# Sign Regulations in Bellefontaine, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bellefontaine, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/bellefontaine
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/bellefontaine/latest/bellefontaine_oh/0-0-0-36782)

## At a glance

Bellefontaine, Ohio regulates 11 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Real Estate Signs in the Residential, Office-Residential and Multiple-Family Developments zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 24 square feet, with a 12 feet from all property lines when possible setback (Sec. 1185.22 Real Estate Signs). Most commercial signs in Bellefontaine require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-District | 5 | — | 6 inches in height and 36 inches in length | — |
| R-3 District | 2 | — | 3 square feet | — |
| Residential, Office-Residential and Multiple-Family Developments | 2 | 6 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts | 1 | — | 200 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts | 1 | — | 200 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

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

### R-District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tourist Sign | — | 6 inches in height and 36 inches in length | — | — | One per intersection | At street intersections, fastened to an existing pole | — | 1185.18 Tourist Signs |
| Church Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1185.12 Exemptions |
| Institutional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1185.19 R-District; signs prohibited |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1185.12 Exemptions |
| Home Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1185.19 R-District; signs prohibited |

### Residential, Office-Residential and Multiple-Family Developments

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | 12 feet from all property lines when possible | — | Upon the lot or parcel offered for sale or for rent | — | 1185.22 Real Estate Signs |
| Real Estate Sign - Multiple-Family Developments | — | 100 square feet | — | As provided for in subsection (a)(2) | — | Upon the lot or parcel offered for sale or for rent | — | 1185.22 Real Estate Signs |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the building which houses the business advertised | — | 1185.15 General Requirements |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | 10 feet from the curb line | — | Not on the sidewalk or boulevard | — | 1185.15 General Requirements |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business establishment | Above the roof line of a building | — | 1185.16 Roof Signs |

## Prohibited signs in Bellefontaine

- No outdoor display or advertising sign shall be hereafter erected or altered within the City until a permit for the same has been issued by the Zoning Inspector.
- Any sign altered, placed or erected after the effective date of this chapter for which a permit has not been issued, shall be removed by the owner or person, firm or corporation having control thereof immediately upon receipt of written notice sent by certified mail by the Zoning Inspector.
- No person shall alter, enlarge, extend or relocate any sign except in conformity with this chapter.
- No display or advertising sign shall be attached to the standard of a free standing sign other than the display surface originally constructed as a part of such sign.
- A sign not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, but which is excused from complying therewith because of its existence on the effective date of this chapter shall be required to conform with this chapter should the business advertised thereby change ownership.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bellefontaine

- A sign having not more than ten square feet of display surface and fastened flat or flush against a building, on or over a show window or door of a store or business establishment, announcing without display or elaboration only the name of the proprietor and the nature of his business.
- A sign having not more than one square foot of display surface on a residence building, stating the name, address or other identification of the occupant, without any designation of the occupation or profession of the occupant.
- A sign having not more than ten square feet of display surface, on a public building or institution, giving the name and nature of the occupancy and information as the conditions of use or admission.
- Directional or traffic control signs on private property, provided such signs are reasonably necessary for the regulation of traffic or of parking areas.
- Church signs.
- Real estate signs in residential zones.
- Tourist signs.
- Auctioneer signs.
- Political signs.
- Outdoor decorative banners attached to utility and/or light poles promoting the City of Bellefontaine and/or its Downtown Business District.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No free standing sign shall be placed or anchored on the sidewalk or on the boulevard, nor shall any part of such sign, or the pole or support that holds or supports such sign, extend into or over any street, highway, alley, public walkway, sidewalk or boulevard.
- No such sign, its base, or any part of the structure shall be closer to the curb line than ten feet or the edge of the pavement when there is no curb.
- In case of a corner lot or other situations where the property abuts more than one public street, including alleys, the ten-foot limitation shall be determined by measuring from the primary street.

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

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