# Sign Regulations in Brecksville, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brecksville, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/brecksville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://www.brecksville.oh.us/City%20Info/PDFs/StreetMaps/Zoning%20Map%20Jan%202024.pdf)

## At a glance

Brecksville, Ohio regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Nameplates in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 3 ft (ground) tall and 2 sq ft, with a 10 ft from side lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 1187.08, Sec. 1187.14). Most commercial signs in Brecksville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft (single face) | — |
| Business Districts | 9 | Not <8 ft above sidewalk | 30 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (Office Laboratory, Manufacturing Distribution) | 5 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Community Facilities Districts | 4 | 6 ft | 30 sq ft (two sides permitted) | — |
| Automotive Parking Districts | 2 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | 3 ft (ground) | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from side lot line | 1 per unit | On building or lot; ground sign requires 10 ft from side lot line | — | Sec. 1187.08, Sec. 1187.14 |
| Identification Sign | 5 ft | 20 sq ft (single face) | — | 10 ft from ROW, 15 ft from lot line | 1 per street | 10 ft from ROW; 15 ft from lot line; special restrictions apply if near single/double family residence or residential property | — | Sec. 1187.08(b), Sec. 1187.08(c) |
| Directional Sign | 5 ft (wall); 3 ft (ground) | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft from side lot line | 1 | 5 ft from side lot line | — | Sec. 1187.08(b) |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft (5 ft for type, see 1187.03(a)(2)B) | 10 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW, 15 ft from side lot line | See detailed rules | 10 ft from ROW, 15 ft from side lot line | — | Sec. 1187.08(b) |
| Bulletin Board (for Community Facilities Use Only) | 6 ft | Add'l 10 sq ft (as part of ground or wall sign) | — | Same as associated sign | 1 per each main building/lot as allowed | As part of approved ground/wall identification sign | — | Sec. 1187.11(b) |

### Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Ground) | 5 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW; 25 ft from lot line; 100 ft from res. district | 1 per zoning lot | 5 ft from ROW; 25 ft from lot line; minimum 100 ft from residential district line | — | Sec. 1187.09(c) |
| Identification Sign (Wall) | — | Varies by frontage | — | 3 ft min from end of building unit | 1 per unit | Front of building/unit | — | Sec. 1187.09(b)(2), (c) |
| Identification Sign (Canopy/Awning) | Must not project above wall/facade | 8 inches high (on awning face/side) | — | — | 1 per business | On awning/canopy | — | Sec. 1187.09(c)(8) |
| Door/Window Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per door/window | Door/window/adjacent | — | Sec. 1187.09(c) |
| Window Sign | — | 5 sq ft each; total window signage (perm + temp) may not exceed 25% of window area | — | — | 1 per unit | Front of building/unit | — | Sec. 1187.09(c), (d)(11) |
| Directional Sign (Ground/Wall) | 3 ft (ground); 5 ft (wall) | 2 sq ft | — | 1 ft from ROW; 5 ft from side lot line | 2 per lot | 1 ft from ROW; 5 ft from side lot line | — | Sec. 1187.09(c) |
| Projection Identification Sign (Option) | Not <8 ft above sidewalk | 9 sq ft (or up to 1.5 sq ft for pedestrian signs if permitted) | — | — | See special provisions | Front elevation (instead of wall/window sign) | — | Sec. 1187.09(d)(6) |
| Ground Identification – Multi-tenant Buildings | 5 ft | As per ground sign | — | Same as ground sign | See special provisions | Site entrance(s) | — | Sec. 1187.09(d)(7)(C) |

