# Sign Regulations in Grand Rapids, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Grand Rapids, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/grand-rapids
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/grandrapidsoh/latest/grandrapids_oh/0-0-0-5448)

## At a glance

Grand Rapids, Ohio regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Real Estate Signs in the Agricultural and Single-Family Residential Districts, R1a Residence District zoning district are capped at 6 square feet, with a Not closer than 10 feet to any property line setback (Sec. § 154.115(A)(1)). Most commercial signs in Grand Rapids require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural and Single-Family Residential Districts, R1a Residence District | 9 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Multifamily Residential District, R2 Residence District | 9 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| Mobile Home Park District | 8 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Central Business District | 5 | 15 feet above the sidewalk or floor line | 15 square feet | — |
| Commercial District | 3 | 6 feet above grade | 36 square feet | — |
| Industrial District | 3 | 6 feet above the ground | 32 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 15 feet above a sidewalk, 20 feet above a driveway | 100 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Agricultural and Single-Family Residential Districts, R1a Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | § 154.115(A)(1) |
| Trespassing and Soliciting Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(2) |
| Civic Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(3) |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | One per institution | — | — | § 154.115(A)(4) |
| Business Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | One per business | — | — | § 154.115(A)(5) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(6) |
| Rooming House Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One per rooming house | — | — | § 154.115(A)(7) |
| Construction Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per lot | — | — | § 154.115(A)(8) |

### Multifamily Residential District, R2 Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | § 154.115(A)(1) |
| Trespassing and Soliciting Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(2) |
| Civic Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(3) |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | One per institution | — | — | § 154.115(A)(4) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(6) |
| Construction Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per lot | — | — | § 154.115(A)(8) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 square foot per dwelling unit, not exceeding 32 square feet | — | — | One per building | Attached to the building | — | § 154.115(B)(2) |
| Retail or Sale Information Sign | — | 1 square foot per unit, not exceeding 15 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Attached to the building face | — | § 154.115(B)(3) |

### Mobile Home Park District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | § 154.115(A)(1) |
| Trespassing and Soliciting Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(2) |
| Civic Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(3) |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 24 square feet | — | — | One per institution | — | — | § 154.115(A)(4) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(6) |
| Construction Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per lot | — | — | § 154.115(A)(8) |
| Subdivision Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.115(A)(9) |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per building | Attached to the building | — | § 154.115(C)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Grand Rapids

- No sign shall be placed within or over any public right-of-way, except publicly owned signs and banners specifically exempted by the Village Administrator for special occasions, festivals, or celebrations.
- Flashing signs are not permitted except for public service time and temperature signs which are only permitted in commercial zones.
- Banners, pennants, portable signs, flags, captive balloons, and other temporary signs are not permitted, except for a grand opening of a business with a temporary permit.
- No portable or moveable signs shall be permitted except as provided for grand openings.
- Paper, cloth, or similar temporary signs are not permitted on the exterior of any building unless placed within a glassed showcase or a permanent framed area.
- Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Moving signs are prohibited in all zoning districts, except arms on clock faces and indexing multiprism units.
- No signs shall be permitted which emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Grand Rapids

- The word SIGN does not include a flag, pennant, insignia, or temporary sign of any nation, state, city, or other political unit, or of any educational, charitable, philanthropic, civic, professional, or religious organization, or advertising a campaign, drive, movement, or event.
- Commemorative plaques approved by Council.
- Any nameplate sign in residential areas.
- Any board, sign, or surface used to display any official notices issued or posted by any court or public officer in the performance of a public duty.
- Window displays.
- Signs within a stadium, shopping center, residential complex, arena, or other use, which cannot be viewed from any public street.
- Any signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, governmental identification signs, street signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service companies for the purpose of public safety.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signing plan must be submitted for all signs in the shopping center and approved by the Planning Commission.
- The Planning Commission may approve, by special permit, the installation of a nonconforming sign to provide uniform signage among contiguous commercial developments in a shopping center.

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

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