# Sign Regulations in Beachwood, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Beachwood, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/beachwood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://www.beachwoodohio.com/DocumentCenter/View/5282/Zoning-Map)

## At a glance

Beachwood, Ohio regulates 24 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Temporary Vertical Banner (Street Pole)s in the Public and Institutional Districts (U-5) zoning district are capped at Installed at least 15 ft 6 in above grade tall, 30 inches x 84 inches = 17.5 sq ft, and 30 inches wide, with a Min height from ground 15'6" setback (Sec. 1141.14(f)). Most commercial signs in Beachwood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (U-1, U-2A, U-3, U-3A) | 6 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Planned Multi-Family Residential District (U-3C) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public and Institutional Districts (U-5) | 8 | Installed at least 15 ft 6 in above grade | 40 sq ft | — |
| Integrated Business District (U-4a) | 8 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center District (U-4b) | 8 | 12 ft (or 8 ft for freestanding tenant ID) | 48 sq ft | — |
| Office Building and Industrial Districts (U-7a, U-8, U-8a) | 9 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Motor Service District (U-9) | 10 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Planned Mixed Use Development District (U-10) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 8 ft (30 sq ft version); 12 ft (48 sq ft version) | As set by reviewing Commission, generally up to 30 sq ft area and 8 ft height per non-shopping center district; up to 48 sq ft/12 ft in shopping center districts | — |

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

### Public and Institutional Districts (U-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall; can project max 18 inches from wall; not more than 20% of sign's height above top of wall. | — | 1141.14(c)(1) |
| Marquee Sign | 4 ft vertical dimension (including face) | — | — | — | — | May extend above face or topside of marquee | — | 1141.14(c)(2) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from boundaries, min 25 ft from residential district line | 1 per use/parcel/building (2 if frontage on multiple streets) | Min 10 ft from all property boundary and right-of-way; Min 25 ft from any residential zoning district line | — | 1141.14(c)(3) |
| Wayfinding Sign | 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | As authorized by the Commission, not specified | — | 1141.14(d) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Sign (Option 1) | 6 ft (for freestanding) | 20 sq ft | — | Freestanding: min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | 1 per lot per period | — | — | 1141.14(e)(1) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Construction) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | 1 per site | Min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | — | 1141.14(e)(2) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (For Sale or Lease) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | — | — | 1141.14(e)(3) |
| Temporary Vertical Banner (Street Pole) | Installed at least 15 ft 6 in above grade | 30 inches x 84 inches = 17.5 sq ft | 30 inches | Min height from ground 15'6" | 1 per pole | On a single street pole within right-of-way, along the street frontage of the applicant | — | 1141.14(f) |

### Office Building and Industrial Districts (U-7a, U-8, U-8a)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft from side lot line or party wall | 1 per establishment or storefront | Amount of projection as determined by Building Commissioner; may not extend above roof line | — | 1141.17(c)(2) |
| Marquee Sign | 4 ft vertical dimension | — | — | — | — | Can extend above face or topside of marquee | — | 1141.17(c)(3) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft property/ROW; min 25 ft residential zone | 1 per parcel; 2 if frontage on different streets | Min 10 ft from all property boundary lines and right-of-way; min 25 ft from any residential zoning district line | — | 1141.17(c)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Window | — | 1141.17(c)(5) |
| Wayfinding Sign | 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | As approved by Commission | — | 1141.17(d) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Sign (Option 1) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 20 sq ft | — | Freestanding: min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | 1 per lot per period | Freestanding: min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | — | 1141.17(e)(1) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Construction) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from right-of-way and property line | 1 per site | Min 10 ft from right-of-way and property line | — | 1141.17(e)(2) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (For Sale or Lease) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | — | — | 1141.17(e)(3) |

### Motor Service District (U-9)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from property line/ROW, 25 ft from residential zone line | 1 per use/parcel/building; 2 if multiple streets | Min 10 ft from all property boundary/right-of-way; min 25 ft from residential zoning line | — | 1141.18(c)(3) |
| Window Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Window | — | 1141.18(c)(4) |
| Pole Sign (Freeway Abutment) | 50 ft | 300 sq ft per face | — | Min 20 ft from any property line; min 200 ft from any other pole sign | 1 per qualifying parcel | On parcels abutting freeway right-of-way; min 20 ft from property line. | — | 1141.18(c)(5) |
| Changeable Copy Monument Sign (Automobile Agencies) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per agency | Permanent monument; in addition to other authorized signage. | — | 1141.18(c)(6), 1141.09(c) |
| Wayfinding Sign | 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | As approved by Commission | — | 1141.18(e) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Sign (Option 1) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 20 sq ft | — | Freestanding: min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | 1 per lot per period | Freestanding: min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | — | 1141.18(d)(1) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (Construction) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | 1 per site | Min 10 ft from right-of-way and side lot line | — | 1141.18(d)(2) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign (For Sale or Lease) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | — | — | 1141.18(d)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Beachwood

