# Sign Regulations in Athens, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Athens, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/athens
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://www.ci.athens.oh.us/DocumentCenter/View/112/Athens-City-Zoning-Map-1-9-2020?bidId=)

## At a glance

Athens, Ohio regulates 17 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Directional Sign (Free-standing)s in the B-1 Business Zone (B-1) zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 3 sq ft (single-face), with a 15 ft from side lot line setback (Sec. Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(d)). Most commercial signs in Athens require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 Residential Zone (R-1), R-2 Residential Zone (R-2) | 5 | 6 feet | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — |
| R-3 Multi-Family Residential Zone (R-3) | 8 | 20 ft (for 16-25 sq ft sign) | 25 sq ft | — |
| B-1 Business Zone (B-1) | 10 | 20 ft (for 16-25 sq ft sign) | 25 sq ft | — |
| B-2 Business Zone (B-2) | 10 | 30 ft (for 26-50 sq ft sign); 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft sign | 50 sq ft | — |
| B-2D Downtown Business Zone (B-2D) | 6 | 14 ft (top); lowest member min 8 ft above sidewalk | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — |
| B-3 General Business Zone (B-3) | 10 | 30 ft for 26-50 sq ft signs, 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft signs | 50 sq ft | — |
| M Industrial Zone (M) | 8 | 30 ft for 26-50 sq ft signs; 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft signs | 50 sq ft | — |
| EI Educational Institution Zone (EI) | 7 | 30 ft for 26-50 sq ft; 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 4.5 ft (residential); 8 ft (commercial) | 350 sq in (about 2.43 sq ft) | — |

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

### B-1 Business Zone (B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | — | 5 sq ft or 30% of signable wall area, whichever is greater | — | — | One per business use | Attached to soffit or fascia of canopy/covered entrance/walkway | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(d) |
| Nameplate, Rental, or Property Management Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per property; one 15 sq ft project sign per building if conditions met | On front door or visible from in front of house on the first floor | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(f,k,ix) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | 10% of width of building wall from end or party wall | One per business use | Attached to building wall, set back at least 10% of width of building wall from end or party wall | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(h) |
| Bulletin Board Sign (Free-standing) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — | — | One per institution/facility | Premises of public or semi-private institution/facility | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(a) |
| Identification Sign (Free-standing) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — | — | One | Name of building/project/PUD/subdivision | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(b) |
| Directional Sign (Free-standing) | 3 ft | 3 sq ft (single-face) | — | 15 ft from side lot line | One per ingress/egress | Indicating traffic routes at each street of ingress/egress | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(d) |
| Informational Sign (Free-standing) | 20 ft (for 16-25 sq ft sign) | 25 sq ft (see citation) | — | — | One per property | On premises | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(e),(4) |
| Free-standing Sign (Pole Sign) | 20 ft (for 16-25 sq ft sign) | 25 sq ft | — | 0 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from business lot, 50 ft from residential zone | One per business | On premises; one per business | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(4)(c),(5) |

### B-2 Business Zone (B-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | — | 5 sq ft or 30% of signable wall area, whichever is greater | — | — | One per business use | Attached to soffit or fascia of canopy/covered entrance/walkway | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(d) |
| Nameplate, Rental, or Property Management Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per property; one 15 sq ft project sign per building if conditions met | On front door or visible from in front on the first floor | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(f,k,ix) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | 10% of width of building wall from end or party wall | One per business use | Attached to building wall, set back at least 10% of width of building wall from end or party wall | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(h) |
| Bulletin Board Sign (Free-standing) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — | — | One per institution/facility | Premises of public/semi-private institution/facility | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(a) |
| Identification Sign (Free-standing) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — | — | One | Name of building/project/PUD/subdivision | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(b) |
| Directional Sign (Free-standing) | 3 ft | 3 sq ft (single-face) | — | 15 ft from side lot line | One per ingress/egress | Indicating traffic routes at each street of ingress/egress | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(d) |
| Informational Sign (Free-standing) | 30 ft (for 26-50 sq ft sign); 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft sign | 50 sq ft/100 sq ft (see citation and lanes) | — | — | One per property | On premises | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(e),(4) |
| Free-standing Sign (Pole Sign) | 30 ft (for 26-50 sq ft sign); 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft sign | 50 sq ft/100 sq ft (see citation and lanes) | — | 0 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from business lot, 50 ft from residential zone | One per business | On premises; one per business | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(4)(c),(5) |

