# Sign Regulations in Seneca, Kansas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Seneca, Kansas (KS)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kansas/seneca
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/KS/Seneca/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=APXAZOOR_ART8SIRE)

## At a glance

Seneca, Kansas regulates 26 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Architectural Canopy Signs in the TA-1 zoning district are capped at 45 ft tall and 250 sq ft (Sec. 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Note 7). Most commercial signs in Seneca require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TA-1 | 19 | 45 ft | 640 sq ft | — |
| R-1 | 7 | 35 ft | 500 sq ft | — |
| R-2, R-3, RM | 6 | 35 ft | 500 sq ft | — |
| O-1, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2 | 23 | 45 ft | 1004 sq ft (O-1, C-1, C-2, C-3), 2004 sq ft (I-1, I-2) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 6 sq ft | — |

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

### TA-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Architectural Canopy Sign | 45 ft | 250 sq ft | — | — | 17 | Attached to the wall of a building | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Note 7 |
| Electronic Message Board Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 | As permitted by building, ground, or freestanding sign type | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the ground, supported by uprights or braces | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft (may increase to 75 sq ft when all uses within a development are on one sign) | — | — | 1 | Mounted directly to the ground | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Note 3 |
| Incidental Sign | 45 ft | 25 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per 40 feet lineal storefront | On the property; directional and informational only | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Note 6 |
| On-Premises Billboard Sign | 30 ft | 640 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, 8.05.01 |
| Projecting Sign | 45 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Extends more than eight inches from a building wall | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Not securely anchored | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |

### R-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the ground | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not listed for R-1 in sign table |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not listed for R-1 in sign table |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On dwelling | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Subdivision Sign | 35 ft | 500 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Identification lot of subdivision | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, 8.05.05 |

### O-1, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Architectural Canopy Sign | 45 ft | 250 sq ft | — | — | 17 | Attached to the wall of a building | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Note 7 |
| Electronic Message Board Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 | As permitted by building, ground, or freestanding sign type | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the ground, supported by uprights or braces | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft | 322 sq ft (O-1, C-1, C-2, C-3), 503 sq ft (I-1, I-2); may increase under Note 3 | — | — | 1 | Mounted directly to the ground | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Note 3 |
| Incidental Sign | 45 ft | 25 sq ft each | — | — | 1/40 feet lineal storefront | On the property; directional and informational only | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Note 6 |
| Marquee Sign | 45 ft | 250 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond wall/building wall | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02 |
| On-Premises Billboard Sign | 30 ft | 320 sq ft (O-1, C-1, C-2, C-3), 320 sq ft (I-1, I-2) | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, 8.05.01 |
| Pole Sign | 40 ft | 1004 sq ft (O-1, C-1, C-2, C-3), 2004 sq ft (I-1, I-2) | — | — | 1 | Mounted on a freestanding pole, bottom at 6 ft or more above grade | — | 8.04.01, 8.04.02, Notes 4,5 |

## Prohibited signs in Seneca

- All signs not expressly permitted in these regulations or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with the previous section are prohibited in the City.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Marquee signs are prohibited (unless otherwise noted).
- Roof signs are prohibited (unless otherwise permitted).
- Suspended signs are prohibited (unless otherwise permitted).
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those specifically exempted (e.g. holiday decorations), are prohibited.
- Audible signs are prohibited.
- Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this section, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. The City may recover the full costs of removal and disposal from the owner or installer.
- No sign (including exempted signs) shall create an obstruction to vision or a collision hazard to the public.
- Billboards, signboards, or similar advertising signs are prohibited at intersections where they would obstruct vision, hearing, or interfere with pedestrian or vehicular safety.
- Billboards, signboards, or similar advertising signs are prohibited within 50 feet of any lot in a residential district.
- Billboards, signboards, or similar advertising signs may not be constructed or located where they will unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of adjoining property.
- Political signs shall not be affixed to any utility poles, trees, street lights, bridges, benches, or other similar structures.
- Political signs shall not create an obstruction within the right of way (R.O.W.).

## Signs exempt from permit in Seneca

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any religious symbol.
- Construction signs when equal to six square feet or less.
- Any sign identifying a public facility or public/civic event.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which such sign is located.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message.
- Traffic control signs on private property (such as Stop, Yield) meeting Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards, and with no commercial message.
- Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, public utility company, or contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.
- A political sign exhibited in the right of way or on private property in conjunction with the election of political candidates, as defined by the Nemaha County Clerk, provided such signs do not exceed six square feet in any zone, only four such political signs per residential zoned lot are present at any time, are not erected more than 45 days before the election, and are removed no later than two days after the election, and do not obstruct the R.O.W. nor are affixed to certain structures as specified.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Development signs (such as ground and pole signs) may be increased in size when all uses/storefronts within a development are included on one sign as opposed to each having an individual sign, as noted in Schedules 2–5. This implies coordination via a master sign plan.
- All signs (except for certain window signs as specified for kiosks) are subject to the required permitting process outlined in these Regulations.
- No statement in the provided ordinance requires a master sign plan, sign plan, or variance meeting for all signs by default, but requirements for development-wide signage suggest the need for a coordinated or master sign plan in those cases.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kansas/seneca