Sign Regulations in Shawnee, Kansas
Shawnee, Kansas has specific sign regulations covering 17 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Awning Sign, Attached Canopy Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: May 8, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Shawnee, Kansas
Sample Sign Requirements in Shawnee
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — |
| Subdivision Entry Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Incidental Sign (Perimeter) | 4 ft | 2 sq ft per face | 20 ft min |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for ShawneeFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
17
- Wall Sign
- Awning Sign
- Attached Canopy Sign
- Freestanding Canopy Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
7
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Shawnee
Other Cities in Kansas
Frequently Asked Questions
In Shawnee, monument signs are limited to 7 ft. Height limits vary by zoning district and sign type. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your specific location.
To get a sign permit in Shawnee, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Shawnee, regulated sign types include Wall Sign, Awning Sign, Attached Canopy Sign, Freestanding Canopy Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Shawnee vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Shawnee are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Shawnee has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Shawnee, Kansas Sign Rules at a Glance
Shawnee, Kansas regulates 17 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Incidental Sign (Perimeter)s in the Agricultural District (AG) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 2 sq ft per face, with a 20 ft min setback (Sec. 17.05.090.B; Table 17.05.090-1). Most commercial signs in Shawnee require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Shawnee, Kansas
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Shawnee (7 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural District (AG) | 11 | 7 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential Low Intensity (RLI) (CE, RE, RS, R-1, PSF, PSF-AR) | 11 | 7 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential High Intensity (RHI) (DU, RGA, RMD, RHR, PUDMR) | 11 | 7 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — |
| Commercial (C) (PO, CN, CH, PUDOC, PUDBP, PUDGU, CH(O)) | 11 | 12 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Urban/Commercial (UC) (TSQ, PUDMX) | 14 | 8 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Industrial (I) (PI) | 10 | 7 ft (<100k), 15 or 20 ft for larger | 50 sq ft (<100k), up to 100/150/20 for MT per table | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 1-2 Family: 25 ft; Others: 30 ft | 1-2 Family: N/A; Others: 24 sq ft max per flag | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Shawnee(sample of 3 of 7 zones)
Agricultural District (AG)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street frontage, exceptions for multi-tenant as per table | Nonresidential uses only | — | Unlock | 17.05.060.A; Table 17.05.060-1 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage/tenant; 1 additional for public entrance facing parking/drive | Nonresidential uses only; Each frontage; 1 per tenant | — | Unlock | 17.05.070.B; Table 17.05.070-1 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage/tenant | Nonresidential uses only | — | Unlock | 17.05.070.C; Table 17.05.070-2 |
| Subdivision Entry Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance | At entry to subdivision (not commercial entries) | — | Unlock | 17.05.060.B; Table 17.05.060-2 |
| Incidental Sign (Perimeter) | 4 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft min | 1 per entrance | Within 15 ft of entrance to public street, min 20 ft setback from property line | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.B; Table 17.05.090-1 |
| Incidental Sign (Interior) | 7 ft | 10 sq ft per face | — | — | 10 per acre | Interior to property, behind setback | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.B; Table 17.05.090-1 |
| Temporary Sign (Perimeter) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft min | 1 per plot (perimeter) | Perimeter of plot; min 5 ft setback from property line | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.C; Table 17.05.090-2 |
| Temporary Sign (Interior) | 7 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — | — | 5 per acre (interior) | Interior location on plot | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.C; Table 17.05.090-2 |
Residential Low Intensity (RLI) (CE, RE, RS, R-1, PSF, PSF-AR)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per frontage; see exceptions | Nonresidential uses only | — | Unlock | 17.05.060.A; Table 17.05.060-1 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage/tenant; 1 additional for public entrance as allowed | Nonresidential uses only; 1 per tenant per frontage | — | Unlock | 17.05.070.B; Table 17.05.070-1 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage/tenant | Nonresidential uses only | — | Unlock | 17.05.070.C; Table 17.05.070-2 |
| Subdivision Entry Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance | Entry to subdivision (residential) | — | Unlock | 17.05.060.B; Table 17.05.060-2 |
| Incidental Sign (Perimeter) | 4 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft min | 1 per entrance | Within 15 ft of entrance to public street | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.B; Table 17.05.090-1 |
| Incidental Sign (Interior) | 7 ft | 10 sq ft per face | — | — | 10 per acre | Interior to property | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.B; Table 17.05.090-1 |
| Temporary Sign (Perimeter) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft min | 1 per plot (perimeter) | Perimeter of plot | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.C; Table 17.05.090-2 |
| Temporary Sign (Interior) | 7 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 5 per acre (interior) | Interior to property | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.C; Table 17.05.090-2 |
Urban/Commercial (UC) (TSQ, PUDMX)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Sign - Multi-Tenant Buildings over 100,000 sf | 7 ft, up to 20 ft over 150,000 sf | 50 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per frontage | Per street frontage | — | Unlock | 17.05.060.A; Table 17.05.060-1 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft (secondary only) | 18 in (secondary only) | — | See additional requirements | Per ground floor use with separate entrance on any exterior wall wall sign is permitted | — | Unlock | 17.05.070.G; Table 17.05.070-6 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Above primary entrance | — | Unlock | 17.05.070.F; Table 17.05.070-5 |
| Subdivision Entry Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance | Permitted (see Table) | — | Unlock | 17.05.060.B; Table 17.05.060-2 |
| Incidental Sign (Perimeter) | 4 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft min | 2 per entrance | Within 15 ft of entrance | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.B; Table 17.05.090-1 |
| Incidental Sign (Interior) | 7 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — | — | 20 per acre | Interior | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.B; Table 17.05.090-1 |
| Temporary Sign (Perimeter) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft min | 1 per plot | Perimeter, min 5 ft setback | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.C; Table 17.05.090-2 |
| Temporary Sign (Interior) | 8 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — | — | 5 per acre | Interior | — | Unlock | 17.05.090.C; Table 17.05.090-2 |
PermitPal covers all 7 zoning districts in Shawnee — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 7 zones for Shawnee — start freeProhibited Signs in Shawnee
- No person may erect, operate, display, or otherwise use any sign that this Chapter prohibits.