### B-3 General Business Zone (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | — | 5 sq ft or 30% of signable wall area, whichever is greater | — | — | One per business use | Attached to soffit or fascia of canopy/covered entrance/walkway | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(d) |
| Nameplate, Rental, or Property Management Sign | — | 2 sq ft; 15 sq ft project sign if building is R2 use group | — | — | One per property; one 15 sq ft project per building if R2 use group | Front door or visible from in front on the first floor | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(f,k,ix) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | 10% width of building wall from end or party wall | One per business use | Attached to building wall, set back 10% of width of building wall from end or party wall; min 2 ft from curb | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(1)(h) |
| Bulletin Board Sign (Free-standing) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — | — | One per institution/facility | Premises of public/semi-private institution/facility | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(a) |
| Identification Sign (Free-standing) | 6 ft | 15 sq ft (single-face) | — | — | One | Name of building/project/PUD/subdivision | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(b) |
| Directional Sign (Free-standing) | 3 ft | 3 sq ft (single-face) | — | 15 ft from side lot line | One per ingress/egress | Indicating traffic routes at each street of ingress/egress | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(d) |
| Informational Sign (Free-standing) | 30 ft for 26-50 sq ft signs, 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft signs | 50 sq ft for 3 or fewer lanes and 100 sq ft for 4 or more lanes (exclusive of deceleration/turning lanes) | — | — | One per property | On premises | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(2)(e),(4),(I)(3) |
| Free-standing Sign (Pole Sign) | 30 ft for 26-50 sq ft signs; 40 ft for 51-100 sq ft signs | 50 sq ft for 3 or fewer lanes, 100 sq ft for 4 or more lanes | — | 0 ft from right-of-way, 10 ft from business lot, 50 ft from residential zone | One per business | On premises; one per business | — | Table (A); 23.03.13(I)(4)(d),(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Athens

- No sign shall employ any parts or elements which move, revolve, rotate, whirl, spin, flash, or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention.
- No sign shall obstruct fire escapes, standpipes, windows or doors of any building.
- Signs shall not be erected so as to obstruct sight lines along any public way, traffic control lights, street name signs at intersections, or street sight lines or signals at railroad grade crossings.
- Signs visible from the sight lines along a street shall not contain an arrow or words such as 'stop', 'go', 'slow', etc., and the movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination shall not resemble traffic control signs.
- No sign of any type may have any moving parts.
- All signs and sign structures shall be maintained in a safe condition and in good repair.
- Signs and sign structures which no longer serve the purpose for which they were intended, or which have been abandoned, or are not maintained in accordance with this chapter and other applicable regulations, shall be removed.
- Signs that are not specifically permitted in this section are hereby prohibited.
- No gas-filled balloons or search lights shall be used for advertising on a permanent basis.
- The listing of numerous goods or services, prices (except for gasoline at service stations), sale items, and telephone numbers shall not be permitted on Identification Signs.
- Mobile or moveable signs are prohibited.
- Except as otherwise permitted, all permanent off-site signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, wall, tree or other surface located on public property or over or across any public street except as expressly authorized by the mayor.

## Signs exempt from permit in Athens

- Signage which is an integral part of the original construction of vending machines, fuel pumps, or similar devices is exempt.
- Cornerstones and permanent building plaques, displaying the date of construction, building name or similar information, are exempt.
- Street name signs are exempt.
- Holiday decorations displayed for customary periods of time are exempt.
- Special signage determined by the zoning administrator to be reasonable considering the intent and regulations of this chapter is exempt.
- Murals or similar artwork on public property if recommended by the municipal arts commission and approved by city council are exempt.
- The display of official public notices, and the flag, emblem, or insignia of all official U.S. governmental bodies is not governed by these regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all signs, other than real estate, rental/property management and political signs, in any zone.
- Application for a sign permit must include scale drawings showing dimensions, elevation, materials, construction details, proposed placement, and for illuminated signs, compliance with illumination provisions.
- The code enforcement office must forward sign permit applications and drawings to the zoning administrator for review and approval.
- A sign permit may be applied for separately or together with a zoning permit.
- Nonconforming signs may only continue with a revocable license from city council or a variance by the board of zoning appeals.
- Any nonconforming sign created after October 18, 1989, must be removed unless a revocable license or variance is granted.
- For buildings containing more than one business or building designed as a coordinated unit, aggregate freestanding signs must be erected as one structural unit not exceeding the maximum allowed.
- Permits are required for temporary project signs, with durations and renewals as specified.

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

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