# Sign Regulations in Fairport Harbor, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fairport Harbor, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/fairport-harbor
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/fairportharbor/latest/fairportharbor_oh/0-0-0-28662)

## At a glance

Fairport Harbor, Ohio regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Identification Sign - Illuminated (Non-residential)s in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 8 feet from supporting structure tall and 40 square feet, with a Not less than 10 feet from road right-of-way and adjoining lot line setback (Sec. 1133.04(a)(3)). Most commercial signs in Fairport Harbor require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Must be at least 8 feet above ground level | — | — |
| Residential District | 4 | 8 feet from supporting structure | 40 square feet | — |
| Commercial, Manufacturing and Marina Districts | 8 | 10 feet | 160 square feet | — |
| Park and Recreational Signs | 1 | — | 25 square feet | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Business District, C-2 Community Business District, C-3 Community Business District | 1 | 3 feet | 3 feet in height, 2 feet in width | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1133.03(a) and (b) |
| Projecting Sign | Must be at least 8 feet above ground level | — | Projection not more than 2 feet from building face | — | — | Front or face of a building | — | 1133.03(d) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1133.03(e) |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1133.03(m) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign - Non-illuminated | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 | Front yard, not extending into public road right-of-way | — | 1133.04(a)(1) |
| Identification Sign - Illuminated (Multi-family) | — | 1 square foot per face per living unit, max 25 square feet per face | — | Not closer than 10 feet from road right-of-way | 1 | Front yard, not closer than 10 feet from road right-of-way | — | 1133.04(a)(2) |
| Identification Sign - Illuminated (Non-residential) | 8 feet from supporting structure | 40 square feet | — | Not less than 10 feet from road right-of-way and adjoining lot line | 1 | Not less than 10 feet from road right-of-way and adjoining lot line | — | 1133.04(a)(3) |
| Gateway Sign | 4 feet | 25 square feet | — | Not less than 1 foot from right-of-way or 5 feet from adjoining lot line | 2 per entrance | At entrance to subdivision, not less than 1 foot from right-of-way or 5 feet from adjoining lot line | — | 1133.04(b) |

### Commercial, Manufacturing and Marina Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Front wall or wall facing parking area | — | 1133.05(b)(1)A |
| Wall Sign - Multiple Businesses | — | 160 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Front wall or wall facing parking area | — | 1133.05(b)(1)B |
| Wall Sign - Corner Lot | — | 64 square feet (96 square feet if multiple businesses) | — | — | 1 per business | Face of building abutting side street | — | 1133.05(b)(1)C |
| Identification Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per door or entryway | Each door or entryway | — | 1133.05(b)(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | Valance of an awning | — | 1133.05(b)(3) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Glass of windows and doors | — | 1133.05(b)(4) |
| Monument or Pylon Sign | 10 feet | 150 square feet per face | — | Not less than 10 feet from road right-of-way | 1 per major right-of-way | Per major right-of-way | — | 1133.05(c)(1) |
| Monument or Pylon Sign - Option | 8 feet | 40 square feet per face | — | Not less than 10 feet from road right-of-way | 1 | On-premises | — | 1133.05(c)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Fairport Harbor

- Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light emitting a beam of constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light or lights such as search lights and beacons.
- No sign shall employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin, and are blinking, flashing or fluttering or have a changing light intensity, brightness or color, or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention.
- No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from the front or face of a building for a distance of more than two (2) feet.
- No sign shall be placed above the roof line of any building, or beyond the ends of the wall surfaces upon which it is situated.
- No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of posters, pennants, flags, ribbons, streamers, spinners, whirligigs, and balloons of all types or other similar moving devices.
- No sign of any classification shall be installed, erected or attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or any door or window giving access to any fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way, except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs.
- No sign shall be placed upon any utility pole, street sign, traffic control device, or tree located within the public right-of-way or a general landscape easement.
- All signs shall be limited to not more than two (2) faces.
- No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on the front or face of a building or on any premises except as provided for in Section 1133.06 of this Zoning Ordinance.
- No vehicle, or trailer, self-propelled or otherwise, shall be parked or used upon any premises so as to be visible from a public right-of-way not used in the ordinary course of business, but for the principal purpose of being or displaying a sign to advertise an enterprise, business or activity.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairport Harbor

- Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to any sign performing a public service function indicating time, temperature or public service announcements.
- For the purpose of this Zoning Ordinance, 'sign' does not include those erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, activity or event, or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation.

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

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