- No person may erect, operate, display, or otherwise use any sign at a time, place, or manner that this Chapter prohibits.
- Signs required by state or federal law are not prohibited, but signs prohibited by state or federal law are not authorized.
- A person may not erect, operate, display, or otherwise use the following types of signs unless specifically allowed: abandoned signs, billboards, digital billboards, moving signs, pole signs, portable signs, roof signs, signs in the right-of-way, snipe signs, and any other sign or device not expressly allowed by this Chapter.
- Signs may not overhang or project over the public right-of-way except as specifically allowed.
- Signs must comply with the Building Code and all other regulatory requirements.
- No person may place or install a sign within the right-of-way of any public road except as specifically allowed.
- No person may place or install a sign in the required sight distance triangle at intersections except as specifically allowed.
- Permanent signs that have been abandoned for more than six months must be removed by the property owner.
- Signs that are unsafe, unsecure, a menace to the public, or otherwise in violation of this Chapter are subject to removal.
- Illuminated signs must not operate at brightness levels greater than 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light at the property line.
- Rotating beams, flashing beacon lights, blinking, flashing, or intermittent illumination or lighting sequences, or those simulating motion, are prohibited on any sign.
- Illuminated signs must not be illuminated by flashing, intermittent, or moving lights, or by projected images.
- The illumination source for a sign or building must be shielded from ground-level view (with certain exceptions).
- Electronic message centers may only display static content, remain fixed for at least one minute, may not include flashing/scrolled/varying-intensity content, and may not have a white background.
- Vehicles may not be used primarily as signs (determined by specific factors) and must not display prohibited sign types.
- Temporary signs, paper signs, fabric signs, electronic message signs, and those using sandbags or other temporary anchors are prohibited if not compliant.
- Signs must not blink, flash, or display intermittent lighting sequences.
- Sign maintenance must be upheld; defective, damaged, or poorly maintained signs are prohibited.
- Signs must not obscure windows, doors, or architectural features (except as specifically allowed).
Exempt Signs in Shawnee
- This Chapter does not apply to indoor signs.
- This Chapter does not apply to government signs.
- This Chapter does not apply to traffic control devices.
- Signs required by state or federal law are exempt.
- Integral signs less than four (4) square feet in sign area embedded, extruded, or carved into the material of a building façade or permanently attached as noted are exempt from wall sign regulations.
- Repair, routine maintenance, or repainting of a conforming or legally nonconforming sign does not require a sign permit.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Shawnee
- Master sign plans are not required for planned unit developments (PUDs) or other projects, but an owner or developer may present a master sign plan for review and comment by the Planning Commission as part of the Site Plan Approval.
- In PUDs, the master sign plan, where submitted, must comply with number, area, height, and design requirements for the applicable sign district at the time of application.
- If a master sign plan does not address certain sign standards, the sign code standards apply to those features.
- Previously approved master sign plans (prior to Jan 1, 2022) are not enforced by the City, but may be enforced by private agreement; the City will evaluate current applications based on this Chapter.
- The Planning Commission considers master sign plans and modifications as part of Site Plan Approval, following criteria in Chapter 17.56.
- Applicants seeking to deviate from the sign code must apply for a modification permit, reviewed by the Planning Commission.
- Certain sign types or features (e.g., marquee signs, murals/painted wall signs on primary façades, modifications, master sign plans) require Planning Commission approval before permits are issued.
Source: municode municipal code