# Sign Regulations in Brooklyn, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brooklyn, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/brooklyn
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-12
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.brooklynohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/873/2023-Brooklyn-Zoning-Code---Effective-5-23-23?bidId=#page=97)

## At a glance

Brooklyn, Ohio regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground-Mounted Sign (Permanent)s in the Retail Business District (R-B), General Business District (G-B) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and Up to 40 sq. ft. (1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of frontage), with a 10 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from side lot lines; 10 ft from interior access drives; 25 ft from any other lot containing a non-residential use; 50 ft from any residential zoning district or land use setback (Sec. §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Ground-Mounted Sign); §1108.05(d)(1)(C)-(E); §1108.09(a); §1108.08(f)(5)-(6)). Most commercial signs in Brooklyn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Dwelling House District (SF-DH), Dwelling House District (D-H) | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Apartment House District (A-H), Multifamily Planned Development District (MF-PD) | 5 | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Retail Business District (R-B), General Business District (G-B) | 15 | 8 ft | Up to 50 sq. ft. (10% of façade area) | — |
| Limited Industrial District (L-I), General Industrial District (G-I) | 15 | 8 ft | Up to 50 sq. ft. (10% of façade area) | — |
| Public Facilities District (PF), Parks and Open Space District (PO) | 11 | 8 ft | Up to 50 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | — | — |

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

### Retail Business District (R-B), General Business District (G-B)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Permanent) | 8 ft | Up to 40 sq. ft. (1 sq. ft. per lineal foot of frontage) | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from side lot lines; 10 ft from interior access drives; 25 ft from any other lot containing a non-residential use; 50 ft from any residential zoning district or land use | 1 per frontage; maximum of 2 | On the same lot to which the sign is accessory | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Ground-Mounted Sign); §1108.05(d)(1)(C)-(E); §1108.09(a); §1108.08(f)(5)-(6) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign - Digital Changeable Copy (Permanent) | 8 ft | Up to 40 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from side lot lines; 10 ft from interior access drives; 25 ft from any other lot containing a non-residential use; 100 ft from any residential district/land use (digital copy); 250 ft minimum separation from residential for electronic signs | 1 per frontage; maximum of 2 | Ground-mounted sign on same lot as principal use | — | §1108.05(d)(1)(B)(iv); §1108.08(f)(1)-(6) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent) | — | 1.5 sq. ft. per linear foot of front building wall | — | 2 ft from building wall edge and party wall lines | No limit (applies per occupant) | On building wall; cannot extend above coping/eaves or beyond wall horizontally | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Wall Sign); §1108.05(2)(A)-(G); §1108.07(a) |
| Directional or Informational Sign (Permanent) | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot lines | No limit | On site (private property) | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Directional or Informational Sign); §1108.05(7) |
| Portable Sandwich Board Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 | On building face or in yard adjacent to any building elevation facing a street, parking lot, drive-through lane, or service drive; only on same lot as the business; not in right-of-way | — | §1108.06(d), Table 1108.06-1 (Portable Sandwich Board Sign permitted in Commercial Uses); §1108.06(e) (Portable Sandwich Board Sign); §1108.06(b)-(c) |
| Ground-Mounted Commercial Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft | 8 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per primary customer entrance | On same lot; near primary customer entrance; not in right-of-way | — | §1108.06(d), Table 1108.06-1 (Commercial Uses); §1108.06(e) (Ground-Mounted Commercial Sign) |
| Ground-Mounted Non-Commercial Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | No limit | On same lot; not in right-of-way | — | §1108.06(d), Table 1108.06-1 (Non-Commercial Sign permitted in Industrial Uses; applied to non-res uses per §1108.06(e)); §1108.06(e) (Ground-Mounted Non-Commercial Sign) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | 25 ft from right-of-way and side lot lines | 1 per frontage | On frontage | — | §1108.06(e) Construction Sign |

