# Sign Regulations in Ashland, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ashland, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/ashland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ashland/latest/ashland_oh/0-0-0-33592)

## At a glance

Ashland, Ohio regulates 10 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential zone zoning district are capped at See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) tall and See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) (Sec. 1184.08(c)). Most commercial signs in Ashland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential zone | 6 | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | — |
| Residential zone | 4 | 6 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and industrial districts | 6 | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 ft | 25% of the window area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Nonresidential zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | — | Per street frontage | — | 1184.08(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | — | — | 1 | Per street frontage | — | 1184.08(c) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per street entrance | Per street entrance | — | 1184.08(d) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | Per street front | — | 1184.08(h) |
| Portable Sign | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Non-residential districts | — | 1184.08(k) |
| Roof Sign | Not more than 20% of the height of the roofline | Assessed against the aggregate permitted area for wall signs | — | — | — | Commercial and industrial districts | — | 1184.08(r) |

### Commercial and industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 120 sq ft | — | — | — | Per street frontage | — | 1184.08(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | See Figures 1184.08(1), (2) and (3) | — | — | 1 | Per street frontage | — | 1184.08(c) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per street entrance | Per street entrance | — | 1184.08(d) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street front | Per street front | — | 1184.08(h) |
| Portable Sign | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Non-residential districts | — | 1184.08(k) |
| Roof Sign | Not more than 20% of the height of the roofline | Assessed against the aggregate permitted area for wall signs | — | — | — | Commercial and industrial districts | — | 1184.08(r) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Single residential lot | — | 1184.08(f) |
| Development and Construction Sign | 6 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Single residential lot | — | 1184.08(g) |
| Political Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | All zoning districts | — | 1184.08(l) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of the window area | — | — | — | Nonresidential use in a residential district, and all commercial and industrial districts | — | 1184.08(s) |

## Prohibited signs in Ashland

- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
- Signs encroaching upon or overhanging public right-of-way, except as provided for elsewhere in this code.
- Signs attached to any utility pole, light standard, street tree or any other public facility located within the public right-of-way.
- Signs which blink, flash or are animated by lighting in any fashion that would cause such signs to have the appearance of traffic safety signs and lights, or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance.
- Portable signs except as allowed for temporary signs.
- Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property, except under specific conditions.
- Vehicles and trailers used primarily as static displays, advertising a product or service, or utilized as storage, shelter or distribution points for commercial products or services for the general public.
- Balloons, streamers or pinwheels except those temporarily displayed as part of a special sale, promotion or community event.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ashland

- Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official.
- Directional, warning or information signs authorized by federal, state or municipal governments.
- Memorial plaques, building identification signs and building cornerstones where cut or carved into a masonry surface or where made of noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building or structure.
- The flag of a government or noncommercial institution, such as a school.
- Religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the appropriate public holiday season.
- Works of fine art displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise where the enterprise does not receive direct commercial gain.
- Street address signs and combination nameplate and street address signs that contain no advertising copy and which do not exceed six square feet in area.
- Home Occupation Signs of one sign pertaining to a home occupation, provided the sign is not over one square foot in area and is mounted flat against the wall of the dwelling or principal building on the premises.
- Civic Banners/signs and Public Art with the written approval of Planning Commission or the Mayor.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master Sign Plan Required for landlord or single-owner controlled multiple-occupancy development complexes on parcels exceeding eight acres in size, such as shopping centers or planned industrial parks.
- Applications for sign permits for signage within a multiple-occupancy development complex shall comply with the master sign plan.

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

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