# Sign Regulations in Johnstown, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Johnstown, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/johnstown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-12
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/johnstown/latest/johnstown_oh/0-0-0-15656)

## At a glance

Johnstown, Ohio regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Developments in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 32 sq ft on parcels ≥2 acres; 8 sq ft on parcels <2 acres, with a 15 ft from established right of way (unless no land between ROW and structure) setback (Sec. 1177.06(b)(1)). Most commercial signs in Johnstown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Suburban Residential (SR-1), Suburban Residential (SR-2) | 4 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Urban Residential Low Density (UR-1), Urban Residential Moderate Density (UR-2), Multiple-Family Residential (AR-1) | 3 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Community Commercial District 1 (GCC-1), General Community Commercial District 2 (GCC-2), Light Manufacturing (LM) | 12 | 15 ft GCC-1/2; LM: 1 ft per 2 ft setback, max 17 ft; base max 5 ft from grade | 50 sq ft for GCC-1/2; LM: .0025 sq ft per sq ft of building, max 150 sq ft (businesses ≤20,000 sq ft may have up to 50 sq ft) | — |
| Open Space (OS), Flood Plain (FP) | 4 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural (AG) | 4 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft on parcels ≥2 acres; 8 sq ft on parcels <2 acres | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Suburban Residential (SR-1), Suburban Residential (SR-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: SR-1/SR-2, General Provisions, Residential1 |
| Incidental Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 4 per lot | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: SR-1/SR-2, Incidental2 |
| Building Marker | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: SR-1/SR-2, Building Marker3 |
| Identification Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: SR-1/SR-2, Identification4 |

### General Community Commercial District 1 (GCC-1), General Community Commercial District 2 (GCC-2), Light Manufacturing (LM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: GCC-1/GCC-2/LM, Residential1, General Provisions |
| Incidental Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 4 per lot | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: GCC-1/GCC-2/LM, Incidental2 |
| Monument Sign | 15 ft GCC-1/2; LM: 1 ft per 2 ft setback, max 17 ft; base max 5 ft from grade | 50 sq ft for GCC-1/2; LM: .0025 sq ft per sq ft of building, max 150 sq ft (businesses ≤20,000 sq ft may have up to 50 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: Monument, GCC-1/GCC-2/LM |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | 6 sq ft or 25% canopy area | Shopfront width is max width | — | 1 per business | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: Canopy/Awning |
| Projecting Sign | 4 ft | 10 sq ft | Max length 6 ft | — | 1 per business | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: Projecting |
| Wall Sign | 4 ft | Lineal ft of building frontage / 1.5 | 80% facade length | — | 1 per building (multi-tenant: 1 per tenant unit) | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: Wall Sign |
| Window Sign (First Floor) | Max length 4 ft, max height 4 ft | — | 4 ft | — | — | — | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: Window Signs |
| Arm Sign | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft behind right-of-way; 10 ft side-yards abutting residential | — | Min 5 ft behind right-of-way | — | 1177.15 Sign Table: Arm Signs |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Development | 10 ft | 32 sq ft on parcels ≥2 acres; 8 sq ft on parcels <2 acres | — | 15 ft from established right of way (unless no land between ROW and structure) | 1 per subdivision/development | — | — | 1177.06(b)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Non-Commercial Event | — | 32 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per event/campaign | — | — | 1177.06(b)(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Business Delay | — | 32 sq ft; must be proportional to building frontage | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | 1177.06(b)(3) |
| Temporary Banner - Grand Opening | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage per business | Securely fastened to building; not above roofline | — | 1177.06(b)(4) |
| Temporary Banner - Going Out of Business | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage per business | Securely fastened to building; not above roofline | — | 1177.06(b)(5) |
| Temporary Signs - Home Sale, Political, Contractor, Off-site Real Estate Open House | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | See specifics per sign type | — | — | 1177.07(b-c) |
| Drive-Through Menu Board Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not placed in front of building setback line. Not visible from public right-of-way. | — | On property to which it refers | — | 1177.13 |

