstruct sight distance triangles or otherwise interfere with safe views at intersections or driveways.
- No sign may be erected such that its location, color, size, shape, nature or message creates a hazard or is confused with traffic signals or governmental signs.
- Vehicles may not be parked so they function primarily as signs (movable billboards).
- Vehicles may not traverse the right-of-way carrying or displaying signs primarily for advertising.
- Temporary signs may not be placed on right-of-way, parks, or other public property unless installed by or with permission of the City.

## Signs exempt from permit in Overland Park

- Government signs (e.g., legal notices, public identification/informational signs, traffic/directional/regulatory/utility warning signs) are allowed without a permit.
- Flags are allowed without a permit subject to quantity and height limits by property type (e.g., 2 flags/1 pole for one- and two-family dwellings; 3 flags/3 poles for nonresidential/other residential uses; flag size and pole height limits apply).
- Incidental noncommercial signs in residential districts up to 4 square feet are allowed without a permit.
- Incidental non-illuminated signs in commercial districts oriented to on-site individuals up to 4 square feet (or letters up to 6 inches) are allowed without a permit.
- A-frame sign immediately outside a business entry is allowed without a permit (1 per business up to 6 square feet; portable; displayed only during business hours; cannot obstruct accessibility; not allowed in right-of-way).
- Machine/equipment signs customarily on or incorporated into machinery/equipment up to 5 square feet aggregate are allowed without a permit.
- Window signs: non-illuminated temporary interior window signs are allowed without a permit; interior illuminated window signs (e.g., small neon/digital ≤10 square feet within 4 feet of a window) are allowed without a permit if non-flashing and meeting illumination limits.
- Construction trailer signs (painted/permanently ascribed onto actively used construction trailers) are allowed without a permit.
- Artworks (murals or other art installations) are reviewed as part of building design or under the Public Art Master Plan and do not require a sign permit.
- Repairs, routine maintenance, or repainting of conforming or allowed nonconforming signs do not require a permit.
- Vehicle signs do not require a sign permit but must comply with vehicle sign regulations.
- Non-illuminated temporary signs on private property do not require a permit, subject to temporary sign regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Mixed Use District (MXD): A sign package is required and must be approved by the Planning Commission as part of a final development plan application.
- Sports venues: The Planning Commission must approve a sign package; a site plan must show locations and approximate heights of all potential signs (scoreboard/fencing), and conditions on illumination/digital display apply.
- Expanded sign package: Developments in office/commercial districts with multiple buildings/tenants may apply to the Planning Commission for an expanded sign package with a unified design theme and exceptional materials; PC may stipulate design/maintenance standards.
- Light pole banners: One sign permit covers all banners in a development, and a site plan identifying all proposed banner locations must be submitted with the permit; replacements do not require a new permit if size/number/locations do not change.
- Kiosks: Must be approved by the Planning Commission per City regulations; digital display is allowed subject to digital display standards.
- Parking garages (MXD and DFD): The Planning Commission may grant exceptions to allow wall signs to be mounted on parking garages when a business facade is totally obscured, subject to specific conditions.
- Directly illuminated signs: May be approved by the Planning Commission or City Council as architectural lighting; otherwise prohibited.
- Special Use Permits: Billboards require a Special Use Permit; digital displays on highway monument signs or building facades require a Special Use Permit (PC recommendation and Governing Body approval) and must meet spacing, setback, illumination, appearance, movement/transition, and concurrency standards.
- Deviations: The Planning Commission may grant deviations to size, color, location, illumination, and number of signs based on unique treatments, special conditions, or hardship, using content-neutral criteria.
- Special Use final development plan applications must include detailed sign package materials (drawings, maps, text, locations; maximum sizes; construction details; colors; fonts; mounting methods).
- Final development plan approvals may treat certain internally illuminated/backlit panels, fabrics, or similar materials as architectural elements (if approved by the Planning Commission or Governing Body), otherwise they count toward sign area.

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

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