# Sign Regulations in Middletown, Ohio

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Middletown, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/middletown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/middletownoh/latest/middletown_oh/0-0-0-46908)

## At a glance

Middletown, Ohio regulates 9 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (151 to 300 Feet Frontage)s in the O-1, B-1, BC-H zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 60 square feet (Sec. TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS). Most commercial signs in Middletown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| UC-C, UC-S, BC-R | 4 | 6 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| O-1, B-1, BC-H | 5 | 10 feet | 80 square feet | Yes |
| O-2, B-2, B-3, BC-I, BC-O, BC-R, BC-F, PI | 5 | 20 feet | 150 square feet | Yes |
| I-1, I-2 | 5 | 15 feet | 100 square feet | Yes |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | See § 1220.09(d)(3) | See § 1220.09(d)(3) | — |

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

### O-1, B-1, BC-H

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (0 to 150 Feet Frontage) | 6 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Freestanding Sign (151 to 300 Feet Frontage) | 8 feet | 60 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Freestanding Sign (301 or More Feet Frontage) | 10 feet | 80 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Building Sign | — | — | — | — | No maximum number | On all principal structures | Yes | § 1220.08(c) |
| Wall Sign | — | Mounted on or flush with a wall and shall not protrude more than 18 inches from the wall or face of the building to which it is attached | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-1: MAXIMUM BUILDING SIGN AREA ALLOWANCE |

### O-2, B-2, B-3, BC-I, BC-O, BC-R, BC-F, PI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (0 to 150 Feet Frontage) | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Set back a minimum of ten feet from all rights-of-way and from adjacent lot lines and 50 feet from any adjacent lot in a residential zoning district or used solely for residential uses | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Freestanding Sign (151 to 300 Feet Frontage) | 10 feet | 80 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Set back a minimum of ten feet from all rights-of-way and from adjacent lot lines and 50 feet from any adjacent lot in a residential zoning district or used solely for residential uses | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Freestanding Sign (301 or More Feet Frontage) | 20 feet | 150 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Set back a minimum of ten feet from all rights-of-way and from adjacent lot lines and 50 feet from any adjacent lot in a residential zoning district or used solely for residential uses | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Building Sign | — | — | — | — | No maximum number | On all principal structures | Yes | § 1220.08(c) |
| Wall Sign | — | Mounted on or flush with a wall and shall not protrude more than 18 inches from the wall or face of the building to which it is attached | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-1: MAXIMUM BUILDING SIGN AREA ALLOWANCE |

### I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (0 to 150 Feet Frontage) | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Freestanding Sign (151 to 300 Feet Frontage) | 10 feet | 80 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Freestanding Sign (301 or More Feet Frontage) | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-2: MAXIMUM SIGN AREAS AND HEIGHT FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS |
| Building Sign | — | — | — | — | No maximum number | On all principal structures | Yes | § 1220.08(c) |
| Wall Sign | — | Mounted on or flush with a wall and shall not protrude more than 18 inches from the wall or face of the building to which it is attached | — | — | — | — | — | TABLE 1220-1: MAXIMUM BUILDING SIGN AREA ALLOWANCE |

## Prohibited signs in Middletown

- No sign or sign structure shall be placed on private or public property without the written consent of the owner or agent thereof.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No rotating beam, beacon, or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light shall be used in connection with any sign display.
- No sign shall obstruct or interfere with fire ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, nor shall it obstruct or interfere with traffic or traffic visibility, or resemble or imitate signs or signals erected by the City or other governmental agency for the regulation of traffic or parking.
- No part of a sign shall have animation, moving parts, flashing lights or changing colors unless specifically permitted.
- Signs, sign posts, or sign mounting hardware which are no longer functional, or are abandoned, shall be removed within 90 days following such dysfunction or abandonment.
- Signs shall be prohibited in the right-of-way with certain exceptions.
- Vehicle signs viewed from a public road with the primary purpose of providing signage not otherwise allowed by this code are prohibited.
- Signs that are applied to trees, bus shelters, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines or boxes, or any other unapproved supporting structure, or otherwise placed in the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs which are not securely affixed to the ground or otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure unless specifically permitted as a temporary sign are prohibited.
- Signs that employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention are prohibited.
- Beacons and searchlights, except for emergency purposes, are prohibited.
- Signs mounted above the roofline of a building are prohibited.
- Deteriorated signs that are unsafe and or insecure are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Windblown devices, not including projecting signs, are prohibited.
- Blade/feather signs are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct or substantially interfere with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress to any building are prohibited.
- Balloon signs or air activated signs are prohibited.
- Any sign not specifically allowed by this chapter is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Middletown

- Any sign located entirely within buildings or other structures and/or otherwise not visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property.
- Any sign located on umbrellas or similarly related private patio furniture or seating provided it is located outside of the right-of-way and complies with any other applicable standards of this code.
- Any sign on a truck, bus or other vehicle that is used in the normal course of a business for transportation or signage required by the State or Federal government.
- Any holiday lighting, signs, or related decorations.

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

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