### Limited Industrial District (L-I), General Industrial District (G-I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Permanent) | 8 ft | Up to 40 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from side lot lines; 10 ft from interior access drives; 25 ft from any other lot containing a non-residential use; 50 ft from any residential zoning district or land use | 1 per frontage; maximum of 2 | On the same lot to which the sign is accessory | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Ground-Mounted Sign); §1108.05(d)(1)(C)-(E); §1108.09(a); §1108.08(f)(5)-(6) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign - Digital Changeable Copy (Permanent) | 8 ft | Up to 40 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from side lot lines; 10 ft from interior access drives; 25 ft from any other lot containing a non-residential use; 100 ft from any residential district/land use (digital copy); 250 ft minimum separation from residential for electronic signs | 1 per frontage; maximum of 2 | Ground-mounted sign on same lot as principal use | — | §1108.05(d)(1)(B)(iv); §1108.08(f)(1)-(6) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent) | — | 1.5 sq. ft. per linear foot of front building wall | — | 2 ft from building wall edge and party wall lines | No limit | On building wall; cannot extend above coping/eaves or beyond wall horizontally | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Wall Sign); §1108.05(2)(A)-(G); §1108.07(a) |
| Directional or Informational Sign (Permanent) | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot lines | No limit | On site (private property) | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Directional or Informational Sign); §1108.05(7) |
| Portable Sandwich Board Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 | On building face or in yard adjacent to any building elevation facing a street, parking lot, drive-through lane, or service drive; only on same lot as the business; not in right-of-way | — | §1108.06(d), Table 1108.06-1 (Portable Sandwich Board Sign permitted in Industrial Uses); §1108.06(e) (Portable Sandwich Board Sign); §1108.06(b)-(c) |
| Ground-Mounted Commercial Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft | 8 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 per primary customer entrance | On same lot; near primary customer entrance; not in right-of-way | — | §1108.06(d), Table 1108.06-1 (Commercial Sign permitted in Industrial Uses); §1108.06(e) (Ground-Mounted Commercial Sign) |
| Ground-Mounted Non-Commercial Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | No limit | On same lot; not in right-of-way | — | §1108.06(d), Table 1108.06-1 (Non-Commercial Sign permitted in Industrial Uses); §1108.06(e) (Ground-Mounted Non-Commercial Sign) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | 25 ft from right-of-way and side lot lines | 1 per frontage | On frontage | — | §1108.06(e) Construction Sign |

### Public Facilities District (PF), Parks and Open Space District (PO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground-Mounted Sign (Permanent) | 8 ft | Up to 40 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from side lot lines; 10 ft from interior access drives; 25 ft from any other lot containing a non-residential use; 50 ft from any residential zoning district or land use | 1 per frontage; maximum of 2 | On the same lot to which the sign is accessory | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Ground-Mounted Sign); §1108.05(d)(1)(C)-(E); §1108.09(a); §1108.08(f)(5)-(6) |
| Ground-Mounted Sign - Digital Changeable Copy (Permanent) | 8 ft | Up to 40 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way; 10 ft from side lot lines; 10 ft from interior access drives; 25 ft from any other lot containing a non-residential use; 100 ft from any residential district/land use (digital copy); 250 ft minimum separation from residential for electronic signs | 1 per frontage; maximum of 2 | Ground-mounted sign on same lot as principal use | — | §1108.05(d)(1)(B)(iv); §1108.08(f)(1)-(6) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent) | — | 1.5 sq. ft. per linear foot of front building wall | — | 2 ft from building wall edge and party wall lines | No limit | On building wall; cannot extend above coping/eaves or beyond wall horizontally | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Wall Sign); §1108.05(2)(A)-(G); §1108.07(a) |
| Projecting Sign (Permanent) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Attached to building; cannot be supported from an un-braced parapet wall | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Projecting Sign); §1108.05(3)(A)-(B) |
| Menu Board Sign (Permanent) | 6 ft | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | 2 per drive-through lane | On site serving an approved drive-through lane | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Menu Board Sign); §1108.05(4); §1108.08(f)(5) |
| Directional or Informational Sign (Permanent) | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from side lot lines | No limit | On site (private property) | — | §1108.05(d), Table 1108.05-3 (Directional or Informational Sign); §1108.05(7) |
| Ground-Mounted Non-Commercial Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | No limit | On same lot; not in right-of-way | — | §1108.06(e) (Ground-Mounted Non-Commercial Sign) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | 25 ft from right-of-way and side lot lines | 1 per frontage | On frontage | — | §1108.06(e) Construction Sign |