- No signs shall be attached to utility poles, street signs, or traffic control poles, except as specifically allowed.
- No signs shall be located within or obstruct any public right-of-way, traffic control device, or street identification signs at intersections, except as specifically allowed.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct sight distances for vehicles entering or exiting any property or traveling on a public street.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in a manner that interferes with access to any fire lane, exit, or standpipe, or obstructs windows to the extent that required light or ventilation is reduced below minimum standards.
- Pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similar devices are prohibited.
- Mobile, portable, or wheeled signs are prohibited.
- Signs placed on parked vehicles or trailers for advertising a product or business are prohibited, except for identification signs on vehicles used regularly in business.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon a roof or any structure extending above the roof line are prohibited.
- Inflatable images are prohibited.
- Signs containing flashing, moving, intermittent, or running lights or which imitate traffic control devices are prohibited, except changeable copy signs as defined.
- Signs employing any element that revolves, rotates, whirls, spins, or otherwise uses motion to attract attention are prohibited.
- Beacons or searchlights are prohibited.
- High intensity strobe lights are prohibited.
- Signs which hang less than 8.5 feet above a pedestrian walkway or less than 14 feet above a vehicular path are prohibited.
- Window signs except as specifically authorized are prohibited.
- No sign shall be allowed to remain if it becomes structurally unsafe, hazardous, or endangers safety and must be repaired or removed upon order.
- No sign shall be erected, displayed, relocated, replaced, reinstalled, or altered without a sign permit issued by the Building Commissioner, except as specifically exempted.
- All signs must comply with applicable building, safety, and electrical codes, including the National Electric Code where illuminated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Beachwood

- The provisions of the sign ordinance shall not amend or interfere with other rules or regulations governing traffic or public safety signs.
- The sign regulations shall not apply to any signs erected by the City for public purposes.
- No sign permit is required for periodic repair, repainting, or maintenance that does not alter the sign face, design, or structure.
- No sign permit is required for changing the lettering, graphic, or information on a changeable copy sign already approved.
- No sign permit is required for legal notices, warnings, regulatory, informational, or directional signs erected by any public agency or utility.
- No sign permit is required for traffic-control signs not exceeding 2 sq. ft. in area, directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property (such as handicapped/visitor/reserved parking and loading).
- No sign permit is required for wall signs not exceeding 3 sq. ft. in area that cannot be seen from a public street, right-of-way, or adjacent properties.
- No sign permit is required for temporary signs not exceeding 4 sq. ft. in area and 4' in height, provided that no more than 4 such signs per lot/parcel, each displayed for no more than 30 days and at least 10' from any street right-of-way or side lot line.
- Automobile agencies may place informational stick-on signs (consistent design, max 1 sq. ft.) on windshields of vehicles for sale, placed in the upper right corner.
- Two permanent, non-illuminated signs not exceeding 1 sq. ft. each are allowed per single-family or two-family dwelling, at least 10' from side lot line and at least 2' from the paved roadway.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs must be designed, erected, posted, displayed, altered, reconstructed, moved or maintained in accordance with this Chapter, and a sign permit is required except as specified in 1141.07.
- Each application for a sign permit must include scaled drawings showing design/layout, illumination, location, construction details, and any other information required by the Building Commissioner.
- Each application for a sign permit is referred to the Architectural Board of Review for consideration and no sign permit is issued without their approval.
- Sites with multiple tenants/uses in public/institutional, integrated business, shopping center, office/industrial, or motor service districts may be required or permitted to submit a wayfinding signage plan as part of site development plan review, subject to Commission approval.
- Permanent signs in Planned Multi-Family Residential Districts (U-3C) and in Planned Mixed-Use Development Districts (U-10) require review and approval as part of the final site development plan approval.
- Installation of temporary, vertical banners on street poles requires a permit issued by the Building Department and is subject to review.
- Variance process is available for area and use variances; applications require a justified statement and supporting evidence, and may require meetings/hearings and approval by Commission and Council as outlined in Chapter 1159.

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

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