# Sign Regulations in Mentor, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mentor, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/mentor
- **Data last verified:** 2025-06-13
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/mentor/latest/mentor_oh/0-0-0-23010)

## At a glance

Mentor, Ohio regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Standard Setback)s in the Commercial and Industrial Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, C-2, Applicable PUD Parcels, MIP, M-1, M-2, MRD) zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall, 40 square feet, and 5 feet wide, with a 5 ft from right-of-way, 15 ft side yard setback (Sec. 1171.18(d)(1)-(2)). Most commercial signs in Mentor require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Flagpole max 40 feet | Max 25% of window/door area; cumulative max 40 square feet or 25% of building glass area, whichever is less | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, C-2, Applicable PUD Parcels, MIP, M-1, M-2, MRD) | 12 | 18 feet | 150 square feet (base maximum, plus up to 187.5 sq ft if setback ≥300 ft) | — |
| Special Districts (OV District, Old Village Commercial Corridor Overlay) | 7 | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-10, RVG, RMH, C-1, Applicable PUD Parcels) | 3 | 5 feet | 20 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 30 feet above grade | — | — | — | — | Parallel to the wall, within 18 inches of wall, not further than 12 inches from the top/side, not on rear wall (except where allowed by zone); painted wall signs or murals prohibited. | — | 1171.16(l), 1171.06, 1171.08 |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | One per entrance or canopy | On canopy over entrance/window/outdoor area | — | 1171.16(m) |
| Window and Door Sign | — | Max 25% of window/door area; cumulative max 40 square feet or 25% of building glass area, whichever is less | — | — | — | On or over window or door, or directly behind visible from exterior | — | 1171.16(n) |
| Flag | Flagpole max 40 feet | Flag size depends on pole height: 20' pole = 4x6', 25' = 5x8', 40' = 6x10' | — | Flagpole at least length of pole or building setback from lot line | One flagpole per 150 ft frontage | On flagpole per frontage, not on roof | — | 1171.16(o) |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1171.16(p) |

### Commercial and Industrial Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, C-2, Applicable PUD Parcels, MIP, M-1, M-2, MRD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Standard Setback) | 10 feet | 40 square feet | 5 feet | 5 ft from right-of-way, 15 ft side yard | 1 per development unit, with exceptions for additional access drives and interior access (see additional ground sign types) | Close to principal access drive; within lot frontage | — | 1171.18(d)(1)-(2) |
| Ground Sign (Setback at least 100 ft) | 12 feet | 55 square feet | 6 feet | 20 ft side yard | See above | At least 100 ft from right-of-way line | — | 1171.18(d)(2)(F)(i) |
| Ground Sign (Setback at least 200 ft) | 14 feet | 70 square feet | 7 feet | 25 ft side yard | — | At least 200 ft from right-of-way line | — | 1171.18(d)(2)(F)(ii) |
| Ground Sign (Setback at least 300 ft) | 16 feet | 85 square feet | 8 feet | 30 ft side yard | — | At least 300 ft from right-of-way line | — | 1171.18(d)(2)(F)(iii) |
| Ground Sign (Setback at least 400 ft) | 18 feet | 100 square feet | 9 feet | 35 ft side yard | — | At least 400 ft from right-of-way line | — | 1171.18(d)(2)(F)(iv) |
| Ground Sign - Additional Access Drive | 10 feet | 40 square feet | 5 feet | 5 ft from R/W, 15 ft side yard; for larger setbacks/ground signs see above | One additional per qualifying drive | Additional access drive or interior access; must be adjacent to said drive. | — | 1171.18(d)(3)(A)-(B) |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Exempt - Option) | 5 feet | 15 square feet | 4 feet | — | — | — | — | 1171.18(d)(4)(A) |
| Building Marker | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per building | Ground floor, adjacent to principal entrance | — | 1171.18(c) |

### Special Districts (OV District, Old Village Commercial Corridor Overlay)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 feet | 32 square feet | 4 feet | 5 feet from right-of-way; 15 feet from side lot line. | One per development unit | On property, per frontage, 5 ft from R/W, 15 ft side yard | — | 1171.19(e) |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | On front wall of the building unit, or divided between front and side wall, or (where permitted) canopy/marquee. Uniform height and at sign band, if present. | — | 1171.19(f) |
| Projecting Sign | Single story: 5 ft; Two-story: 10 ft | Single story: 17.5 sq ft; Two-story: 30 sq ft | 3.5 ft from wall face | — | One per building unit | Perpendicular to wall, one per building unit, not within 20 feet of another projecting sign. | — | 1171.19(g) |
| Building Marker | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per building | Ground floor, adjacent to principal entrance | — | 1171.19(d) |
| Window and Door Sign | — | 25% of area of window/door, cumulative not exceeding 40 sq ft or 25% total glass area (whichever is less) | — | — | — | On/in window or door visible from exterior | — | 1171.16(n), 1171.19(b)(1)(D) |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | Secured to withstand environmental loads. Must comply with sign location type/their size, as substitute. | — | 1171.18(f), 1171.19(b)(3) |
| Canopy Sign / Marquee Sign (Special Approval) | — | Same as permitted wall sign area; taken from wall sign area allocation | — | — | — | On canopy or marquee | — | 1171.19(b)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Mentor

