# Sign Regulations in Doylestown, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Doylestown, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/doylestown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/doylestown/latest/doylestown_oh/0-0-0-9253)

## At a glance

Doylestown, Ohio regulates 16 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Option 1s in the R-R Residential - Rural Districts zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 40 square feet, with a Minimum 10 feet from property boundary lines and 100 feet from residential district zoning line setback (Sec. 1169.06(a)(2)). Most commercial signs in Doylestown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-R Residential - Rural Districts | 7 | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (R-SF1, R-SF2, R-2F, R-MF1, R-MF2, Planned Unit Development) | 5 | 8 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Business and Industrial Districts (BN, BOP, BD, BG, IL) | 8 | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| BD Downtown Business Districts | 1 | 42 inches | 42" high x 26" wide x 26" deep at the base | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 4 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-R Residential - Rural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies based on building wall or facade | — | — | — | Building wall or facade facing principal street or main entrance | — | 1169.06(a)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from property boundary lines and 100 feet from residential district zoning line | 1 per parcel larger than 3 acres | Minimum 10 feet from property boundary lines and 100 feet from residential district zoning line | — | 1169.06(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — | Minimum 25 feet from property boundary lines, 200 feet from residential zoning district line, and 500 feet from any other such sign | 1 per 1000 lineal feet of public street frontage in excess of 500 lineal feet | Minimum 25 feet from property boundary lines, 200 feet from residential zoning district line, and 500 feet from any other such sign | — | 1169.06(a)(3) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign - Option 3 | 3 feet if freestanding | 4 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way or any lot line | 1 per lot or parcel | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way or any lot line | — | 1169.06(a)(4) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 8 feet if freestanding | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any lot line | 1 per lot or parcel | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any lot line | — | 1169.06(b)(1) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Sign - Option 2 | 3 feet if freestanding | 4 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any lot line | 4 per lot or parcel | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any lot line | — | 1169.06(b)(2) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign - Construction | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 15 feet from travel surface of any street or any property line | 1 per site during construction | Minimum 15 feet from travel surface of any street or any property line | — | 1169.06(b)(3) |

### Residential Districts (R-SF1, R-SF2, R-2F, R-MF1, R-MF2, Planned Unit Development)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 3 feet if freestanding | 4 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way or any lot line | 1 per lot or parcel | Minimum 10 feet from right-of-way or any lot line | — | 1169.07(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign - Multi-Family Buildings | — | 20 square feet | — | — | 1 per multi-family building | Building wall | — | 1169.07(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign - Residential Development | 6 feet | 25 square feet | — | Minimum 15 feet from street right-of-way or property line | 1 per entrance | Minimum 15 feet from street right-of-way or property line | — | 1169.07(a)(3) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 3 feet if freestanding | 4 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any lot line | 4 per lot or parcel | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any lot line | — | 1169.07(b)(1) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign - Construction | 8 feet | 20 square feet | — | Minimum 15 feet from travel surface of any street or any property line | 1 per site during construction | Minimum 15 feet from travel surface of any street or any property line | — | 1169.07(b)(2) |

### Business and Industrial Districts (BN, BOP, BD, BG, IL)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Varies based on building wall or facade | — | — | — | Building wall or facade facing principal street or main entrance | — | 1169.08(b)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per establishment or store front | Attached to building wall | — | 1169.08(b)(2) |
| Marquee Sign | 4 feet vertical dimension | — | — | — | — | Attached to marquee roof over a walk or permanent awning | — | 1169.08(b)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from property boundary lines, minimum 25 feet from residential zoning district line | 1 per use, parcel, building, or land under common ownership or control | Minimum 10 feet from property boundary lines, minimum 25 feet from residential zoning district line | — | 1169.08(b)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign - Option 2 | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from property boundary lines, minimum 25 feet from residential zoning district line | 1 additional sign per parcel with frontage on two or more streets | Located on a different street than the first freestanding sign | — | 1169.08(b)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of total window area | — | — | — | Interior or exterior surface of windows or doors | — | 1169.08(b)(5) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Sign - Option 1 | 6 feet if freestanding | 20 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any side lot line | 1 per lot | Minimum 10 feet from travel surface of any street or any side lot line | — | 1169.08(c)(1) |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign - Construction | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 15 feet from travel surface of any street or any property line | 1 per site during construction | Minimum 15 feet from travel surface of any street or any property line | — | 1169.08(c)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Doylestown

- No signs shall be attached to utility poles, street signs, or traffic control poles.
- No signs shall be located within or shall obstruct any public right-of-way, traffic control device, or street identification signs at intersections.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct sight distances for vehicles entering or exiting any property or traveling on a public street.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that any portion of its surface or its supports will interfere in any way with the free use of access to any fire lane, exit or standpipe, or so as to obstruct any window so that light or ventilation is reduced below minimum standards required by any applicable law or building code.
- Pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similar devices are prohibited.
- Mobile, portable, or wheeled signs are prohibited.
- Signs placed on parked vehicles or trailers for the purpose of advertising a product or business located on the same or adjacent property are prohibited, excepting an identification sign which is affixed to a vehicle regularly operated in the pursuance of day-to-day business or activity of an enterprise.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon a roof or upon any structure which extends above the roof line of any building are prohibited.
- Inflatable images are prohibited.
- Signs containing flashing, moving, intermittent, or running lights or which imitate traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Signs which employ any part or element which revolves, rotates, whirls, spins or otherwise makes use of motion to attract attention are prohibited.
- Beacons or searchlights are prohibited.
- Signs which hang less than eight and one-half (8.5) feet above a pedestrian walkway or less than fourteen (14) feet above a vehicular path are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Doylestown

- Periodic repair, repainting, or maintenance which does not alter the sign including, but not limited to, the sign face, design, or structure.
- Changing the lettering, graphic, or information on a sign specifically approved as a changeable copy sign, whether automatic or manual.
- Legal notices, warnings, regulatory, informational, or directional signs erected by any public agency or utility.
- Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, such as signs designating handicapped parking, reserved parking, visitor parking, and loading areas.
- Wall signs not exceeding three (3) square feet in area which cannot be seen from a public street or right-of-way or from adjacent properties.
- One temporary sign not exceeding four (4) square feet in area per lot or parcel.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each free-standing sign in R-R Residential-Rural Districts shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for design review and approval prior to the issuance of a building or zoning permit.
- Each free-standing sign in business and industrial districts shall be designed and constructed of such materials as to be compatible with the architectural treatment of the principal building located on the site as determined by the Zoning Inspector.

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

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