## Prohibited signs in Brooklyn

- No sign shall be erected that will interfere with proper and convenient protection of property or with public safety (1108.02(c)).
- No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except a governmental sign, such as a traffic control or directional sign (1108.04(a)(1)).
- Bench signs are prohibited (1108.04(b)).
- Roof signs are prohibited (1108.04(c)).
- Streamers or banners used by private or publicly held corporations are prohibited unless permitted as a community activity or special event sign provided in this section (1108.04(d)).
- Exposed neon or skeleton tubing is prohibited (1108.04(e)).
- Dynamic signs are prohibited unless expressly permitted in this section (1108.04(f)).
- Pole signs are prohibited unless expressly permitted in this section (1108.04(g)).
- Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property is prohibited, except for signs that are magnetic/static decals or painted as part of the vehicle as designed by the manufacturer and do not break the silhouette of the vehicle (1108.04(h)).
- Mobile or portable signs are prohibited (1108.04(i)).
- Off-premises signs, including billboards, are prohibited (1108.04(j)).
- Gas inflatable signs or devices are prohibited (1108.04(k)).
- Any sign that employs parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, scroll, spin, flash, have moving illumination, or otherwise make use of motion or similar electronic components to attract attention is prohibited, except signs performing a service function such as indication of time or temperature (1108.04(l)).
- Any sign that contains or consists of posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving devices is prohibited (1108.04(m)).
- Strings of lights used for advertising or attracting attention when not part of a sign or holiday decorations are prohibited (1108.04(n)).
- No sign of any classification shall be installed, erected, or attached in any manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escape (1108.05(o)).
- Any sign that obstructs sight lines along any public way, traffic control lights, street name signs at intersections, or signals at railroad grade crossings is prohibited (1108.05(p)).
- Any sign visible from street sight lines that contains arrows or words such as “stop,” “go,” or “slow,” or the like is prohibited (1108.05(q)).
- Use of glaring, unshielded, or undiffused lights or bulbs for sign illumination is prohibited; lights must be shielded to avoid projection onto adjoining properties or roadways (1108.08(b)).
- Sign illumination that could distract motorists or otherwise create a traffic hazard is prohibited (1108.08(c)).
- Illumination by bare bulbs or flames is prohibited (1108.08(d)).
- Illumination from signs on non-residential properties shall not exceed one-half foot-candles at five feet height when measured at any point on property in a residential zoning district or at any road right-of-way (1108.08(e)).
- No person shall maintain any sign in dangerous or defective condition; such signs must be removed or repaired (1108.13(b)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Brooklyn

- Governmental signs (permanent or temporary), flags, or banners erected and maintained by the city pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, or required by law, ordinance, or governmental regulation (1108.03(a)).
- Flags, emblems, and insignia of any governmental agency (1108.03(b)).
- Commemorative plaques placed by recognized historical agencies (1108.03(c)).
- Signs located inside a recreation center, stadium, open air theater, shopping center, arena, community center, or similar use, which can be viewed only by persons within such facility (1108.03(d)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All electronic signs are subject to review and approval by the planning commission (1108.08(f)(1)).
- Permanent ground-mounted signs require a construction-level detailed landscape plan and a landscape maintenance plan to be submitted with the sign permit (1108.09(a)(4)).
- Planning commission may grant an extension of the planting timeframe for required sign landscaping if planting within one season is not feasible due to weather (1108.09(b)).
- Ground-mounted sign foundations may use materials other than stone/brick/etc. only if approved by the planning commission (1108.05(1)(A)).
- No equipment may be added to a sign structure or supports other than as approved by the planning commission and detailed in the sign permit materials (1108.10(c)).
- Projecting signs (such as marquee signs) shall not be installed unless the support has been designed specifically for supporting a sign and approved by the building commissioner (1108.10(e)).
- If a legal nonconforming sign is damaged or destroyed by more than 50% of its current reproduction value or taken down, rebuilding/relocation requires compliance with current regulations and approval of a sign permit application by the building commissioner (1108.12(b)(4)(A)).
- Replacement of the face of a legal nonconforming wall or ground-mounted sign may be permitted via sign permit by the building commissioner if the sign face area is not increased (1108.12(b)(5)).
- Human signs are subject to all applicable sign standards and sign permit requirements (1108.06(3)(A)).
- Orders for removal/compliance may be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals within 10 days of receipt of notice (1108.13(d)(3)).
- No explicit master sign plan requirement is stated in the provided sections.

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

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