# Sign Regulations in Chillicothe, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chillicothe, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/chillicothe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chillicothe/latest/chillicothe_oh/0-0-0-50931)

## At a glance

Chillicothe, Ohio regulates 6 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the DE District zoning district are capped at 20 ft. tall and 20 sq. ft. (Sec. 1179.08(a), 1179.08(l)(1)). Most commercial signs in Chillicothe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DE District | 1 | 20 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| RC District | 1 | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — |
| GC District | 1 | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| RO District | 1 | 15 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| LC District | 1 | 15 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| GI District | 1 | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| IR District | 1 | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| IP District | 1 | 20 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| PUD District | 1 | — | — | — |
| SU District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 100 sq. ft. total for all faces | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### DE District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) | Building wall facing street, parking lot, or service drive | — | 1179.08(a), 1179.08(l)(1) |

### RC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft. | 300 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) | Building wall facing street, parking lot, or service drive | — | 1179.08(a), 1179.08(l)(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not over street right-of-way | — | 1179.08(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Not less than 9 ft. above sidewalk or ground level | — | 1179.08(c) |
| Roof Sign | — | 100 sq. ft. total for all faces | — | — | — | GC, RC, DE Districts | — | 1179.08(e) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 33% of total window area | — | — | — | Window | — | 1179.08(f) |
| Off-Premises Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | Nonresidential districts | — | 1179.08(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Chillicothe

- Banners, streamers, pennants and similar air-activated moving signs used or intended to be used as permanent signs.
- Flashing or high intensity lights mounted on a sign or otherwise mounted inside or outside a structure so as to be visible from any adjacent property or roadway.
- Any sign that obstructs any part of a doorway, exit, fire escape, or access route.
- Any sign that resembles or is intended to resemble a traffic control device, or is located in such a manner so as to obscure or impact the effectiveness of such traffic control device or signal.
- Any sign affixed to any utility pole, tree, traffic control signal or sign, public bench or otherwise located within the street right-of-way.
- Signs which move or contain elements that are animated to give the perception of movement and which are located within ten (10) feet of the right-of-way of any street or roadway.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chillicothe

- Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential use and are not of a commercial nature.
- Signs erected by a governmental entity for a recognized public purpose and duly authorized by any law, statute or ordinance.
- Signs located on the inside of a structure or building, that are not designed or located so as to be typically visible from outside the building.
- Signs which are in the nature of cornerstones, commemorative tablets and historic designations, provided such signs are less than nine (9) square feet in size.
- Signs clearly in the nature of decorations customarily associated with a national, local or religious holiday.
- Flags or insignias of any governmental entity when not displayed as an advertising device, or in connection with any commercial promotion.
- Signs or banners not more than six (6) square feet in area associated with an active commercial or business in the DE or RC District indicating 'open' or 'closed'.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Plans for signage in the SU and PUD Districts must be submitted with the required Development Plan; the Planning Commission may impose additional requirements.
- Uses having drive-through facilities shall submit a specific site plan for signage, showing the type, size and location of all permanent signs, including directional signs and menu boards. Such site plan shall be subject to review by the Board of Zoning Appeals and shall be specifically approved prior to issuance of a zoning certificate.

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

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