- No signs are permitted unless expressly allowed by the provisions of this chapter.
- Signs shall not be placed on any utility poles or utility equipment (unless pertaining to its use or operation and required to be placed there by the utility), hydrants, rocks/boulders, trees or other vegetation.
- No sign shall have more than two faces, which must be parallel to one another and within twenty-four (24) inches, unless a specific provision of this chapter requires a lesser dimension.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited.
- Signs which are abandoned or which are accessory to an abandoned use of property are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress, or block any light or ventilation openings. No sign shall be located or attached so as to obstruct emergency facilities or equipment.
- No sign shall be erected within the area of any sight triangle unless it is no greater than three (3) feet in height and does not otherwise obstruct free and clear vision within the sight triangle.
- No sign shall interfere, or otherwise cause visual conflict, in whole or in part, with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device by virtue of the placement, color, or illumination of the sign.
- No sign shall be designed in such a manner that it is substantially similar in appearance to any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device that has the potential to cause confusion for motorists or pedestrians.
- No sign shall display any obscene matter, as defined by Section 533.01(f) of the Codified Ordinances.
- No sign shall depict or describe any specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, as defined by Section 1127.01 of this Code.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall have visible moving, revolving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any kind.
- No sign shall emit any fire, smoke, steam, odor, or sound.
- No sign shall have any lights or illumination that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent electrical pulses.
- No sign shall be illuminated so as to cause objectionable brightness or glare into or onto any adjacent property or any right-of-way.
- Use of search lights, floodlights, and other such manner of directed light into the atmosphere is prohibited.
- Inflatable signs, inclusive of balloons used as signs, are prohibited.
- Wall signs painted directly upon any wall are prohibited. Mural and pictorial images are included in this prohibition.
- Pennants, spinners, streamers and such other similar manner of displays are prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited.
- Vehicles, trailers, and all such other mobile and semi-mobile equipment are not permitted to be used as either temporary or permanent signs either by virtue of having copy or signage placed on them or by virtue of their use, in context, as signs in their own right. (except for vehicles in transit or temporarily present for a transient purpose)
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs are limited to two-dimensional graphic displays. The use of statuary, equipment, products, or any other such like displays is prohibited (except as permitted in certain sections).
- Signs projected upon any surface by means of light or shadow are prohibited.
- No person may erect or place any sign within a public right-of-way or upon City property, inclusive of City and other public easements, nor may any signs project over any of these areas.
- Signs erected in violation of this chapter are declared a nuisance and a trespass upon public lands and may be seized as contraband and removed immediately.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mentor

- Signs which are not visible to a person of ordinary eyesight from or beyond any public right-of-way and any property line of the lot (or development unit, as applicable) upon which the sign is located.
- A traffic control sign, signal or device erected by a governmental entity, inclusive of such private property where compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices is required.
- Public facilities signs erected by governmental entities, but subject to area, dimensional, and other applicable regulations of this chapter.
- Notices required to be posted by law or order of court.
- Signs otherwise exempt from municipal regulation pursuant to state or federal law.
- Signs held by or affixed in any manner to a person and not set on or affixed to the ground and/or any structure thereon either in whole or in part.
- Any street numbers required by and erected in conformity with Chapter 1347 of the Codified Ordinances provided that the numbers shall be no greater than twelve (12) inches in height.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For ground signs erected at significant front setbacks (commercial/industrial), the limitations imposed by Sections 1171.16(r)(5) and 1171.16(x) may be waived, provided that the proposed sign shall have first been reviewed and approved as an element of a site develop plan (or as amendment, as applicable). Review includes review of the proposed sign structure and/or related structure(s) for consistency with the City's Design Guidelines. Review shall be limited to the proposed sign's location as an element of good and orderly site planning and as an architectural element of the site but shall not consider sign content.
- Certain sign types (such as canopy, marquee, projecting) may be permitted only as part of an architectural feature approved for construction by the Planning Commission in accord with the City's Design Guidelines.
- Permit applications must include detailed plans, renderings, and samples for review in accordance with Section 1171.08.
- If an application for a permit is part of a development or redevelopment proposal made pursuant to Chapter 1133 of the Zoning Code, then the permit issued shall be a temporary permit only pending final City approval of the development or redevelopment proposal. Full approval may require modifications to erected signs to meet conditions of approval.
- A variance or appeal may be sought if a proposed sign does not conform to code provisions, requiring consideration by the Board of Building and Zoning Appeals.

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

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