# Sign Regulations in Dayton, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dayton, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/dayton
- **Data last verified:** 2024-11-29
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://www.daytonohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10707/Official-Zoning-Map-Full?bidId=)

## At a glance

Dayton, Ohio regulates 7 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Building Signs in the Downtown Districts zoning district are capped at Not specified tall, 1.5 sq ft, and Not specified wide (Sec. (150.900.6)). Most commercial signs in Dayton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential and Manufactured Home Districts | 4 | 5 ft | 25 sq ft | No |
| Multi-Family Residential Districts | 4 | 5 ft | 25 sq ft | No |
| Downtown Districts | 7 | 20 ft | 25 sq ft | No |
| Commercial Districts (SNC, SGC, ENC, MNC, MGC) | 6 | 20 ft | 35 sq ft, single occupancy, 50 sq ft, multiple occupancy | No |
| Mixed-Use Hub, Transitional, Campus-Institutional, and Park/Open Space Districts (MX, T, CI, OS) | 6 | 20 ft | 35 sq ft | No |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, BP) | 4 | 8 ft | 35 sq ft | No |

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

### Downtown Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Not specified | 1.5 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Building | No | (150.900.6) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 6 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Projecting | No | (150.900.6) |
| Window Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | — | Window | No | (150.900.6) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Freestanding | No | (150.900.6) |
| Pedestrian Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Pedestrian | No | (150.900.6) |
| Wallscape | Not specified | No maximum area | Not specified | — | — | Wallscape | No | (150.900.6) |
| Entrance or Exit Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Entrance or Exit | No | (150.900.6) |

### Commercial Districts (SNC, SGC, ENC, MNC, MGC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Not specified | 2 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Building | No | (150.900.7) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 16 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Projecting | No | (150.900.7) |
| Window Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | — | Window | No | (150.900.7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 35 sq ft, single occupancy, 50 sq ft, multiple occupancy | Not specified | — | — | Freestanding | No | (150.900.7) |
| Pedestrian Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Pedestrian | No | (150.900.7) |
| Entrance or Exit Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Entrance or Exit | No | (150.900.7) |

### Mixed-Use Hub, Transitional, Campus-Institutional, and Park/Open Space Districts (MX, T, CI, OS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | Not specified | 1 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Building | No | (150.900.8) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft | 16 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Projecting | No | (150.900.8) |
| Window Sign | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | — | — | Window | No | (150.900.8) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 35 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Freestanding | No | (150.900.8) |
| Pedestrian Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Pedestrian | No | (150.900.8) |
| Entrance or Exit Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | Not specified | — | — | Entrance or Exit | No | (150.900.8) |

## Prohibited signs in Dayton

- Any sign attached or otherwise applied to trees, bus shelters, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, or other structures located in the public right-of-way, without the City’s permission. (150.900.17)
- Any movable sign over 20 square feet, inflatable signs and tethered balloons, pennants, ribbons, banners, streamers, spinners and other similar types of attention-getting devices, except for changeable copy signs when in compliance with the applicable regulations in this Section. (150.900.17)
- Any signs on structures that are stacked one on top of another, or that are attached side-by-side. (150.900.17)
- Portable signs. (150.900.17)
- Roof signs, except roof signs shall be permitted in the CBD, UBD and Industrial Districts when the signage is located on the panels screening mechanical equipment. For the purposes of determining conformance with the regulations in this Section, a roof sign in the CBD, UBD and Industrial Districts shall be considered a building sign. (150.900.17)
- Merchandise, equipment, products, vehicles or other items not themselves for sale and placed for attention getting, identification, or advertising purpose. (150.900.17)

## Signs exempt from permit in Dayton

- Governmental signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, street signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies for the purpose of safety, and any sign required by the Federal government, the State of Ohio, or a court of competent jurisdiction. (150.900.16)
- Commemorative historical plaques, neighborhood identification signs installed by the City of Dayton, and other works of art. (150.900.16)
- Any sign in a building, not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the building in which such sign is located. (150.900.16)
- Any outdoor sign which is not in any way visible from any adjacent public right-of-way or from any adjacent property. (150.900.16)
- Decorations pertaining to religious or secular holidays when displayed during the appropriate time of the year. (150.900.16)

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

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