### Industrial Districts (Office Laboratory, Manufacturing Distribution)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Ground) | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 40 ft from ROW/lot line; 100 ft from res/business | 1 per zoning lot; 1 additional for industrial park | 40 ft from ROW and lot line; minimum 100 ft from residential/business | — | Sec. 1187.10(c)(1), (d) |
| Identification Sign (Wall) | 3 ft | Varies | — | — | 1 per unit + service entrance nameplate | Main entrance wall/frontage | — | Sec. 1187.10(c), (d)(2) |
| Identification Sign (Canopy) | 1 ft (vertical dimension) | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On building | — | Sec. 1187.10(c) |
| Directional Sign (Ground/Wall) | 3 ft (ground); 5 ft (wall) | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW; 15 ft from side lot line | 2 per lot/unit | 5 ft from ROW; 15 ft from side lot line | — | Sec. 1187.10(c) |
| Ground ID Sign – Multi-tenant Building Option | 6 ft | 40 sq ft (see multi-tenant provisions) | — | As per ground sign | See notes | At building entrance(s) | — | Sec. 1187.10(d)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Brecksville

- Advertising signs on vehicles such as parked trucks or trailers on private or public property visible from a public street, except for limited business identification on commercial vehicles within stated restrictions.
- Billboards (signs directing attention to businesses, products, services, or activities not on the same lot as the sign's location).
- Flashing, animated, or moving signs, including revolving signs, except when displaying time or temperature as a public service.
- Gas filled balloons, search lights, pennants, positive air pressure bags, or streamers used or associated with advertising purposes.
- Pole signs (free-standing signs supported by a pole or poles).
- Roof signs (signs erected on or over the roof of any building).
- Signs on street rights-of-way and public lands, including any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, wall, tree or other surface located on public property, unless permitted for municipal/governmental use.
- Signs containing arrows or words such as 'stop', 'go', 'slow', etc., with movements, content, coloring, or illumination resembling traffic control signs or signals.
- Internally illuminated window signs, except for explicitly permitted information signs.
- Free-standing signs located along freeways, as defined, designed to be visible to freeway traffic.
- Changeable copy signs, except for bulletin board signs permitted in community facilities uses.
- Movement restrictions: No sign shall revolve, rotate, whirl, spin, flash or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention, except to perform a public service function.
- No sign shall be erected to obstruct pedestrian/motorist sight lines, traffic-control devices, or street name signs.
- No sign shall project over or obstruct required windows or doors of any building, fire escape, or interfere with other safety provisions.
- No sign shall be located in street rights-of-way and/or public lands except municipal/governmental signs.
- No sign not specifically permitted by district regulation (Sections 1187.08 through 1187.12) is allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brecksville

- Cornerstones and permanent building plaques displaying the date of construction, building name or similar information.
- Display of official public notices, the United States Flag, State of Ohio Flag, flags/emblems/insignia of official governmental bodies, and other defined flags displayed on private property.
- Holiday decorations displayed for customary periods of time.
- Painted wall murals or other similar art work if approved by the Planning Commission and Council.
- Signage that is not advertising and is an integral part of the original construction of vending machines, fuel pumps, or similar devices.
- Street name signs.
- Special signage determined by the Planning Commission to be reasonable considering the intent and regulations of the sign code.
- Signage erected and/or maintained by the city for public purposes.
- Flags, as defined (piece of cloth or similar material used as a symbol and attached by one edge to a stationary pole or structure).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Every application for a sign permit (for permanent and temporary signs, except as otherwise exempted) must include detailed drawings showing sign design, location, materials, colors, site plan, and other required information and is subject to Planning Commission review and approval.
- The Planning Commission may recommend and Council may approve deviations from specific sign requirements (number, area, location, height, content) if included in the development plan review and approval process. Such deviations become the legal nonconforming signage for the development.
- For existing developments with substantial changes, deviation from sign requirements may also be granted via Planning Commission recommendation and Council approval.
- For any applicant desiring to deviate from sign regulations, application must be made to Planning Commission, a public hearing held, and, if approved by Planning Commission, submitted to Council for majority vote approval before deviation becomes effective.
- Deviation applications must be accompanied by a fee (e.g., $50.00).
- All deviations or approved signage must be incorporated into the approved final development plans on file with the Building Department.
- Expiration: If a sign for which a deviation or permit has been approved is not constructed or under substantial construction within six months from permit issuance, the deviation or permit expires.
- No permanent or temporary sign (unless specifically exempted by the code) may be erected, placed, relocated, or altered without a sign permit reviewed by the Planning Commission.

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

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