# Sign Regulations in Bay Village, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bay Village, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/bay-village
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://www.cityofbayvillage.com/DocumentCenter/View/135/Bay-Village-Zone-Map-with-Setback-Requirements-PDF)

## At a glance

Bay Village, Ohio regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Retail Business District, Commercial Business District, Administrative Office and Apartment House District, Research Development and Limited Manufacturing District, Automobile Parking District zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall, 40 sq. ft. per face, and 8 ft. wide, with a 10 ft from curb, structure, driveway, and side lot line (20 ft if abutting residential district) setback (Sec. C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(B)). Most commercial signs in Bay Village require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Retail Business District, Commercial Business District, Administrative Office and Apartment House District, Research Development and Limited Manufacturing District, Automobile Parking District | 7 | 16 ft. | 60 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Apartment District | 3 | 8 ft. | 60 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Office District | 4 | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed Use Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District | 5 | 36 in above grade | 12 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 8 ft. | 48 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Retail Business District, Commercial Business District, Administrative Office and Apartment House District, Research Development and Limited Manufacturing District, Automobile Parking District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 16 ft. | 30 sq. ft. | — | May only be displayed on a frontage of 80 ft or more. Must comply with placement as per 1179.04(A). | One freestanding ground sign per activity or group. See additional restrictions for multi-frontage lots. | Supported by uprights or braces attached to ground, not attached to building; must be on premises with off-street parking or with building set back at least 35 ft from right-of-way. | — | C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(A) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft. | 40 sq. ft. per face | 8 ft. | 10 ft from curb, structure, driveway, and side lot line (20 ft if abutting residential district) | One per project or development, except corner lots may get additional. | Directly mounted from ground or structure other than building; must be at least 80 ft frontage | — | C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(B) |
| Development Monument Sign | 8 ft. | 60 sq. ft. per face | 12 ft. | — | One per development. | At grade along street on development; not allowed if any other monument sign visible from public right-of-way. | — | C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(C) |
| Roof Sign | — | 40% of signable area | — | — | No per-building cap specified; subject to sign area limits. | Wholly upon or over the roof or parapet wall, principal support on roof structure. | — | C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(D) |
| Wall Sign | — | 40% of signable area | — | — | Determined by signable area, not count. | Painted on, attached to, or integrated into wall parallel to wall. | — | C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(D) |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of glazed surface; max 40 sq. ft. | — | — | No cap; limited by percent area per window. | On the inside or lettered on window; ground floor only. | — | C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(D); 1179.07(B)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | Below eave or second level finished floor | 25 sq. ft. per face | 4 ft. | Must clear sidewalk by 10 ft. and not project more than 4 ft. | One per street frontage per activity. | Extends outward at angle from wall; cannot be at intersection corners except right angle to front. | — | C.O. 1179.02 Table; 1179.04(E) |

### Office District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of frontage or 50 sq. ft., whichever is less | — | — | One per establishment/building. | Building face nearest parallel to street line. | — | C.O. 1187.08(G)(1)-(2) |
| Canopy/Marquee/Name Plate Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. (12 in × 74 in) | 74 in | — | One per establishment | Suspended from canopy, centered | — | C.O. 1179.07(B)(1) |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | At least 25 ft. from front street line. | — | On lot at least 25 ft. from front street line. | — | C.O. 1187.08(G)(1)(b) |
| Exterior Identification Sign - Accessory Restaurant | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | One per accessory restaurant. | Attached to building. | — | C.O. 1187.08(G)(1)(c) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Announcement/Bulletin Sign (for institutional uses) | — | — | — | — | One per institution | On premises lawfully occupied by institution. | — | C.O. 1179.08(A)(1) |
| Identification Sign (non-dwelling, non-apartment) | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | One per building | On same lot as permitted non-dwelling or non-apartment structure. | — | C.O. 1179.08(A)(2) |
| Residential Name/Number Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | One per dwelling | On permitted dwelling structure. | — | C.O. 1179.08(B)(1) |
| Temporary Signs | 4 ft. for temporary; 18 ft. for banner | 6 sq. ft. each (up to 3) or 15 sq. ft. for banner | — | — | Up to 3 temp, or 1 banner | On-premises of dwelling | — | C.O. 1179.08(B)(2) |
| For Sale/Lease/Sold Signs (Real Estate) | 36 in above grade | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One; two if corner/through lot | On premises being sold/leased. | — | C.O. 1179.08(B)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Bay Village

