# Sign Regulations in Highland Heights, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Highland Heights, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/highland-heights
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/highlandhts/latest/highlandhts_oh/0-0-0-12538)

## At a glance

Highland Heights, Ohio regulates 15 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Name Plates in the Residential District (U-1, U-2, U-3) zoning district are capped at 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 square feet, with a 8 feet from street right of way or 20 feet from edge of pavement, 15 feet from side or rear lot line setback (Sec. 1145.04(a)(1)). Most commercial signs in Highland Heights require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (U-1, U-2, U-3) | 7 | 9 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| Business District (O-B, L-B, G-B) | 5 | 14 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Park-Commercial-Manufacturing District | 1 | 15 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Other zoning districts (M-S, P) | 2 | — | 75 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 40% of maximum area permitted for each establishment | — |

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

### Residential District (U-1, U-2, U-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Plate | 2.5 feet | 1.5 square feet | — | 8 feet from street right of way or 20 feet from edge of pavement, 15 feet from side or rear lot line | 1 | Located in the yard, setback not less than 8 feet from street right of way or 20 feet from edge of pavement, and not less than 15 feet from any side or rear lot line | — | 1145.04(a)(1) |
| Directional Sign | 2 feet | 1 square foot | — | 8 feet from street right of way or 20 feet from edge of pavement, 15 feet from side or rear lot line | 1 | Located in the yard, setback 8 feet from street right of way or 20 feet from edge of pavement, and not less than 15 feet from any side or rear lot line | — | 1145.04(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 25 feet from street right of way or 40 feet from edge of pavement, 30 feet from side or rear lot line | 1 | Located 25 feet from street right of way or 40 feet from edge of pavement, and not less than 30 feet from any side or rear lot line | — | 1145.04(c) |
| Bulletin Board or Announcement Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | 15 feet from street right of way or 30 feet from edge of pavement, 15 feet from side or rear lot line | 1 | Located at least 15 feet back from street right of way or 30 feet from edge of pavement, and not less than 15 feet from side or rear lot lines | — | 1145.04(d) |
| Subdivision Sign | 9 feet | 48 square feet | — | 50 feet from occupied residence and street right of way | 1 | Located not less than 50 feet from any occupied residence and street right of way | — | 1145.04(e) |
| Construction Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 30 feet from street right of way, 35 feet from side or rear lot lines | 1 | Located a minimum of 30 feet from street right of way and 35 feet from side or rear lot lines | — | 1145.04(h) |
| Building Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1145.04(i) |

### Business District (O-B, L-B, G-B)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached parallel to a wall or integral part of a wall | — | 1145.06(b) |
| Marquee and Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to marquees and awnings | — | 1145.06(c) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Displayed in a window for exterior viewing | — | 1145.06(d) |
| Projecting Sign | 14 feet | 16 square feet | — | 40 feet from street right of way | 1 per frontage | Attached to wall fronting on public street | — | 1145.06(e) |
| Free-Standing Sign | 7 feet | 32 square feet | — | 15 feet from street right of way | 1 per parcel | Located not less than 15 feet from street right of way | — | 1145.06(f) |

### Other zoning districts (M-S, P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free-Standing Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | 15 feet from street right of way | 1 | Not less than 15 feet from street right of way | — | 1145.08(a) |
| Motel or Restaurant Sign | — | 75 square feet | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1145.08(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Highland Heights

- Illuminated signs are prohibited in residential areas except as noted in Section 1145.04.
- No advertising signs, messages, informational or directional signs shall be painted directly on the wall of any structure.
- Signs advertising products of other geographical areas or other items not related to the use of the premises are prohibited.
- No display or advertising sign shall be attached to the standard of a free-standing sign other than the display surface originally constructed as a part of such sign.
- No display or advertising sign shall be attached to or painted or otherwise displayed on a light standard, flag pole, fence, wall, post or other structure or to any portable supporting device except as specifically authorized by this chapter.
- Not more than three colors may be used on the sign or signs of any one building.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.
- No signs shall be so located, designed or illuminated as to materially impede visibility of users of street, sidewalks or access ways to private property.
- No sign shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, structurally altered or arranged for any purposes other than in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- No private signs shall be affixed to any pole installed by the City or any public utility nor shall they be attached to any tree.
- Roof signs are prohibited on any structure within the City.
- Anchored advertising balloons and searchlights shall be prohibited anywhere within the City.
- Pole signs are prohibited in all zoning districts within the City.
- Digital signs are prohibited in all zoning districts within the City.

## Signs exempt from permit in Highland Heights

- Identification, informational or directional signs or notices erected or required by public authority.
- Traffic control signs or signals erected by public authority.
- Integral nonilluminated decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters or trademarks.
- Flags, pennants or insignia of any government, religious or educational organization that are reasonably displayed but not illuminated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A determination shall be made by the Planning and Zoning Commission as to the necessity for a free-standing sign to the conduct of the business, profession or commercial activity on the site in deference to or in addition to an attached sign prior to issuance of a permit.
- Floodlighting designs for nonresidential zoning districts and those permitted conditional uses may be permitted with the approval of the Architectural Review Board and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

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

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