# Sign Regulations in Highland Hills, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Highland Hills, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/highland-hills
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/highlandhills/latest/highlandhills_oh/0-0-0-34381)

## At a glance

Highland Hills, Ohio regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign - Permanents in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 5 feet tall and 25 square feet, with a 35 feet from residences, 15 feet from lot lines setback (Sec. 1133.12(c)(2)). Most commercial signs in Highland Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 4 | 6 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts | 12 | 25 feet | Not exceed 40% of the maximum area permitted for each establishment | — |
| Office, Light Industrial and Institutional Districts | 10 | 10 feet | Not exceed 40% of the maximum area permitted for each establishment | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 6 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per dwelling unit | Not less than 10 feet from any side lot line and on the tree lawn if more than 2 feet from the paved roadway | — | 1133.12(a) |
| Bulletin Board | 6 feet | 25 square feet | — | — | One per institution | On the premises of a public or semi-public institution | — | 1133.12(b) |
| Real Estate Sign - Temporary | — | 50 square feet | — | 15 feet | One per frontage street | Not less than 15 feet from the front or any side lot line | — | 1133.12(c)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign - Permanent | 5 feet | 25 square feet | — | 35 feet from residences, 15 feet from lot lines | One per frontage street | Not less than 35 feet from any occupied single or two-family residence, nor less than 15 feet from the front or any side lot line | — | 1133.12(c)(2) |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board | — | — | — | — | One per institution | On the premises of a public or semi-public institution | — | 1133.13(a) |
| Flat or Wall Sign | Not extend above the top of the front wall | Varies by frontage | — | — | One per establishment | On the surface of the building wall adjacent to a street, pedestrian way or parking area | — | 1133.13(b)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | Not extend above the top of the front wall | — | — | — | One per establishment | On the outside wall of a building | — | 1133.13(b)(2) |
| Marquee Sign | Vertical dimension not to exceed 4 feet | — | — | — | One per establishment | Attached to the underside, topside or face of a marquee roof over a walk or permanent awning | — | 1133.13(b)(3) |
| Ground Sign | 10 feet | — | — | 5 feet from public right-of-way, 25 feet from residential district line | Generally not more than one per lot | In yards as regulated | — | 1133.13(b)(4) |
| Pole Sign | 25 feet | — | — | 5 feet from public right-of-way, 25 feet from residential district line | Generally not more than one per lot | In yards as regulated | — | 1133.13(b)(4) |
| Window Sign | — | Not exceed 10% of window pane area within 10 feet of any window pane | — | — | One per window pane | On the interior or exterior surface of windows or doors | — | 1133.13(b)(5) |
| Temporary Sign | — | Not exceed 40% of the maximum area permitted for each establishment | — | — | One per establishment | On the outside of buildings and in the yards where other signs are permitted | — | 1133.13(b)(6) |

### Office, Light Industrial and Institutional Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate and Development Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business or establishment | On the premises of a business or establishment | — | 1133.14(a) |
| Informational Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business or establishment | On the premises of a business or establishment | — | 1133.14(a) |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business or establishment | On the premises of a business or establishment | — | 1133.14(a) |
| Flat or Wall Sign | Not extend above the top of the front wall | Varies by frontage | — | — | One per establishment | On the surface of the building wall adjacent to a street, pedestrian way or parking area | — | 1133.14(b)(1) |
| Projecting Sign | Not extend above the top of the front wall | — | — | — | One per establishment | On the outside wall of a building | — | 1133.14(b)(2) |
| Marquee Sign | Vertical dimension not to exceed 4 feet | — | — | — | One per establishment | Attached to the underside, topside or face of a marquee roof over a walk or permanent awning | — | 1133.14(b)(3) |
| Ground Sign | 10 feet | — | — | 5 feet from public right-of-way, 25 feet from residential district line | One per lot | In yards as regulated | — | 1133.14(b)(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | Not exceed 40% of the maximum area permitted for each establishment | — | — | One per establishment | On the outside of buildings and in the yards where other signs are permitted | — | 1133.14(b)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Highland Hills

- Signs shall not project over or obstruct the required windows or doors of any building, nor be attached to or obstruct a fire escape or interfere with other safety provisions.
- Signs shall not be erected so as to obstruct street site lines or traffic control lights or signs at street intersections.
- Signs visible from the site lines along a street shall not contain an arrow or words such as 'stop', 'go', 'slow', etc., or otherwise resemble highway traffic signs.
- Light sources to illuminate signs shall be reflected and shielded and not be of excessive brightness or cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or auto drivers or be objectionable to adjacent residential districts.
- The colors red or green, whether in direct illumination or reflection, shall not be used where it may interfere with the sight lines of a traffic signal.
- Flashing, moving or intermittent illumination and outline lighting shall not be permitted by right.
- Moving signs of any sort, including revolving signs, shall not be permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Highland Hills

- The display of official public notices, the flag, emblem or insignia of a political subdivision, and public signs pertaining to traffic or to street and place identification shall not be governed by the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance.
- Holiday display lighting shall not be restricted by the illumination regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The Board of Zoning Appeals may, in specific cases, vary or permit exceptions to any of the provisions of this chapter, if it finds such variance or exception will not violate the spirit or intent of this chapter.

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

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