- No signs may be erected, displayed, or substantially altered or reconstructed except in conformance with the Table of Basic Design Elements (1179.02).
- No sign shall be located within 50 feet of a residential district (1176.13(5)).
- No roof signs are permitted above a first floor roof; roof signs must be below the single story roof line and are subject to Planning Commission approval (1179 Table, 1179.04(D)(4)(b)).
- A sign may not cover or interrupt major architectural features (1179.04(D)(4)(d)).
- Wall signs may not extend above the roof line (1179.04(D)(4)(c)).
- Projecting signs may not extend vertically beyond the roof eave or parapet (1179.04(E)(2)(d)).
- No projecting signs may be closer than 25 feet to any other projecting signs (1179.04(E)(2)(e)).
- No more than one freestanding ground sign per activity or 80 feet of street frontage is permitted (1179.04(A)(2)(b)).
- Flashing signs (lights which are intermittently on and off or consist of rotating or moving lights) are prohibited (1179.07(C)(3), 1179.07(C)(9)).
- Banners are prohibited except by permission of Council and as temporary signs in residential districts (1179.07(C)(4)).
- Trailered signs are prohibited (1179.07(D)).
- Windblown devices such as pennants, spinners, and streamers are not permitted for any activity (1179.07(C)(2)).
- No signs, except those allowed without a permit, may be displayed without an approved Sign Permit (1179.06).
- Pole signs may not contain electronic message centers (1179.07(C)(9)(c)).
- A sign shall not be illuminated by flashing or moving lights, and no sign shall be revolving, oscillating, or otherwise moving (Office District 1187.08(G)(2)(a)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Bay Village

- All signs in existence prior to the date of the ordinance's passage are exempt from Section 1179.02 so long as they were in conformance with the prior ordinance; however, any substantial alteration or replacement will be subject to the new ordinance (1179.02).
- Public safety signs and governmental flags are exempt from the design element table requirements (1179.02).
- Temporary window signs (limited to six square feet and displayed for not more than 30 days) and informational signs (such as 'No Trespassing' etc., limited to one square foot unless otherwise required by state code) do not require a permit (1179.04(D), 1179.04(G)).
- Temporary window signs are permitted for all except industrial activities and may not exceed 20% of the area of the window and are limited to 30 days (1179.07(B)(2)).
- Auxiliary design elements such as awnings, canopies, and marquees are permitted for all activities in all areas; a single identifying nameplate sign may be suspended from a canopy within specified size limits (1179.07(B)(1)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No signs other than temporary window signs, permitted residential/single-family home signs, or informational signs may be displayed unless an Application for Sign Permit is made to the Building Director, who refers it to the Architectural Board of Review for approval (1179.06).
- Applications for a sign permit may require a site plan, drawings, or other suitable illustrations sufficient to indicate the character of the sign and the surroundings (1179.06).
- Shopping centers and projects using Chapter 1189 (Mixed Use Overlay District) for development must submit their sign plans to the Planning Commission along with site and general building plans when requesting a building permit (1179.05(B)).
- In Mixed Use Overlay District, signage must comply with Chapter 1179 and a sign plan submittal is required that should enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community and the safety and orderliness of the area (1189.13).
- Monument signs, development monument signs, pole signs, and roof signs are subject to Planning Commission approval (1179 Table, 1179.04(B)(1)(d), 1179.04(C)(1)(d)).
- Planning Commission has the right to adjust sign chapter provisions where it is obvious that an alternative plan meets the basic intent of the chapter (1179.03(C), 1179.04(D)(5)).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/bay-village