# Sign Regulations in Massillon, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Massillon, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/massillon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/massillon/latest/massillon_oh/0-0-0-50810)

## At a glance

Massillon, Ohio regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential District (R-1, RM-2) zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a 10 feet from any public right-of-way setback (Sec. 1188.04(b)(4)). Most commercial signs in Massillon 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 | 6 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential District (R-1, RM-2) | 4 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Park and Institutional District (PI) | 4 | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| O-1 and O-2 Districts | 3 | 35 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| General Business, Industrial Zonings (B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2) | 6 | 35 feet | 300 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 24 square feet in residential zones, 64 square feet in all other zones | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage of a construction project | — | 1188.04(a)(2) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per lot or premise | One per lot or premise | — | 1188.04(a)(3) |
| Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | 1188.04(a)(4) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property only | — | 1188.04(a)(5) |
| Directional/Information Sign | 8 feet | 8 square feet | — | — | One per entrance or exit | One per entrance or exit | — | 1188.04(a)(6) |
| Temporary Special Events Sign | — | — | — | — | Three per business | Three per business | — | 1188.04(a)(7) |

### Residential District (R-1, RM-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | One per entrance per neighborhood, subdivision, or development | — | 1188.04(b)(2) |
| Identification Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | One per entrance per apartment or condominium complex | — | 1188.04(b)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet from any public right-of-way | One per use | Permitted nonresidential uses, including churches and synagogues | — | 1188.04(b)(4) |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per use | Permitted nonresidential uses, including churches and synagogues | — | 1188.04(b)(4) |

### General Business, Industrial Zonings (B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet | 300 square feet | — | 2 feet from any vehicular public right-of-way | One per premises | One per premises | — | 1188.04(d)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | 1188.04(d)(3) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | One per premises | One per premises | — | 1188.04(d)(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | 1188.04(d)(5) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | 2 feet from any vehicular public right-of-way | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | 1188.04(d)(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | 2 feet from any vehicular public right-of-way | One per occupancy | Instead of wall or freestanding sign | — | 1188.04(d)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Massillon

- Abandoned signs.
- Banners, pennants, festoons, searchlights (except as allowed in Section 1188.04).
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals.
- Snipe signs or signs attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights, or placed on any public property or public right-of-way.
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying such sign.
- No billboards shall be erected or constructed in the City of Massillon unless such billboard is erected on a minimum of three acres of land with the closest structure of any kind on any side of the sign to be limited to 300 feet.
- No flashing signs shall be erected, constructed or maintained in the City of Massillon except time and temperature.
- No portable or free-standing sign not permanently anchored, affixed or secured to either a building or the ground except as otherwise permitted by this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Massillon

- Signs used by churches, synagogues, or civic organizations.
- Construction signs of sixteen square feet or less.
- Directional/Information signs of eight square feet or less.
- Holiday or special events decorations.
- Nameplates of two square feet or less.
- Political signs.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency.
- Real estate signs.
- Window signs.
- Incidental signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a permit for the erection, alteration, or relocation of a sign shall include a site plan showing the proposed location of the sign along with the locations and square footage areas of all existing signs on the same premises.
- In obtaining a permit, the applicant may apply to the Building Department for a variance from certain requirements 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 5 zoning districts in Massillon — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Massillon+OH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-massillon

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/massillon