## Prohibited signs in Johnstown

- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt from regulation are prohibited.
- Beacons/searchlights are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Banner signs, streamers, and pennants are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs, figures and tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Portable signs with internal illumination and changeable copy are prohibited.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Any sign that, by reason of size, location, shape, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety is prohibited.
- Any sign that substantially interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections, or to enter onto or exit from public streets, private roads, or driveways is prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device is prohibited.
- Any sign that uses the words 'STOP', 'SLOW', 'CAUTION', 'DANGER', or otherwise has a design, color, shape, size, or location that could cause confusion with official traffic signs is prohibited.
- Any sign that revolves, is animated, or utilizes movement or apparent movement to attract attention is prohibited.
- Any sign with lights that flash, move, rotate, or flicker is prohibited.
- Any sign placed on or affixed to a vehicle or trailer and parked in a location visible to the public for the principal purpose of advertising is prohibited.
- Any sign located within any public right-of-way, except publicly-owned or publicly-authorized signs, is prohibited.
- Any sign attached, affixed, or painted on any utility pole, light standard, tree, rock, or other natural feature is prohibited (with noted exceptions).
- Any roof signs or signs that extend above the roof line of a building are prohibited.
- Any painted advertising on a building wall or roof, excepting murals of a noncommercial nature, is prohibited.
- Any sign that identifies or advertises an activity, business, product, or service that is no longer in existence is prohibited.
- Any illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines, open sales areas, rooflines, doors, windows, edges of walls, trees, or landscaping is prohibited (except holiday lighting).
- Any sign that exhibits statements, words, or pictures of an indecent, obscene, or pornographic nature is prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs or interferes with any window, door, sidewalk, or fire escape is prohibited.
- Pylon signs are prohibited.
- Any abandoned sign or any sign that advertises a business or product no longer existing or sold on the premises is prohibited (must be removed within forty-five days of discontinuation).
- Any sign that communicates a commercial message about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or other enterprise or activity not at the sign's location is prohibited, unless approved as a sidewalk sign.
- Any sign or sign structure that is structurally unsafe is prohibited.
- Any sign that, through the use of flashing or sequential lights, lighting elements, or other automated method, results in movement, the appearance of movement, or change of sign image or text is prohibited (with exception for electronic gas station fuel price signage).
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Non-conforming signs must be brought into compliance when the sign face is changed, except required maintenance.
- Temporary signs may not be hand drawn or hand painted.
- Temporary signs may not use fluorescent, dayglo, and neon colors.

## Signs exempt from permit in Johnstown

- Signs erected by or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body, including legal notices, warning notices, traffic signs, directional signs, informational signs or regulatory signs.
- Signs customarily associated with residential uses and that are not of a commercial nature, including name/address signs, mailbox signs, and paper tube signs (limited to 4 square feet).
- Official signs of a noncommercial nature erected by public utilities to identify lines or facilities or to advise/warn the public.
- Flags of governmental or nonprofit organizations, provided they are not for commercial promotion or advertising, not more than three are displayed at once, each is 60 square feet or less, and height regulations are met. Mini flags for government holidays are fully exempt.
- Any sign inside a building, provided it is not attached to a window/door and not legible from lot line of the property.
- Signs posted upon property to guide or direct traffic, identify restricted/public parking areas, or warn about trespassing or danger from animals, so long as no commercial advertising is present (limited to 4 square feet; permit required for entrance/exit/directional/parking signs).
- Signs painted on or attached to a vehicle regularly operated in the day-to-day business or activity of an enterprise, provided vehicle is not parked principally for advertising.
- Signs not visible from public streets or legible from adjacent properties.
- Signs authorized by the City Manager on governmental property.
- Temporary for sale, rental, or lease signs (must be within front yard setback; limited to one per road frontage on corner lots; lender/mortgage/ancillary signage prohibited).
- Political signs and election-related posters.
- Temporary contractor signs, located only on parcel being developed, not in public right-of-way, during actual construction period.
- Temporary off-site real estate open house signs (placed no earlier than 6am, removed 4 hours after the open house, one sign per change of direction, must have broker contact information, all riders count towards total area).
- Unless otherwise provided, all temporary signs referred to above are limited to six square feet and must be removed/replaced after 30 days if damaged/deteriorated or within 7 days of the related property sale/rental/lease or event. Must be placed outside right-of-way and avoid safety hazards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign applications require submission of a site plan and elevation as part of the permit application to the Zoning Inspector.
- Monument signs are forwarded to the Design Review Board at their next regularly scheduled meeting following Zoning Inspector review.
- If a sign application requires a variance, it must be forwarded to the Planning Commission for review at its next available meeting.
- All applications for sign permits must use the application form and materials published by the Planning and Zoning Office.
- A sign permit is required for all signs except those specifically exempted.
- If a suspended or projecting sign is above a public right-of-way, the issuance and continuation of a sign permit requires the sign owner to maintain liability insurance in an amount determined by City Council (at least $500,000 per occurrence per sign).

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

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