# Sign Regulations in Canton, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Canton, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/canton
- **Data last verified:** 2024-12-20
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/canton/latest/canton_oh/0-0-0-49991)

## At a glance

Canton, Ohio regulates 12 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Subdivision Sign (ground/monument)s in the R-1 through R-5 (Residential Districts) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 32 sq ft, and Not specified wide (Sec. 1187.19(a)). Most commercial signs in Canton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 through R-5 (Residential Districts) | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | Yes |
| B-O, N-1, B-3, B-4, B-5, S-C, I-1, and I-2 (Business and Industrial Districts) | 7 | Eave line, lowest edge at least 10 ft above grade | 200 sq ft | Yes |
| Freeway Interchange | 1 | 25 feet | 50 sq. ft. | Yes |
| Hall of Fame Village (HOFV) Zoning District | 1 | Not specified | Not specified | Yes |
| Open Space, Community Service and Urban Garden Districts | 4 | 20 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | Yes |
| B-5, Central Business District | 1 | 18 feet or eighty percent (80%) of the Upper-Level Building Sign Band height, whichever is less | 800 square feet | Yes |

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

### R-1 through R-5 (Residential Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Sign (ground/monument) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Per entrance | Yes | 1187.19(a) |
| Wall Sign | Eave line or bottom of second story window sill, whichever is lower | 4 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Wall-mounted | Yes | 1187.19(b)(1)(A) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | 15 sq ft per sign face | Not specified | — | — | Freestanding | Yes | 1187.19(c) |

### B-O, N-1, B-3, B-4, B-5, S-C, I-1, and I-2 (Business and Industrial Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Eave line | 90 sq ft (150 sq ft for commercial uses exceeding 30,000 sq ft on first floor) | Not specified | — | — | Building-mounted | Yes | 1187.20(e) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | Eave line | Not specified | Width of building wall or tenant space | — | — | Awning or canopy | Yes | 1187.20(g) |
| Projecting Sign | Eave line | 16 sq ft per sign face | Not specified | — | — | Projecting | Yes | 1187.20(h) |
| Window Sign | Not specified | 25% of total window area for permanent signs, 35% for combined permanent and temporary signs | Not specified | — | — | Window | Yes | 1187.20(i) |
| Marquee Sign | Eave line, lowest edge at least 10 ft above grade | 150 sq ft total per marquee structure | Not specified | — | — | Marquee | Yes | 1187.20(j) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft (12 ft for shopping centers) | 30 sq ft (80 sq ft for shopping centers) | Not specified | — | — | Freestanding | Yes | 1187.20(k) |
| Upper-Level Building Sign | 10 ft, not extending above eave line | 200 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Top floor of building | Yes | 1187.20(o) |

### Open Space, Community Service and Urban Garden Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | 24 sq. ft. per sign face | Not specified | — | — | Freestanding | Yes | 1187.18 |
| Informational Sign | 8 feet | 10 sq. ft. | Not specified | — | — | Interior of site | No | 1187.18(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft. | 200 sq. ft. | Not specified | — | — | Freestanding | Yes | 1187.18(3) |
| Wall and Projecting Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | Not specified | — | — | Wall and projecting | Yes | 1187.18(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Canton

- Roof mounted billboards and advertising signs extending above the roof line.
- Signs on public or private benches in the public right of way.
- Signs tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to utility/traffic poles, trees, stakes, fences, or other objects, or placed on any public property or in the public right-of-way and the edge of a sidewalk; or on any private property without the permission of the Property owner.
- Pole signs in OS Open Space, CS Community Service, and residential districts R-1 thru R-5 except as regulated by other sections of this Chapter.
- Permanently installed air activated signs and inflatable attention devices, such as air filled balloons, pinwheels, and other similar devices.
- Vehicular signs.
- Mechanical movement signs, including revolving signs.
- Pennant strings and streamers.
- Any signs that imitate, resemble, interfere with, or obstruct official traffic lights, signs, or signals.
- Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or that prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound, odor or contain open flames.
- Reflective signs or signs containing mirrors.
- Signs incorporating beacon or festoon lighting.
- Signs erected without the permission of the Property owner, with the exception of those authorized or required by local, state, or federal government.
- Abandoned Signs

## Signs exempt from permit in Canton

- Official traffic signs.
- Government/regulatory signs.
- Signs inside a building, or other enclosed facility, which are not meant to be viewed from the outside, and are located greater than three (3) feet from the window.
- Address signs - Up to two (2) signs stating address, number and/or name of occupants of the premises.  Residential districts. Signs not to exceed three (3) sq. ft. in area. Non-residential districts. Signs not to exceed five (5) sq. ft. in area.
- Public signs - Signs erected or required by government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, and identification or directional signs for public facilities.
- Flags (location, height, number restrictions apply)
- Legal Notices
- Memorial Signs: Public monument or historical identification sign erected by the City of Canton, including plaques signs up to three (3) sq. ft. in area.
- Permanent Architectural Features: Signs which are a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure, existing at the time of adoption of this ordinance.
- Temporary Signs: In accordance with Regulations by Sign Type.
- ATMs: Signs which are an integral part of an ATM structure as originally designed by the manufacturer, and which do not break the silhouette of the ATM.
- City of Canton Directional and Information Kiosks: Located within the Public right-of-ways, City property or after first having permission of the Property owner in B-5 Central Business District, Target Investment Zones and Destination Districts.
- Holiday Decorations: Associated with any generally recognized national, local or religious holiday.
- Illuminated Building Accents: Large format video board/electronic message units (digital display) and digital kiosks being a programmatic element of Centennial Plaza, located within a Destination District.
- Real estate signs, non-illuminated, indicating the subject property it is located on is for sale, rent or lease.
- Temporary construction signs, non-illuminated, naming the project, developer, etc. and erected no earlier than forty-five days prior to construction and taken down no later than thirty days after construction.
- On premise directional signs, no larger than eight square feet and having no advertising except for the name of the business.
- Temporary Sidewalk or Roadside Signs
- Political signs, non-illuminated, no larger than thirty-two square feet.
- Nameplate, two square feet or less and affixed to the wall.
- As regulated through other sections of this Chapter

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

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