# Sign Regulations in Columbiana, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Columbiana, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/columbiana
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/columbiana/latest/columbiana_oh/0-0-0-4714)

## At a glance

Columbiana, Ohio regulates 15 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial (C) and Industrial (I) zoning district are capped at 25 feet at the setback line, may increase one foot in height for every five feet of setback tall and 75 square feet, with a Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line setback (Sec. § 1294.05(c)). Most commercial signs in Columbiana require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential (R) and Agricultural-Open Space-Conservation (A-O-C) | 7 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| Commercial (C) and Industrial (I) | 5 | 25 feet at the setback line, may increase one foot in height for every five feet of setback | 100 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 20 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential (R) and Agricultural-Open Space-Conservation (A-O-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per institution | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.04(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per institution | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.04(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Home Occupation | — | 20 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per home occupation | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.04(b) |
| Wall Sign - Home Occupation | — | 20 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per home occupation | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.04(b) |
| Freestanding Sign - Seasonal Roadside Stand | — | 20 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per seasonal roadside stand | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.04(c) |
| Wall Sign - Seasonal Roadside Stand | — | 20 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per seasonal roadside stand | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.04(c) |
| Freestanding Sign - Subdivision or Neighborhood | — | 20 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per entrance | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.04(d) |

### Commercial (C) and Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Mounted Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | One per premises | Affixed flat against the wall of a building | — | § 1294.05(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet at the setback line, may increase one foot in height for every five feet of setback | 75 square feet | — | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | One per premises | Not closer than ten feet from any right-of-way line | — | § 1294.05(c) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per premises | Shall not extend into the public right-of-way used by vehicular traffic | — | § 1294.05(d) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | May take the form of any sign allowed in divisions (a), (b), (c), or (d) | — | — | § 1294.05(e) |
| Window Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | Two per premises | Permanently painted or lettered upon windows or doors | — | § 1294.05(f) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Identification Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 1294.06(a) |
| Address Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 1294.06(a) |
| Building Mounted Memorial Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per building | Mounted on building | — | § 1294.06(b) |
| Awning or Canopy | — | — | — | — | — | On awning or canopy | — | § 1294.06(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Columbiana

- Signs are prohibited in all districts unless specifically defined, authorized and constructed in compliance with this chapter, the Codified Ordinances of Columbiana, Ohio and any other applicable regulations, or a variance granted pursuant to § 1294.15.
- All permanent signs require a permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and such signs not having a permit are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Unattended signs on public property, including, but not limited to, parks and rights-of-way, shall be considered abandoned signs.
- Any sign which is not accordingly permitted by specific definition, authorization and construction requirements is prohibited within the city.

## Signs exempt from permit in Columbiana

- Signs authorized for temporary use by the provisions of this chapter do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Pre-application meeting: The potential applicant may schedule a pre-application meeting with the Zoning Inspector or the Assistant Zoning Inspector. The purpose of this meeting shall be to review the applicant's sign plan and to explore options for the sign to conform to this chapter, without a sign variance.
- Submittal requirements: An application for a sign variance shall be filed on a form provided by the Zoning Inspector or the Assistant Zoning Inspector, and shall be accompanied by the following requirements: Name, address, and phone number of applicant(s) and property owner; Proof of ownership, legal interest or written authority; Legal description of property or portion thereof; Description of variance requested; Narrative statements establishing and substantiating the justification for the variance pursuant to division (a) of this section; Elevations and other drawings at a reasonable scale to convey the need for the variance; Payment of the application fee; and Any other documents deemed necessary by the Zoning Inspector or the Assistant Zoning Inspector.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Columbiana, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Columbiana+OH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-columbiana

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